In a village in southwestern China, people are busy selecting produce at the market. They load up on the freshest and most nutritious items they can find – cabbage, corn, cucumbers, potatoes, rice, meat, fish.

Shopping done, they take the fresh produce to the local primary school. They cut, chop, and prep everything in the school kitchen. Ultimately, a healthy and delicious meal is served to students at lunchtime.

These aren’t school workers, at least not in the traditional sense. Everyone behind this lunch project is a volunteer.

Volunteers are buying vegetables at the market.

Good nutrition fuels physical and mental development

These volunteers are under Tencent’s Love Meals project, which has been providing nutritious meals to students in need since 2015. The initiative, founded by Tencent Finance Volunteer, addresses an issue many children around the world face – accessing good, healthy food.

Ensuring children have access to nutritious meals is important for physical and mental development. It contributes to growth, strengthens immunity, and can reduce the risk of adverse health conditions. In school, a proper meal helps children concentrate better and think more clearly, all essential to improving educational outcomes that give them a brighter future.

Volunteers are distributing lunches to children.

Love Meals: 580,000 meals served in 10 years

In the decade that Love Meals has been running, it has made a positive impact on the health and education outcomes of children, with over 580,000 nutritious meals served. Currently, the program supports more than 1,500 students at primary schools across southwestern China.

Bobo Liang, who has been a Tencent volunteer for 14 years, has been the driving force behind Love Meals since its inception. As the project’s leader, she has witnessed many positive changes over time.

“When we first visited them in 2015, we were surprised to see that some children were not eating well. We recognized that they needed better nutrition for their growth. Thus, the idea for Love Meals was born. Many of us at Tencent wanted to make a difference in the lives of these students. We aimed to provide fresh, nutritious meals to those in need who couldn’t access a healthy meal,” says Liang.

The project, which began with a focus on providing charity lunch boxes, has since expanded to include breakfasts, as well as clothing and other necessities.

Bobo Liang (center), the project leader of Love Meals, and her team members look back over the years.

Collaborating with local communities

Building a supportive community is at the heart of Love Meals’ success. The program thrives on the collective efforts of Tencent and local supporters such as Xiongcheng, from the local NGO Ayi Tudou. Xiongcheng has been instrumental in facilitating the complex logistics and rollout of Love Meals in local communities.

The arrival of Love Meals volunteers brings with it a sense of joy as well as good food. The children look forward to their visits, knowing they will receive not just a meal but also the feeling of being valued and supported, fostering a sense of belonging.

Transforming lives, one meal at a time

The impact of Love Meals is evident in the lives of the young students it supports, leading to improvements in the local children's health and academic performance. Says one student: “We’re eating better and feeling happier. I enjoy going to school now because of the food. We have more energy to study, and it has truly changed our lives.”

Xiongcheng describes the long-term positive impact of the program in terms of improved physical health and nutritional knowledge. “Nutrition fuels the body and mind of children. Data shows that on average, kids are three centimeters taller now compared to 10 years ago. They know more and can distinguish up to 30 different types of vegetables.”

The volunteers also experience a sense of happiness. “The teamwork among the volunteers and the joy of helping students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to these necessities is incredibly rewarding,” says Liang.

The success of Love Meals project shows how targeted, volunteer-driven initiatives can nourish young bodies and minds and also fuels the dreams and aspirations of upcoming generations.