The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a generous contribution of US $2.7 million from global fashion brand Michael Kors to strengthen Sri Lanka’s National School Meals Programme. The donation, made through the brand’s long-running “Watch Hunger Stop” campaign, will support WFP’s Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) initiative.
The funding will enable WFP to expand the HGSF programme from eight to ten districts, ensuring 250,000 schoolchildren receive daily nutritious meals over the next three years. It will also benefit 1,500 local farmers and caterers, who will supply fresh, locally sourced produce. Additionally, 30 schools will receive infrastructure upgrades, including solar-powered kitchens that reduce energy costs, cut emissions, and promote sustainability.
“We deeply appreciate Michael Kors’ commitment and partnership in advancing Sri Lanka’s school meals programme,” said Philip Ward, WFP Representative and Country Director in Sri Lanka. “For many families, these meals are a lifeline—made possible by the dedication of caterers and farmers who drive the programme every day.”
WFP’s Home-Grown School Feeding initiative strengthens local food systems by empowering primarily women farmers and school meal providers to grow vegetables and raise poultry for school meals. This approach not only improves nutrition but also promotes women’s economic empowerment, supports rural livelihoods, and enhances national resilience to food insecurity.
As part of its 2025 campaign, Michael Kors has launched two special-edition T-shirts featuring photographs by Maxime Poiblanc of fruits and vegetables grown through the WFP-supported initiative in Sri Lanka. Made from a cotton–linen blend, the T-shirts are available worldwide at michaelkors.com and select stores, with all profits donated to WFP.
Michael Kors’ partnership with WFP began in 2013, and over the past decade, it has helped deliver more than 35 million school meals to children in food-insecure regions. Sri Lanka joined the WFP-led Global School Meals Coalition in 2021, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring healthy meals for schoolchildren nationwide. Through partnerships like this, WFP continues to advance nutrition, sustainability, and opportunity—one meal at a time.
