The “A Snack for Everyone” project aims to offer a little help to those young people who, due to social and economic hardship, cannot have a snack with their classmates. Together with some teachers, in a complex school environment in the province of Novara, middle school students eligible to benefit from the service were identified, which was carried out in collaboration with selected partners.
Recess is an important moment in students’ school life: they relax, chat, socialize, and play. It is a moment of exchange and a break during which any tensions related to lessons, oral tests, and exams are eliminated or lessened; students leave their desks and chairs to get up and meet with others.
For some students, however, even what should be a time for recreation and relaxation can become a source of stress and discomfort. It happens more and more often, especially in certain contexts, that some students watch their peers eat; the luckier ones have friends who choose to share their snack with those who don’t have one. For others, this doesn’t happen, and in any case, the condition of having to ask or depend on others certainly doesn’t make anyone feel comfortable.
It was upon learning about situations like these that, as a Foundation, we decided to promote this project. At school, everyone should have the same tools and the same opportunities, even during break time and recess. Skipping breakfast or not having a snack is not wise, and it is certainly neither healthy for the body and mind nor beneficial for attention and subsequent academic performance.
When choosing the products to offer to the students—with the necessary discretion so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings—we tried to take into account as much as possible the basic rules of a healthy and balanced diet; for this reason, the weekly menu includes, for example, seasonal fruit.