Malawi was the first country where we served our meals, and we’ve been working there since 2002. We currently feed more than one million children in the country, which is more than 30% of primary school age children in Malawi.
Angela, who has been with Mary’s Meals Malawi for five years, spoke powerfully about our work in an exclusive interview, which you can watch or listen to on our website.
She said: “In Malawi, poverty levels are just so high; 90% of people live on under $2 a day. It’s heartbreaking. Currency is not stable and that pushes up prices, especially for food.”
“You look at these children [who eat Mary’s Meals] – the smiles, the energy. Enrolments and attendance increase. That is hope because it will take these communities out of poverty.”
Sadly, in Malawi, climate change is a major problem which is leading to more children being hungry.
Angela says: “Last year we had Cyclone Freddy, where more than two million farmers lost their crops. And this year we hardly experienced any rains. So that has made a lot of farmers have no crops, a lot of families have no food. And, in turn, a lot of children don’t have food.
“Most of the children now, we are seeing them going to school because they know that they’re going to get a meal. But we are not reaching all the children. We are reaching about 1.1 million, but we have over 2.5 million children that are still in need. So, as much as we are reaching so many children – there are still so many more that need food.”
Actor and long-time Mary’s Meals supporter, Sophie Thompson, will present a BBC Radio 4 Appeal to raise funds for our work this weekend.
Airing for the first time on Sunday, Sophie will tell the inspirational story of Bernadette, 29, a teacher at Chilomoni Primary School in Malawi. The Appeal will raise funds to feed hungry children living in some of the world’s poorest countries.
You can listen to the Mary’s Meals’ BBC Radio 4 Appeal on Sunday, 13 October at 7.53am and 9.26pm and Thursday, 17 October at 3.26pm.
To find out more about our appeal and help us spread the word, visit our website.
