NEI’s Vision in Afghanistan:
Eradicate protein-energy malnutrition, especially among women and children
NEI’s Vision in Afghanistan:NEI’s mission is to establish a self-sustainable soybean industry in Afghanistan through developing a soybean full value chain; which includes seed multiplication, soybean cultivation, soybean processing, and soy market development.
Nutrition & Education International (NEI), a Pasadena-based nonprofit founded in 2003 by Dr. Steven Kwon, has worked for over 22 years to combat protein-energy malnutrition among women and children in rural Afghanistan. NEI introduced a nationwide soy value chain as a practical solution—training more than 130,000 farmers across 31 provinces and over 30,000 women on the health benefits and home preparation of soy-based dishes.
It has built 10 soy processing factories producing soy flour, oil, milk, and protein products, while creating retail and institutional markets, including government meal programs. Despite the Taliban takeover, NEI Afghanistan’s 15 staff members continue to assist thousands of farmers in seven provinces.
For more than two decades, The Gobal Bridge has been one of NEI’s most steadfast and compassionate partners, providing vital financial and collaborative support that has strengthened NEI’s impact. Even under Taliban governance, countless poor farmers remain hungry and in urgent need of help. Global Bridge stands out as one of the most supportive foundations—committed to rising above politics and continuing to serve the poor when they need it most. Amid worsening starvation, earthquakes, and refugee influxes, NEI expresses its deepest gratitude to Global Bridge for its enduring partnership and humanity-driven mission to feed at-risk families.
NEI Expands Emergency Food Aid
(thanks to a Global Bridge Foundation grant)
Since 2003, Nutrition and Education International has been focused on developing a soy value chain in Afghanistan—teaching rural farmers how to grow soybeans to feed their families and earn an income, establishing soy processing factories to make soy flour, and educating women on how to include nutritious soybeans in traditional Afghan recipes.
This long-term focus abruptly shifted in mid-August 2021 when the Taliban took over the government. Nutrition and Educational International quickly began providing soy-based meals to malnourished women and children living in Kabul’s refugee camp villages. These internal refugees were facing poverty, malnutrition, and starvation since fleeing their rural homes to seek temporary shelter in Kabul. To date, NEI’s staff has provided over 1,000 refugee families with winter survival food packages of soy flour, soybeans, and rice together with firewood. NEI is buying the food basket ingredients from soy farmers and soy processors, benefiting them financially as well.
Thanks to funding from the Global Bridge Foundation, more Afghan women are feeding their children Soy Naan, Soy Qorma, and Soy Palaw to help develop and sustain their bodies. When NEI staff noted that children were coughing from the cold weather, NEI added firewood to the food packages to keep the children warm. The Kabul Department of Refugees and Repatriate authority informed that NEI is the only humanitarian group providing winter survival packages of both food and firewood.
As the NEI staff distributed the food aid, several refugees shared their thanks:
“I am an old man and cannot work outside to support my family. Also, I am sick, and my family condition is so bad. Before your support, we didn't have anything at home for eating, and nobody helped us. Now, my children and wife are so happy after receiving your help. Now we use soybean food and firewood in our home. Before that we used wasted plastics in our heater for warming our room. We are grateful and request for continuing this great program especially in this difficult time.” —Mr. Pedagull
“We are a very poor family and didn't have anything at home to eat. The children got cold and even got sick due to the cold winter. It was a hard time for us, but you assisted us and gave us firewood along with the soy food at the good time. Now we are using these and benefiting from that. Thus, my family is so happy and appreciates your support.” —Mr. Shiraga
NEI plans to expand its emergency food aid program to help over 10,000 women and children living in Kabul’s refugee camp villages in the next six months. Funding from the Global Bridge Foundation will help NEI achieve this ambitious goal.