YANGON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- As the morning bell rings at Basic Education Primary School (42) in Yangon region's Hlaingthaya township, hundreds of children stream into classrooms, their laughter filling the school compound at the start of Myanmar's 2026-27 academic year.
For many students, school now offers more than education. Through the Smiling Children Program, supported by the China Foundation for Rural Development, it also provides nutritious meals, a healthier environment, and a stronger sense of care and community.
At the school, which has about 560 students, teachers and parents say the program has brought visible changes to children's lives.
"With the program, students are attending school regularly," said Daw Than Than Kyin, the school's headmistress.
"Even those who used to be absent from school because of reasons like a little rain are now attending regularly," she said.
Compared with those who spend time outside school, children who attend regularly have shown improvements in both physical and mental development, she added.
"As they attend school regularly, they are under the guidance of teachers and have become more polite," she said.
The benefits are also reflected in their studies.
"Because they attend school regularly, they have made progress," Daw Than Than Kyin said.
The Smiling Children Program has also eased concerns among parents. "Now, parents are less worried about whether their children will go hungry," she said.
"All children here can now eat safe and nutritious food," she said.
Around lunchtime, the aroma of freshly cooked food drifts from the school's kitchen, where a group of mothers prepare meals for students.
Among them is Daw Win Win Aye, whose son is a student at the school. She has been a member of the program for three years, having joined when her elder son was attending the school before he moved on to middle school.
"We prepare nutritious meals with a balanced diet, including meat and vegetables," she said.
A distinctive feature of the program is the formation of the Mother Group, like the one Daw Win Win Aye belongs to, made up of students' mothers who participate directly in meal preparation. The arrangement helps ensure food safety while creating employment opportunities for local women.
To support these mothers, the China Foundation for Rural Development has provided training in food safety, hygiene, nutrition, procurement, and food safety emergency response for members of the group.
The program has not only improved student nutrition but also upgraded school facilities. A new kitchen building has replaced the previous cooking area.
"Before, we cooked under a roof with no walls. Now the kitchen is much better," Daw Win Win Aye said.
The program has also created income opportunities for members of the Mother Group.
"We receive a salary from the program. I can use it for household expenses and to buy necessary appliances," she said.
Teachers said the impact is evident every day. Daw Hnin Thazin Mon, a 51-year-old fourth-grade teacher, recalled the situation before the program began.
"Before the program, I felt unhappy seeing what the children ate. Now they are eating equally," she said.
Previously, the quality of children's meals often depended on family circumstances.
"Some ate well while others did not, depending on what their parents could afford," she said.
Today, students receive meals prepared according to nutritional guidelines. "With this program, children no longer eat unhealthy foods," she said.
"They are now receiving a balanced diet according to food groups, which is good for their health. Parents are also relieved of the responsibility of preparing meals."
She expressed appreciation for the support. "We are grateful for the provision of these meals. Even though we are tired, it is worthwhile because it benefits the children," she added.
For 10-year-old Kaung Khant Ko, a fifth-grade student, lunchtime is one of the highlights of the school day.
"My favorite food is fried rice and egg. Today's meal is my favorite," he said with a smile.
The school is one of 10 primary schools in Hlaingthaya township benefiting from the Smiling Children Program, according to the China Foundation for Rural Development.
Since 2023, the program has provided school feeding and facility support to more than 5,000 students each academic year in the township.
The program provides breakfast and lunch on every school day. It also supports kitchen construction to improve food preparation conditions and hygiene standards, while school vegetable gardens supply fresh produce, the China Foundation for Rural Development said.
"I am grateful to the Chinese people who donate to us," Kaung Khant Ko said. ■