The Children Of Malawi Need Your Help
This year’s helping hand appeal is focusing on Malawi, where terrible weather has left millions in need
Malawi was already the poorest country in the world by many standards – but following recent devastating floods and a drought, the situation has become even worse.
Food prices are soaring and hardship is increasing across the country.
What it all means is that your generosity in supporting our helping hand appeal is needed more than ever.
this year we are focusing on Malawi at a time when it needs the vital work of school feeding charity Mary’s Meals more than ever.
Mary’s Meals feeds young people in schools, providing a much-needed bowl of phala (porridge) which is packed with nutrients. Often, it will be the only food a young person might get in the day. it means families living on the edge of starvation are keen to send their children to school for food, and to receive the education they hope will help lift the youngsters out of the cycle of poverty.
children like 15-year-old thomas alias, who lives with his parents, five siblings and four cousins.
“i know my parents are worried about how much food we have harvested this year. it is because there were no rains. We have two bags of maize remaining and i am worried about what will happen when they finish.
“We will have to go some days without any food at all.”
the impact of that simple mug of porridge from Mary’s Meals cannot be overstated, as an emotional thomas indicated. “When i’m in class i am able to pay attention because i’ve eaten the phala. i don’t have to worry if i have no food at home for lunch. it’s s OK because i have had the phala here (in school).
“the phala is like our main diet and anything extra is a bonus to add to it.
“Without Mary’s Meals here a lot of kids would drop out. Many children would stay at home due to hunger, and sleep so they don’t have to worry about coping without food for the rest of the day.”
the situation in Malawi is now so dire that in april the President declared the country is in a state of emergency, with up to eight million people – or around half the population – needing food aid by the end of this year.
Martin Swinchatt, country director for Malawi, oversees Mary’s Meals’ work in the country and has witnessed first-hand a situation that is becoming steadily worse with each passing month.
“things have been deterioratingdt i ti sincei th the t terribleibl flooding at the start of 2015,” he said. “this year the situation has been made worse by what some are describing as the worst drought in 35 years. the harvest was very poor, particularly in the central and southern regions. entire livelihoods were wiped out.
“Many families have been forcedf di intot sellinglli what ht possessions they had, just to provide any kind of food. People who had very little now have absolutely nothing.”
School enrolment is higher than ever in Malawi. the mug of porridge Mary’s Meals serves in 769 (and rising) Malawian primary schools is a lifeline to many.
“in the last few months
enrolment has risen and we expect it to go even higher as the lean season approaches again,” continued Martin. “People need the porridge more than ever.
“It’s even more noticeable in the under-six centres. We are finding that parents are desperate to get these very small children fed.”
Mary’s Meals kept its feeding programme running during the holidays in education centres for children under the age of six, such was the level of hunger.
“With no chance of employment, people have no money and very little they can trade for food, so we had to do something. Teachers were reporting before the summer break that some of their learners were showing signs of malnutrition, so we took the decision to keep feeding through the summer.”