The charity is now working in 68 schools on Madagascar.
Almost 10,000 schoolchildren in Madagascar will benefit after a Scottish charity announced it was expanding operations in the African nation.
Mary’s Meals is now serving nutritious bowls of rice with pinto beans, lentils, or greens with peanut sauce at 68 schools on the island, reaching an additional 9,231 children.
These meals attract children into the classroom and provide them with the energy to gain an education that can lead them out of poverty.
The new expansion has been supported by Mary’s Meals’ partner, Argyll-based Feedback Madagascar.
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, founder of Mary’s Meals, said: “I visited Madagascar earlier this year and I was lucky enough to meet the incredible community surrounding just one of the new programme schools.
“At the time, their parents spoke of the daily pain and hardship they face as they struggle to feed their children. They pledged to cook and serve the meals themselves if we could provide the food, saying it would change everything for them.”
Mary’s Meals feeds more than 1.5 million children in 18 countries every school day. The food the charity provides is cooked by volunteers from the community, giving local people ownership of the programme.
Managing director of Feedback Madagascar, Jamie Spencer, said: "It is fantastic that two charities from Argyll are partnering to launch this new project in Madagascar. Many of us take for granted that we will have three meals a day – with extra snacks when we feel peckish.
“Children in these areas will usually only eat once a day at most. Providing daily food at school will help the children to perform better in the classroom and feel safe in the knowledge that they will receive a nutritious meal every day the attend.”
Mr MacFarlane-Barrow added: “I am so glad and humbled that – thanks to the continued generosity and goodness of our supporters, volunteers and our new partner – we are able to transform the lives of children at this school, and many others throughout Madagascar.”
