The fight for education and a better future
Mary’s Meals’ school feeding programme delivers positive educational outcomes to children from vulnerable communities living in poverty.
Over the past decade, great strides have been taken to get children into school, yet the global number of out-of-school children has only reduced by around 1% in that time.
When we look at this more closely, what emerges is a deeply concerning disparity between rich and poor countries with regard to the numbers of children who are in school and learning versus those who are not.
Barriers to education remain a threat
Recent figures show that 33% of school-age children and youth in low-income countries are out of school, compared to just 3% in high-income countries. Among the areas where children’s education is in jeopardy is sub-Saharan Africa, where over half of all out-of-school children are living.
For children in low and middle-income countries – and particularly those living in unstable contexts – recovery from Covid-19 has been slow and significant barriers to education and participation remain a threat to their learning (including conflict, gender-based inequities, and climate-related disasters.)
In Zambia, a country grappling with historic levels of drought and high levels of food insecurity, it is estimated that 11% of the population of official age range for primary school are out of school. In Yemen, where more than 18 million people – including 14 million women and children – are affected by conflict, climate change, recurring disease and turbulent economic conditions, it’s anticipated that 21% of the primary school age population are out of school.
School feeding is driving positive outcomes in education
Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, Yemen and Syria are just some of the countries where Mary’s Meals provides meals to children who continue to experience disruptions to their education as a result of conflict. In Tigray in northern Ethiopia, the two-year conflict that raged there from November 2020 to November 2022 wreaked havoc on the education system.
During the fighting, it’s estimated that around half of children in the Eastern Tigray zone were unable to attend school and walking distances to primary and secondary school more than doubled because of school destruction. The impact of the brutal conflict was then compounded by recurrent drought and escalating poverty, causing widespread hunger.
New, as yet unpublished, Mary’s Meals data from schools in Tigray shows clear improvements in several outcomes when we look at children’s experiences before school feeding was introduced and after we began serving meals. One of the most important improvements is a drop in the percentage of children who leave school early at least once a week because of hunger – from 61% to 10%. There is also a clear shift in the number of children who miss school completely at least once per week because of hunger before and after receiving Mary’s Meals, dropping from 53% to 0%.
Positive results were also found for concentration levels among pupils in Tigray after Mary’s Meals school feeding was implemented. Before receiving school meals, only 22% of children felt that they could concentrate well in school. After school feeding was introduced, this percentage soared to 93%.
School meals encourage children to engage in their education
Mary’s Meals’ impact research – as well as discussions with children and local communities involved in delivering our programme – show us that school meals are so much more than just food. We know that providing a daily meal at school not only meets the immediate hunger needs of children living in poverty, but offers a transformational intervention by helping children to attend school and actively engage in their education.
One case in point is Ericson, who recently graduated from primary school in Bong County, Liberia, with his proud parents by his side. A talented student, and football fanatic, he has worked hard at school, achieved fantastic grades, and finished as the top student in his class!
He says: “It could [have been] difficult for me if Mary’s Meals were not served at my school. Me and some of my friends sometimes used to feel sad and were unable to participate well in class when we went to school hungry, but as soon as we finished eating Mary’s Meals, we became active in class with smiles on our faces.”
While Ericson can’t predict what the future holds, he believes the foundation he built at primary school is strong and says he will do all he can to complete his secondary schooling, enrol in college, and become a medical doctor.
Giving children the opportunity for an education
By providing daily meals for children in their place of education, Mary’s Meals stands together with communities living in poverty in their fight for education and a better future.
With your donations, and the school meals they fund in 16 countries around the world, you are helping to give children a vital chance to engage with learning by addressing their daily hunger to help them to stay in class for longer and maximise their concentration.
It costs just £19.15, €22, $25.20 USD or $31.70 CAD to provide a child with school meals for an entire school year. Learn how the promise of a daily meal at school enables the children we serve to receive an education.
Read our latest Impact Report on how our school feeding programme is helping to tackle poverty by addressing the immediate needs of hungry children and contributing to the long-term development of their communities.