12/03/2026
Did you know that 🇫🇮 used to be one of the poorest European countries at the end of the 19th century? It was not unusual to have children working in fields and factories to sustain their families.
As Finland became independent in 1917 and started to build up its institutions, one of the first tasks was to get children to school, instead of forcing them to work in harsh conditions. Soon it became clear that hungry school children are not capable of learning.
Thus in 1943, Finland was the first country in the world to enact a law whereby school children were guaranteed free-of-charge meal during the school days. First, food was served for underprivileged children but since 1948, school meals have been available for all students. Having learned from our history, there was a strong will to develop the country away from unequal, agriculture-based society towards a more modern welfare society. It was understood that the best way to improve our economy was to educate people, not just the rich ones but the whole population. Education was perceived as an investment in the future.
Over 70 years later, Finland has developed into a modern welfare society, recognized for having one of the best education systems in the world. Free school meals 🍽️ remain an essential part of Finland’s education system to ensure equal access and participation for children.
In many parts of the world, the situation is more difficult. In 2021, the global School Meals Coalition was co-founded by Finland with an aim to support and encourage countries to develop their food and education systems, and promote the achievement of sustainable development goals. It now has over 110 member countries, including 🇵🇭, and more than 150 other partner organizations. The ultimate objective of the Coalition is that every child in the world will receive a school meal daily by 2030.
There is a simple, yet effective solution for both improving food security and better learning results: free school meals. After all, well-nourished children learn the best and can change the world. 👩🎓🧑🎓
Happy International School Meals Day!
📷: Riitta Supperi/Keksi/Team Finland
