SI Medway and Maidstone had a speaker from Mary’s Meals at our January Zoom Club meeting – Annette Davies who is the Kent Ambassador for Mary’s Meals. This was prompted by the “Double The Love” campaign Mary’s Meals is currently running (in which any donation is being matched by the UK Government up to £2 million until 31 January 2021). This will enable Mary’s Meals to reach even more hungry children in Liberia with life-changing school meals and the target is 43000 children to be fed through this campaign.
In Bong County, Liberia, there are high levels of poverty and food insecurity with families struggling to send their children to school. In the West African country, 64% of girls are out of school – the fourth highest proportion in the world. For those children who are able to attend school in Liberia, many of them are so hungry that they have no energy to concentrate on their lessons.
However, wherever Mary’s Meals are provided, there is a rise in rates of enrolment, attendance, academic performance, and children’s happiness. The programme is community-owned, with schools and volunteers responsible for preparing and serving the food.
It costs £15.90 to feed a child for a whole school year with Mary’s Meals. Medway and Maidstone Soroptimists donated £125 which will be doubled by the UK Government making a total of £250 meaning 16 children will be fed for a whole school year.
Annette gave an excellent presentation, which was most informative and provided a wonderful insight into the organisation, and the impact of the amazing work they do spanning 19 countries across the globe.