Aimie Henry Tan, Senior Project Officer CORM
Date Published
Estimated reading time
3 mins
A child’s ability to learn begins with having their basic needs met. Among these needs, access to nutritious food plays a vital role in supporting children’s physical growth, brain development, concentration, and overall well-being. When children receive adequate nutrition, they are better prepared to participate in learning, engage in classroom activities, and develop the confidence needed to reach their potential.
However, for many children, consistent access to balanced and nutritious meals remains a challenge. In Sabah, the need for nutrition support is especially pressing. According to UNICEF Malaysia, fewer than one in three children in Sabah (30.6%) meet expected growth and development benchmarks, while only one in three children meet recommended dietary standards. Many children also consume insufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables, affecting their ability to receive the nutrients necessary for healthy growth.
The challenges are even greater among vulnerable communities. Among undocumented children in Sabah, only 19.1% meet growth and development thresholds, highlighting the barriers some children face in accessing adequate nutrition and essential support. These realities underscore the importance of initiatives that improve children’s access to nutritious food and create more equitable opportunities for healthy development.
Nutrition is closely connected to education. A child experiencing hunger or inadequate nutrition may face difficulties with concentration, memory, energy levels, and classroom participation. Essential nutrients such as protein, iron, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats contribute to brain development and cognitive function, helping children stay focused and actively engage in their learning journey.
CORM’s Nutrition Program: Supporting Children’s Nutrition
Recognizing the connection between nutrition and education, Calls Over Ridges Malaysia (CORM) established the Nutrition Program, also known as the Lunchbox Program, to support students in partner Alternative Learning Centres (ALCs). The program provides regular, balanced meals to children, helping address food insecurity while creating a more supportive environment for learning.
From 2023 to 2025, CORM’s Nutrition Program has provided 16,224 lunchboxes to students at ALC Kinarut and 15,950 lunchboxes to students at ALC Kuala Alamesra. Each meal served represents more than just nutritional support—it represents an opportunity for children to attend classes with greater energy, focus, and readiness to learn.
Beyond providing meals, CORM is committed to continuously improving the quality and effectiveness of the Nutrition Program. To ensure that children receive not only regular but also nutritious and well-prepared meals, CORM provided training for community cooks through a Community Workshop (as shown below) with Chef Ang from Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Sabah (PPKS).
Through this training, community cooks and helpers from ALC Kinarut and ALC Kuala Alamesra were equipped with knowledge and skills in meal preparation, nutrition, and food planning to improve the quality and variety of meals served to children. By strengthening the capacity of community cooks, CORM aims to ensure that the Nutrition Program continues to meet children’s nutritional needs while encouraging sustainable, community-led solutions.
Community Voices: The Impact of Nutrition Beyond Meals
For Lee Ting Hwong, Coordinator of El Shaddai, the organization that established ALC Kuala Alamesra, the impact of the Nutrition Program goes beyond the meals provided. The program has brought positive changes to children’s eating habits and overall well-being.
“We are so thankful for CORM’s partnership in supporting our stateless and undocumented communities. It is such a joy to see the children growing better and healthier through the balanced and nutritious lunches provided to our students.
One thing is for sure — they have started to enjoy eating vegetables! For us, this is a great breakthrough. Thanks to the creative Chef Ang, who trained our community cooks and helpers, the children now love eating vegetables.
We are also grateful to CORM for going the extra mile by providing additional milk and fruits.”
— Lee Ting Hwong, Coordinator of El Shaddai
A Child’s Journey Towards Healthier Habits
The impact of the Nutrition Program can also be seen through the personal transformation of students. At ALC Kinarut, one student, Jesan Rayyan, experienced a positive change in his eating habits after joining the program.
Previously, Jesan was a picky eater who would not eat vegetables at all. After one year of participating in the Nutrition Program, his mother shared with Teacher Belle that Jesan had started eating vegetables and was no longer as selective with his food choices. Today, Jesan often reminds his mother, “Teacher said vegetables make us strong.”
Jesan’s journey has also inspired his family to continue preparing more balanced meals at home. According to his mother, Jesan’s learning performance has improved as his diet has become more balanced, showing how proper nutrition can support not only children’s physical health but also their growth and development in education.
Nourishing Children, Building Futures
The impact of the Nutrition Program extends beyond the classroom. For students, nutritious meals provide the energy needed to participate actively in lessons and daily activities. For families, the program offers additional support by helping ease the challenges of providing regular meals. For communities, it strengthens the shared responsibility of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and learn.
Investing in children’s nutrition is an investment in their future. Through the support of donors, partners, educators, and communities, CORM’s Nutrition Program continues to nourish young learners and create pathways toward a healthier and more hopeful future.
When children are nourished, they are empowered to learn, and when children are given the opportunity to learn, they are better equipped to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
about the author
Aimie Henry Tan
Aimie is CORM’s Senior Project Officer
and is based in Sabah, Malaysia
References:
UNICEF Malaysia. (2024). Sabah Child Well-Being Index: A comprehensive picture of children’s lived realities in Sabah. UNICEF Malaysia. https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/
World Health Organization. (2024). Healthy diet: Key facts. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet
World Food Programme. (2023). School meals: Nutrition, health, and education for children. World Food Programme. https://www.wfp.org/school-meals
Calls Over Ridges Malaysia. (2025). Nutrition Program (Lunchbox Program) Impact Report 2023–2025. Calls Over Ridges Malaysia.
Calls Over Ridges Malaysia. (2024). Community Workshop with Chef Ang from Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Sabah (PPKS): Nutrition and meal preparation training for community cooks. Calls Over Ridges Malaysia.
Lee, T. H. (2025). Testimony on the impact of CORM Nutrition Program at ALC Kuala Alamesra. El Shaddai.
Jesan Rayyan’s Family & ALC Kinarut. (2025). Student impact testimony on changes in eating habits and learning progress after participation in CORM Nutrition Program. Calls Over Ridges Malaysia.
