A program to improve the nutritional condition of pre-school children in impoverished areas of China was launched on World Food Day, October 16. The initiative is a cooperation between the World Food Programme (WFP) and China's largest on-demand online service provider Meituan-Dianping.

The nutritional status of children in rural areas is a matter of social equality as well as concerning China's future development. A study shows that in addition to the quality of education and genetics, nurturing, of which nutrition is a vital component, also affects the intelligence development of children. The key developmental period is between birth and age 6.

The program launched by the WFP and Meituan-Dianping is of great significance to those with a poor nutritional history. The program has gained traction, mobilizing society's participation by allowing ordinary people to donate to the program through the Meituan-Dianping smartphone app. A lunch for a child, which costs 4 yuan ($0.57), will come from donations, while the additional four days' lunch in a week will be paid for by enterprises.

By using a popular mobile app to collect donations, the access to the program has increased, which will encourage more people to contribute to charitable causes.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Guangming Daily on October 29)