Bangalore : Rise Against Hunger India (RAHI) has scaled up its pioneering nutrition-integrated life skills education programme for adolescents and young adults, following a successful pilot in Bhubaneswar. Through a robust Training of Trainers (ToT) initiative, 26 NGO partners and 53 trainers are now equipped to deliver structured modules across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
The
programme, designed to address the critical link between nutrition and overall
well-being, aims to empower young people to make informed choices for their
health. Modules cover themes such as healthy eating habits, hygiene, clean
cooking practices, and awareness around ultra-processed, high-fat, and
high-calorie foods.
“Adolescence is a ‘second window of opportunity’ to shape
nutritional and health outcomes and address gaps from early childhood. Through
this initiative, we aim to build agency among young people so they can make
informed choices about food and their personal well-being,” said Mr. Dola
Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer, Rise Against Hunger India.
He added that the programme seeks to foster leadership among
adolescents, enabling them to become role models and change agents within their
communities.
The programme is delivered through schools, community centres, and
youth groups, leveraging a cascade model where trained NGO partners and peer
educators impart life skills education within their communities. Integrated
into RAHI’s broader nutrition strategy, the initiative complements efforts to
provide nutritious meals, reinforcing the link between nourishment, learning
outcomes, and overall development.
Each trained educator will support a group of 40–50 adolescents
who will complete a ten-part module through activity-based group sessions and
peer learning meetings. With 26 NGO partners on board, the programme is
expected to reach over 1,000 adolescents in its initial phase, creating a
strong foundation for scale and impact.
Over
the past decade, Rise Against Hunger India has served more than 40 million
meals and reached 3.8 million people through its food security and livelihood
programmes, working with grassroots NGOs, rural communities and humanitarian
partners.