Reaching for the sky

Doaa is a cheerful child, and her bubbly personality is a perfect match for the brightly coloured classroom she attends every school day! Doaa lives in Yemen, where Mary’s Meals is serving much-needed meals to more than 4,000 children every school day. She may only be seven years old, but Doaa can see the impact of the school meals on both her and her classmates.

“The meals that we receive at the school support and encourage us as students to keep attending. Before Mary’s Meals, about half of the students were absent because they couldn’t buy food because of their families’ lack of money.”

In Yemen, drastic increases in the price of living combined with a volatile conflict has made life extremely challenging for the Yemini people. Over the years, instability and violence have had a devastating effect on children’s learning and mental health with the education of up to six million children in jeopardy. In a country where it is getting harder and harder to consistently put food on the table, the promise of a nutritious meal served in school is bringing hope and relief to struggling families in the midst of turmoil.

Despite the disruption Doaa has experienced in her short life, she has an unwavering resolve to keep attending lessons. And the consistent provision of nutritious food gives her the energy to participate and learn and the chance to dream about life beyond school:

“The food helps us consider things better and understand what the teacher says better. I would like to be a flight attendant in the future. Thank you, Mary Meals!”

With a daily meal and the opportunity to learn, Doaa has a chance to fulfil her dreams of travelling the world. The beauty of this global movement is that everyone can play a part in ensuring that Doaa and other vulnerable children can rely on a life-changing meal served in school.

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