Zayn Malik is reaching out to British Prime Minister Rushi Sunak about a very important matter: Allocating funds for children in need.
The 29-year-old musician wrote an open letter calling attention to the students from undeserved communities who cannot afford school lunches, asking the head of the UK to do something on their behalf.
Zayn shared the letter on his Instagram. He wrote as caption:
“No child should have to suffer the trauma and stigma of hunger & poverty. We want every child to grow up healthy to lead productive lives. I am calling on @10DowningStreet to expand #FreeSchoolMeals to every child in poverty in England.”
In his letter, the “Pillow Talk” hitmaker asked for the PM’s help in ensuring “no child living in poverty misses out on a hot nutritious meal at school especially since that school meal may be the only hot meal they receive all day.”
He noted that there are 800,000 kids in England who do not get a hot meal because they do not quality for the free meal program, and shared that the children who are not able to access the program “are suffering from lack of concentration, some even resorting to stealing food from school canteens because they are so hungry but can’t afford to buy lunch. There are also feeling shame which is directly impacting their physical and mental health.”
Zayn shared that she situation is personal to him, because he lived the same life:
“I know what that shame feels like, I have seen it first-hand, as growing up in Bradford, I relied on Free School Meals. I personally experienced the stigma surrounding food insecurity.
My hope is that in writing this letter we can all ensure that no child ever has to experience this hunger and stigma again as my experience is not unique; it is a struggle that many children in England are sadly going through right now.”
He ended his letter by urging the PM to offer monetary government support towards the Free School Meal program by adding it to the budget.
