Feeding program at a school in Zambia. Photos courtesy of Mary’s Meals.
ISEP Study Abroad and Mary’s Meals both believe education is the key to a better future. So, alumna Daniela Locreille suggested ISEP reach out to Mary’s Meals to contribute a piece about the work of this global charity that focuses on education by providing school meals to the world’s poorest children.
Mary’s Meals is a global movement with a simple solution to world hunger: feed children where they learn to help break the cycle of poverty. The inspiration for Mary’s Meals came in 2002 when Founder and CEO, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow met a little boy who only wanted to have enough to eat and to be able to go to school.
Now, 21 years later, Mary’s Meals establishes and coordinates school-feeding programs in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, where conflict, poverty and hunger often prevent children from gaining an education. By partnering with local communities to source, cook and serve food to school children, this locally-managed model is sustainable and invites everyone to be part of the solution to address hunger and missed education.
Today, Mary’s Meals provides nutritious meals to 2,429,182 children every school day at 5,084 schools in 18 countries. Food brings children to the classroom, helps them to focus and learn and gain an education that can be their ladder out of poverty. Just $25.20 feeds a child for a year.
We invite you to learn about Mary’s Meals, including available volunteer opportunities, at marysmealsusa.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Article credit: Written and submitted by Mary's Meals, January 2023.
