Ever took time to sit down and think of how little things like a cup of porridge would transform the retarded economy like that of Malawi? The irony in this statement unveils a very simple formula which would eventually take the country to achieving the much anticipated economic stability.
It was a chilly Wednesday morning when we set off for John Bande Foundation, an under six children centre where Mary’s Meals runs one of its School Feeding Projects (SFP). Our car treaded slowly through the rough bumpy road to the eastern part of Kachere one of the heavily populated townships of Blantyre, that is where the centre is located.
The sound of our car caught the attention of the children just outside the school fence. Their screams in excitement upon seeing our car drew the attention of their counterparts who were inside a classroom. They all flocked at once and surrounded our car while waving at us with wide smiles on their faces.
They sang rhymes of welcome to us while others kept telling their counterparts to keep the calm.
From the group of about 200 children I singled out Melifa Joshua who seemed to me to be one of the clever ones.
I first started by asking her what she wants to become when she grows up.
‘’When I grow up I want to work in the bank.’’ She responded
Looking at her nevertheless, I was able to tell of the strenuous path she had to take in order to realise her dream.
Melifa is one among many Malawian children whose households are living below poverty lines and have sought solace in the Mary’s Meals feeding centres. The nutritious Likuni Phala portion which they get every morning triggers them to go to school every day hence getting an education by the end of the day.
Education is the major tool of eradicating extreme poverty which tops the lists of the United Nations Millennium development goals. However research shows that extreme poverty is the primary factor that hinders most children from attaining an education. This is where Mary’s Meals comes in.
By way of providing school going children with meals the organisation is one of the power engines driving towards a sustainable economy in the country through intellectual investment in the young ones.
Mary’s Meals complements governments’ efforts of eradicating poverty through sending children back to school so that they clear their course towards becoming responsible and productive citizens someday.
Statistically Mary’s Meals is feeding over 600, 000 children in various schools across the country. These children report in the under six centres every morning. Due to their tender age theses children are kept until late afternoon so that they have access to lunch which most of their families can hardly afford.
The 600,000 is only 20% of children of school going age in the country. Ironically the meals provided to these children do not only let them escape the starvation in their homes but they also expose them to environment where they acquire education. Apparently since the inception of Mary’s Meals in 2002 enrolment in most schools has significantly risen.
Farhana, is communication consultant for Mary’s Meals and she told this writer that they feedback from the centres is always encouraging.
‘’ we always get encouraging feedback from our centres, and that is our inspiration to expand to other parts of the country’’ said Farhana.
However, she was quick to point out that the 20% is not a figure enough in order to realise the dream of redeeming the nation from extreme poverty in the next years.
This is to say if different stakeholders came in and jointly embark on the mission with organisation’s like Mary’s Meals over half of the country’s children would be taken back to the path to shape their future.
Among other achievements, concentration of the children in class has improved thus yielding better results. Mary’s Meals has also helped in taking the girl child back to school. Locally, girls graduate into early parenthood in times of orphan hood as they are supposed to fetch basic amenities take care of siblings.
Practically, it will only take a cup of porridge given to one needy child which will eventually change the whole face of Malawi’s economy.
