Mary’s Meals asks ex-beneficiaries to ‘give back’ as 3.4m children go without school meals

Mary’s Meals Malawi has launched a new initiative dubbed the Alumni Campaign, inviting former beneficiaries of its school feeding programme to reconnect with the movement and help feed the next child still waiting for a daily school meal.

Speaking at the official launch in Blantyre, Mary’s Meals Malawi Head of Growth Monalisa Bandawe said the programme seeks to reach out to individuals who once benefited from the organisation’s primary school feeding initiative, wherever they may be, and invite them to donate, partner with the movement, or help raise awareness in support of school-going children still grappling with food insecurity.

She said the challenge has been worsened by repeated climate shocks—including droughts, floods and erratic rainfall—alongside the rising cost of living.

Bandawe described food insecurity as a major driver of pressure on households, noting that for many children, hunger remains a barrier to attending school.

“For over 22 years we have been serving a daily meal to children in schools, and by doing this we encourage children experiencing poverty and hunger to attend school, stay in class, and focus on learning,” she said.

“Currently, we have more than 3.4 million school-age children in the country who do not have access to a daily school meal, demonstrating the scale of unmet need and the urgency behind the Alumni Campaign.

“We take this campaign as an opportunity for alumni to respond to the need, as we are inviting those who once received Mary’s Meals to help ensure that children today can have the same support,” Bandawe said.

Mary’s Meals Malawi currently reaches more than 1.4 million children every school day across 24 districts, with each child costing K43,708.92 per school year.