Walking to school can take a long time for children in Lao PDR. In the past, if they went home at lunch time, they often wouldn't return to class in the afternoon.

To improve attendance, the government of Lao PDR introduced a national program that offers free meals at school. Thanks to funding from the Global Partnership for Education and the active participation of parents and the local communities for gardening, fishing, and cooking, hundreds of children in Laos receive a well balanced lunch and can focus on learning.