MARY'S MEALS IS A SIMPLE IDEA THAT WORKS - BY PROVIDING A DAILY MEAL IN A PLACE OF EDUCATION, CHRONICALLY POOR CHILDREN ARE AIDED IN THE CLASSROOM WHERE THEY CAN GAIN EDUCATION THAT PROVIDES AN ESCAPE ROUTE FROM POVERTY.
One million children receive Mary's Meals every school day. [1]
The average cost to feed a child for a whole school year is 14 euros and 50 cents, or £12.20.
Around the world, approximately millions of children still miss school because of poverty. At present, Mary's Meals is reaching 1 million children across 12 different countries. [1]
Children die from starvation
Every day approximately 21,000 people die from starvation or hunger-related causes, according to the United Nations. [2]
I have walked streets in many areas over the years, hearing children sob with hunger. I have witnessed many stories of impoverished people who starved to death.
Witnessed the tears of a man in one country, who had heard that his brother and family were slowly starving to death in another country.
I have held the hand of a man brought in from the streets, skeletal and thin.
Seen a mother with one dead twin in one arm and a dying twin in the other, as she was unable to feed them; she was so starved that she had no milk.
As I saw these things, my heart ached. Happily, much aid was accomplished with food, water, and compassionate outreach.
These experiences have left me with the unshakeable conviction that anything that can be done to help those in our communities who do not have enough, is vitally important.
One meal at the right time can literally mean the difference between life and death.
Mary's Meals; an inspiration
I recently visited an area where regular donation is made to Mary's Meals. The impact of this Organization is inspirational.
'Mary's Meals' most recent research from Malawi showed a 24% increase in enrolment and a 10% increase in the attendance rate, six months after the introduction of meals. [3]
In Liberia, enrolment increases can be even higher. The Mary's Meals Organization experienced increases of more than 50% across large numbers of schools, within the first year of introducing Mary's Meals.
Twelve Countries
Mary's Meals works in 12 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Haiti
The Organization provides daily meals at schools in Port-Au-Prince, Gonaives and Hinche.
Ecuador
In Ecuador they encourage children from the slums of Quito to attend school.
Liberia
In Liberia they provide daily meals across Bomi, Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Montserrado counties
Benin
In Benin Mary's Meals provide daily meals at schools in Biro and Hondji
South Sudan
In this country, the Organization serves meals to children in the Lakes state of South Sudan
Uganda
Mary's Meals provides meals in the capital, Kampala and in the north and east
Kenya
Meals are provided to children in Eldoret and remote tribal areas
Zambia
Children are given meals in Chipata
Malawi
Malawi is the Organization's largest school feeding programme - reaching over 25% of all primary schools across the country
India
Mary's Meals feeds students in schools and non-formal education centers, like railway platforms
Burma
The Organization provides daily meals in schools in the Irrawaddy Delta region in south-west Burma
Thailand
Meals are served to Burmese migrant children in three schools outside Bangkok [4]
Why not Donate to Mary's Meals?
14 euros and 50 cents is all its costs for Mary's Meals to feed a child for a whole school year.
If you wish to donate to Mary's Meals, click on this link;
https://www.marysmeals.ie/donate
You can make a single donation, a monthly donation or a yearly donation. [5]
If you wish to volunteer
Volunteers and Fundraising form an integral part of the Organization.
If you wish to get involved, click on the following link;-
https://www.marysmeals.ie/get-involved/
More information can be found in the Mary's Meals Magazine, at link number six [6] at the end of this blog post.
Mary's Meals Prayer
Our Father give us this day our daily bread and forgive us for the times when we take more than our share of the bread that belongs to all.
Let us help You fill the starving with good things, not with scraps from our table.
Teach us how to share what is not ours to keep.
Clothe us with Your Love that we may complete each good work You created us to do.
Place in our hearts Your Compassion for each starving child and use our little acts of love so that they starve no more. Amen.
[1] Mary's Meals now Feeding One Million Children at School Every Day
http://www.aworldatschool.org/news/entry/marys-meals-now-feeding-one-million-children-at-school-1973
[2] Poverty.com - Hunger and World Poverty
http://www.poverty.com/
[3] Mary's Meals/ 'The Impact of Where We Work'
https://www.marysmeals.ie/what-we-do/the-impact-of-our-work/
[4] 'Where We Work'/Mary's Meals
https://www.marysmeals.ie/what-we-do/where-we-work/
[5] Donate/Mary's Meals
https://www.marysmeals.ie/donate
[6] Mary's Meals Magazine
https://www.marysmeals.ie/assets/global/Annual_Marys_Meals_Magazine_2015.pdf
With thanks to aworldatschool.org, poverty.com, marysmeals.ie
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