
10/06/2025
For the 2025–2026 school year, France has pledged to fund nutritious lunches for 80,000 students through the National School Canteen Program (PNCS). This marks a step toward both child welfare and economic revival. Announced by French Ambassador to Haiti during a visit to the local supplier CLÉS on the school year's eve, this initiative isn't just about filling plates. It is a strategic investment in Haiti's youth and agricultural backbone.
The program kicked off amid Haiti's official back-to-school ceremonies on October 1. It emphasizes sustainability from the ground up. Every one of the 80,000 daily meals will be crafted from 100% locally sourced ingredients. Hearty staples like rice, corn, beans, and fresh milk form the basis. This deliberate choice goes beyond nutrition. It is a lifeline for Haiti's rural economy. By prioritizing domestic procurement, the effort directly bolsters 3,500 national producers and 1,500 livestock breeders. It creates stable markets and injects vital income into farming families.
"This 2025/2026 school year, will finance the daily meals of 80,000 students in Haiti," Michon shared in a bilingual announcement on X. Accompanied by PNCS Director General Kevenot Dorvil, Michon's tour of CLÉS highlighted the on-the-ground logistics, from harvest to school tray.
Haiti's has long been a beacon in the fight against malnutrition, which affects nearly half of the country's children under five. With an ambitious national target to serve 1.5 million students by the end of 2025, this goal builds on previous years' efforts supported by partners like the World Food Program (WFP). This French contribution aligns with the 2024–2030 National Action Plan for school feeding.
In Haiti, where this school year's theme is "Restoring the Authority of the School," we hold hope for true renewal among our Haitian children.