First Shipment of Food for Students Arrives in Laos

New York — The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) is pleased to announce that 20 metric tons of canned salmon donated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) arrived at the staging ground of Thakek, Laos on July 24, 2007. A ceremony marking the donation of the first installment of food was held in which Mr. Joshua Archibald, Economic and Commercial Officer, Embassy of the United States of America in Vientiane, presented the shipment to representatives of the Lao Government. This first shipment will serve as crucial component of The Humpty Dumpty Institute’s (HDI) school nutrition and education program in Laos.

Through this program and in conjunction with its partners, the Mines Advisory Group and International Relief and Development, HDI links UXO clearance with increased school attendance through a robust school feeding program. Starting in September 2007, daily in-school and take-home rations will be provided to 10,000 students in 110 primary schools in three districts of Khammouane Province; this feeding is expected to greatly improve school attendance. Future shipments will include rice, beans, and cereals. Under its Food For Education Program (FFE), USDA is providing a total of 660 metric tons of food and the operational funding for this program.

The Humpty Dumpty Institute is a New York City-based 501-C3 NGO dedicated to fostering dialogue between the United Nations and the U.S. In addition, HDI has several mine-action and food security programs in Laos, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

For more information of HDI’s mine-action and food security programs, please call Stephanie V. Grepo at (212) 944-7111.