Food security builds strong communities in Iraq

In an attempt to break the cycle of poverty, PepsiCo have built on its ongoing partnership with the Iraqi Children Foundation and its Hope Bus initiative, by supplying around 22,500 meals to underprivileged youngsters across Baghdad. Hope Buses are second-hand buses converted into colorful, child-friendly classrooms. 

Staffed by two teachers and a social worker, each Hope Bus serves approximately 50 orphans and street kids in low-income neighborhoods on a daily basis, providing them with food and water, education, school supplies, psychological support, clothing, along with healthcare and hygiene supplies. 

“PepsiCo recognizes that food is a basic human right and has been striving to make food readily accessible across the region for more than a decade,“ said Eugene Willemsen, CEO, PepsiCo for Africa, Middle East and South Asia. “Access to nutritious food is essential for people and communities to thrive,” said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation. 

Aziz Khudairi, CEO of the Khudairi Group, who along with PepsiCo are also supporting IraqiChildren.org, has said; “The young children of Iraq today will be the leaders of tomorrow, so we need to prepare them for the future as much as we can, regardless of their status and upbringing. It is part of our social responsibility.”