In response to the hunger problems faced by children in some developing countries, the China Foundation for Rural Development launched the Smiling Children Program in 2015. Through measures such as school meals (or food item distribution) and assistance with meal-related facilities, the program helps malnourished children grow and develop healthily, conveys the love of the Chinese people, and promotes mutual understanding between people.

An assessment conducted by Professor Qiang Dong's team at China Agricultural University showed that the Smiling Children Program has significantly benefited the growth and development of participating students, with 81.04% of them being taller than their peers and 81.93% being heavier than their peers; 86.49% of beneficiary schools saw a decrease in the number of students dropping out of school, and the beneficiary students saw a significant improvement in their academic performance as the Smiling Children Program continued (66.81% of the beneficiary students saw a rapid improvement in their grades); 91.89% of the principals of beneficiary schools believe that the Smiling Children Program has had a very positive impact on the overall development of their schools; nearly 60% of the beneficiary families have seen significant improvements in terms of food costs and parental financial and energy investments.