A trip through rural Malawi highlights the incredible work of “Mary’s Meals.” This charity is dedicated to helping families and ensuring that children can stay in school, fueling both their dreams and their futures.
In Malawi, millions of children face hunger every day. The simple phrase “I’m hungry” takes on a different meaning here. For many children, hunger is a daily struggle. Recognizing this, Mary’s Meals actively listens to the needs of these communities and takes practical steps to provide nourishment and support. They work quietly, focusing on helping those in need while tackling the larger issue of hunger around the world.
The number five million is staggering. Each number represents a child with a story and potential. Sadly, many go without food. With just a small donation, like the price of a couple of drinks, you can provide a child with food for an entire year.
During my visit, I met Amos, a bright nine-year-old. He lives with his older brother because their parents seek work in South Africa. They walk an hour to school each day, enduring harsh conditions to access education. On weekends, Amos often goes without food because the only meal he eats is the porridge provided by Mary’s Meals at school.
Amos is one of the 1,500 children at Dzunga Primary School. Many of his classmates walk long distances daily to attend school. Before Mary’s Meals introduced the porridge program, many stayed home out of hunger. While Mary’s Meals nourishes over 1.1 million children across Malawi, millions more still suffer from hunger.
As funds are lacking, villagers line up for maize sold by a government representative. They wait for days, knowing that not everyone will get enough. Cyclone Freddy and a subsequent drought have deepened poverty in Malawi. Harvests have failed, leaving communities with little to survive on.
We walk to the house of Tionge, a volunteer and mother of four. She insists on walking to show us her home. It stands on a hill, but inside, it is not the cozy setting one might envision. Bare walls and rough floors serve as their living space. Tionge’s family sleeps on the dusty ground, and during the rain, it’s even less comfortable.
Tionge takes on odd jobs to provide for her family, sometimes receiving maize as payment. Her son, Desire, tells us how the porridge program has changed his life. “I used to sit in class, shivering from hunger,” he recalls. He is small for his age, yet he dreams big, like many children in the community.
Thanks to Mary’s Meals, parents don’t have to feel ashamed of relying on others for food. Still, the challenges of climate change make their lives increasingly difficult.
As the school day ends, children wave goodbye, shouting “Thank you Mary’s Meals.” They are still hungry, yet they learn and dream of brighter futures. Desire wants to be a teacher. Amos dreams of becoming a doctor, while others aspire to be bank managers.
A full stomach allows these children to thrive, to play, and to learn. Mary’s Meals nourishes not only their bodies but also their hopes for the future. Just €22 can change a child’s life, providing them with food and educational resources. The formula is simple: food plus school equals hope, and this equation is transforming lives across Malawi.
