1.4m learners on school feeding programme
International non-for-profit organisation Mary’s Meals says it will increase the number of children it serves with porridge in schools from 1.1 million learners to 1.4 million nationwide.
Mary’s Meals founder and chief executive officer Magnus MacFarlane- Barrow, who is visting Malawi, made the pledge in Dowa District yesterday where alongside Vice-President Michael Usi and Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Madalitso Kambauwa- Wirima he launched the extended programme.

He said: “Our belief is that every child receives one daily meal in their place of education, this is why we are scaling up by adding more than 300 000 beneficiaries to the ones that we are already serving.
“The daily school meal served meets the immediate need of the child for food, while at the same time enables them to gain the education that can set them and the future generations free from chronic poverty.”
On her part, Mary’s Meals Malawi country director Angella Chipeta Khonje said the plan to scale up is achievable with strengthened partnerships and sound commitment by various stakeholders to increase the impact which has already been experienced.
She said: “A daily meal in school has a positive impact on enrolment, attendance and performance in class, and could even hold the key to eradicating child hunger.”
In her remarks, Kambauwa Wirima said school feeding programme is already incorporated in the ministry’s strategies which are aimed at revamping the quality of education in the country.
“Government and partners are committed to improving the programme, and since I joined the ministry as a minister, the number of children and schools benefiting from the programme has increased by 12 percent.
“When I joined the ministry, the school feeding programme coverage was at 30 percent but now we are at 42 percent but our target is to reach 100 percent by 2030 and with this progress, this target is achievable,” she said.
On the other hand, Usi advised beneficiary schools and communities surrounding those schools to be accountable with the resources provided.
“This will encourage donors to pour in more resources so that those that are not yet benefiting can have a chance,” he said.
Mary ’s Meals has affiliate organisations registered in 15 countries globally, including international fundraising groups in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovakia, among others.