Daily meal improves students’ school performance.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Nov. 12, 2026) Approximately 1,250 students at Don Bosco Polytechnic (DBTec), located in Fort-Liberté, Haiti, had access to nutritious meals thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit Christian organization committed to “feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit.” The donation provides students with a hot meal each school day, helping to address nutritional challenges that can impact their ability to learn.
DBTec serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as students enrolled in professional training programs. Students receive a meal once a day, Monday through Friday, through the school cafeteria. Salesians have reported improved exam results since students began receiving the meals. Some parents have also chosen to enroll their children at DBTec because their families struggle to provide adequate nutrition at home, and students are guaranteed a meal at school.
Among the students benefiting from the improved nutrition is Jean, a 14-year-old eighth grader and the fourth of five children. Jean lives with his mother, who is unemployed and struggles to consistently provide for the family’s basic needs.
Jean explained, “There are days when I come to school without having eaten anything. Whenever that happens, I do not have enough energy, and I struggle to follow the lessons.”
Receiving a nutritious meal at school has made a difference in Jean’s ability to concentrate on his education. He said, “My days at school are different now that I receive school meals. After eating, I feel stronger and can perform better in class. It is not just a meal for me. It helps me stay in school and continue my studies. I thank the people who give us food at school, because they help us a lot.”
In addition to primary and secondary education, DBTec provides professional training in dressmaking, plumbing, building construction, residential and industrial electrical work, cabinetmaking, metal fabrication, cooking and pastry making, office computing, and tile setting. The school also plans to introduce programs in renewable energy and sheetrocking next year.
Salesian missionaries began working in Haiti in 1935 in response to the Haitian government’s request for a professional school. Since then, Salesian missionaries have expanded their work to include 11 main educational centers and more than 200 schools across the country.
The 11 main centers each include several primary and secondary schools, vocational training centers, and other programs for children living on the streets and youth in need. Salesian programs are located throughout Haiti, including in the cities of Port-au-Prince, Fort-Liberté, Cap-Haïtien, Les Cayes and Gressier. Today, Salesian missionaries in Haiti provide the largest source of education outside of the Haitian government.
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About Salesian Missions
Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.
