The NEN Achieves £7 Million Milestone
Mary’s Meals has reached a significant milestone, achieving over £7 million in funding thanks to the generous contributions of players from the People’s Postcode Lottery. This charity provides nutritious meals to children, encouraging attendance in schools and fostering educational opportunities.
The Impact of £7 Million in Funding
Founded in the Scottish Highlands, Mary’s Meals serves over three million children across some of the world’s poorest regions. The school feeding program not only offers daily meals but also serves as a catalyst for education, acting as a bridge out of poverty.
Key Statistics
- 478,968 children now receive daily nutritious meals.
- Over 39 million meals have been served to date.
- The charity operates in 16 countries worldwide.
Decade-Long Partnership
The collaboration between People’s Postcode Lottery and Mary’s Meals spans ten years and has achieved remarkable success. Contributions from players have greatly enhanced the charity’s capacity to deliver meals across countries including Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
Initially, funding was project-specific; however, it now allows Mary’s Meals to allocate resources flexibly based on the greatest needs across its operational regions.
Addressing Challenges in Education
Mary’s Meals tackles various issues such as educational barriers and gender inequality. Currently, girls constitute 50% of beneficiaries; however, 119 million girls remain out of school worldwide. Improving access to education is essential in disrupting the poverty cycle.
Personal Stories of Hope
Efigénia, a 12-year-old student from Tindzawene Primary School in Mozambique, expresses the importance of school meals. “With school meals, I feel good because even with a lack of food at home, here at school I have a meal and I can study,” she shares.
Milestones in the Journey
Since the inception of the partnership, significant achievements have been made. Notable milestones include:
- Feeding one million children in 2015.
- Expanding school feeding programs in Tigray, Ethiopia, and Syria in 2017.
- Launching a new program in Mozambique set for 2024.
- Serving over three million children by the end of last year.
The first half of 2025 will see further expansions, aiming to assist an additional 462,000 children in multiple countries, including Haiti and Zimbabwe.
Continuing Support and Future Aspirations
Mary’s Meals expresses immense gratitude to all players from People’s Postcode Lottery. Their contributions have dramatically expanded the charity’s reach, enabling it to deliver life-changing meals to countless children.
Gemma Love, Philanthropy and Institutional Partnerships Manager, emphasizes the lasting impact of this support, stating, “Seeing the difference this support makes for children and communities inspires us to keep going and to reach even more children in the years ahead.”
For those interested in the work of Mary’s Meals, further details and opportunities for involvement can be found on Filmogaz.com.
