Inspiring learning and healthy meals for deprived children
1001 Meals, is a global wellbeing initiative by 1001 Inventions in support of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). It provides a holistic approach to the wellbeing of vulnerable children by offering them WFP Healthy Meals coupled with 1001 Inventions fun and educational activities.
In many parts of the world, thousands of disadvantaged children are living in poverty pockets and receive inadequate learning offerings. They are confronted by psychological challenges with many dropping out of school as they lack hope for their future.
The 1001 Meals initiative is helping rectify this by providing exciting learning opportunities for vulnerable children paired with healthy food. 1001 Meals activities help build self-esteem and improve the wellbeing of children while encouraging them and their parents to continue their vital education.
1001 Meals uses films, shows, music, workshops and science demonstrations, uncovering the fascinating legacy of scientific achievements from the golden age of Arabic science, to spark children’s interest in science, incite curiosity and inspire creativity.
With approximately 120,000 Syrian refugees living in harsh conditions in Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps in Jordan, the 1001 Meals initiative has launched there. 1001 Meals has been succesffuly running activities engaging with about 30,000 children who are enrolled in these makshift refugee camp schools.
1001 Meals is helping support vulnerable children physical, emotional and intellectual wellbeing. While continuing to offer 1001 Meals experiences at refugee camps in Jordan, 1001 Inventions and WFP will scale the initiative to reach disadvantaged children in other parts of the world.
At Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps, 1001 Meals has been organising exciting educational activities inspired by the 11th century pioneer Ibn al-Haytham. The exciting experiences are helping inspire creativity, curiosity and hope among refugee children deprived of crucial opportunities for meaningful engagement.
To prepare for the 1001 Meals sessions, the team transform makeshift classrooms into an inspiring space using a complete kit designed specifically for the project. The converted classrooms help create an immersive learning environment so children enjoy a wonderful educational experience.
At this creative space, children join an exciting journey starting with a movie theater experience watching a short educational film about Ibn al-Haytham starring late legendary actor Omar Sharif. The film experience and the story of the brave young scientist help alleviate children’s stress while giving them hope for a better future.
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The children are then introduced to scientific concepts on light, optics and vision through science demonstrations and hands-on activities led by a trained team of science explainers. The activities help spark children’s interest in science while inciting their curiosity and love of learning.
1001 Meals activities at refugee camps are run by a trained team of creative young Jordanian science explainers supported by Syrian refugees. The refugees offer valuable support to the team while they are also offered employment and training to improve their skills and help prepare them for future work opportunities at the camp as well as when they return to their home country.
Towards the end of their journey, students at refugee camp schools meet and greet the mascot of Ibn al-Haytham and are very excited for opportunities to pose and take photos with an inspirational historical role-model from their own culture.
Children leave the session with their own copy of the Ibn al-Haytham children’s book so they could continue their learning and exploration beyond 1001 Meals activities.
In addition to the fun 1001 Inventions educational experiences, at each 1001 Meals session children are learning about the importance of healthy eating & balanced diet. They also receive their WFP healthy meal: freshly baked pastries, seasonal vegetables & fruits.
1001 Meals empowers deprived community members including women working in WFP’s ‘Healthy Kitchens’ who benefit from the economic opportunity of preparing the meals for recipient children,
With the ongoing success of 1001 Meals in refugee camps in Jordan, 1001 Inventions and the WFP are planning to introduce new educational themes to children at refugee camps including “Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry”, “Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals” and other inspiring stories of lesser-known pioneers from a historical golden age of science and innovation that occurred in the Middle East. Also, to scale the project to reach other vulnerable children around the world.
