THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At the Marayamuttom Government Higher Secondary School, an extra breakfast packet has become a silent symbol of care, compassion and solidarity. Under an initiative named ‘Kanivu’ (compassion) of the institution’s Student Police Cadet (SPC) unit, students are encouraged to bring an extra breakfast from home for classmates who arrive at school on an empty stomach.
The initiative was launched after teachers noticed some children regularly attending classes without having breakfast. They also observed that hunger was taking a toll on the students’ attentiveness in class and overall energy levels.
“The school has many students from underprivileged families. Their parents leave early for work and, for many, breakfast is a luxury. In some cases, students themselves take up odd jobs before rushing to school, leaving them with no time for a meal,” said Saudeesh Thampi, community police officer in charge of the school’s SPC unit.
Instead of viewing the problem as an individual hardship, the SPC unit turned it into a collective responsibility. The result was a simple, sustainable initiative that has since won the wholehearted support of students, teachers, parents and alumni.
“The breakfast packets are placed in a collection box near the school entrance, allowing students in need to pick one up discreetly. This preserves their dignity while ensuring they don’t have to sit through classes hungry,” Saudeesh said.
The programme began with members of the school’s SPC unit bringing packets every morning. The spirit of sharing has since spread beyond the cadets with non-SPC students also joining the initiative. While many packets are picked up before classes begin, others find takers during the 11am break.On birthdays and other special occasions, some students voluntarily sponsor breakfast for an entire day.
“Beyond addressing hunger, Kanivu seeks to nurture empathy, social responsibility and a culture of sharing among students,” said Rakhi R, assistant community police officer of the SPC unit. School authorities believe the initiative shows how small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in young lives, while strengthening bonds within the school community.
Through the years, the school’s SPC unit has earned recognition for innovative initiatives. One involved cadets manufacturing and marketing 10 socially driven products, and depositing part of the proceeds into post office savings accounts of 12 students of the school with disabilities. They also collected more than 2,500 books from the neighbourhood for the school library and ran a unique birthday kiosk, where students celebrate their special day by donating new clothes for underprivileged classmates.
