The charity is now feeding more than 1.5m hungry children in Africa

A charity that was founded in a shed in Argyll is now providing life-changing meals to more than 1.5 million hungry children every school day.

Mary’s Meals began in 2002 by feeding 200 children in Malawi. Today, it will feed 1,504,471 children in 18 countries across the world – including Haiti, South Sudan and Syria.

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, founder of Mary’s Meals, said: “This wonderful milestone gives us an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks to every single person who supports Mary’s Meals – from those fundraising around the UK to those volunteering to cook and serve meals to the hungry children in their own communities.

“Each one of them plays a crucial part in our mission – a mission that has only just begun given how many children remain hungry and out of school in the world today.”

Mary’s Meals sets up school feeding programmes in some of the world’s poorest countries. The food attracts children into the classroom, where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty.

Research conducted following the introduction of Mary’s Meals in Malawi, Zambia and Liberia, has revealed that:

• The proportion of hungry children in the countries fell by 71%/.

• There was a 20% increase in school enrolment.

• 98% of teachers felt children concentrated better in class.

Since January 2019, the number of children receiving Mary’s Meals daily at school has risen by more than 5% (an additional 79,458 children).