Helping The Children To Survive
As a food crisis grips Malawi, Mary’s Meals is taking extra steps to help the most vulnerable
Helping Hand Appeal 2016
Of all the people who have been affected by the drought that has crippled Malawi over the past year, it is the youngest who are among the most vulnerable.
Children like three-year-old Molesi, who lives with his grandmother Mary.
At his tender age, proper food and nutrition is essential to ensure he can develop, but with a swollen stomach, it is clear that Molesi is suffering fromthe effects of malnutrition.
He is not alone. Thousands of youngsters are in the same perilous state. Fortunately, help is provided by Mary’s Meals at Under-6 centres, where volunteers serve up two meals per day to the children.
Mary’s Meals recognises the vital importance of early childhood development and nutrition and supports a programme for children under six-years-old, which is carried out in the centres.
The two meals are vital, lifesaving nourishment, packed with vitamins to help the children grow strong. Normally, the centres operate only in school termtime, but as a result of the current food crisis in Malawi, they remained open during the summer holidays.
Martin Swinchatt, Mary’s Meals country director for Malawi said, “We felt we had to keep the Under-6 centres open because the situation was so bad.
“The feedback we have received was that this was a welcome move as many children would have been left with nothing if they didn’t get food from Mary’s Meals.”
At the centres, of which there are more than 40, serving some 7,000 children, Molesi and others like him receive a combination of food and basic learning.
On arriving at school, Molesi and the other children receive their morning phala, or porridge. After activities they receive their lunchtime meal – nisma, a maize-based dish, and relish or beans.
Despite the hunger, Molesi is a cheery fellow, who likes nothing better than to burst into song. In fact, since he began attending the Under-6 centre, his general health has improved a great deal, perhaps accounting for his abundance of energy.
Molesi lives with his grandmother Mary, who said, “I take care of four orphan children including Molesi. His father left when my daughter was expecting Molesi. After Molesi was born, his mother fell ill and passed away.
“Since then Molesi has been living with me. I used to be able to do piecework, but ever since I was hit by a car I have been unable to work and depend on my other daughter.
“I rely on her, so if she doesn’t have any food, then we also go without food. We sometimes go one or two days without food.”
Inspired by what she saw, Mary began volunteering for Mary’s Meals herself, at the nearby primary school,
“MOLESI NO LONGER HAS TO GO TO HOSPITAL”
preparing and serving porridge.
Mary continued, “I enjoy volunteering. The children eat the best porridge that is not watery and is well prepared. It’s all a part of helping children in the community.
“Molesi and the younger grandchildren attending the Under-6 centre helps a lot. Like in Molesi’s case, he used to be very sick and in hospital, but ever since going to the Under-6 centre he has not needed to go to hospital.
“His health is much more OK, only that he coughs a lot. We thought he had TB but we took him to the doctors and they cleared him of it.”
Stella Namalawa, a carer at the Under-6 centre Molesi attends, said, “Most of the children that attend this Under-6 centre are from our village and they are mostly from poor families. Most of the children don’t have food since there’s no food at home.
“For most of the children, the only food that they have is here at the centre.
“This early learning for the children is good to improve their prospects at school so they can have a better future.
“We started taking care of Molesi when his mother passed away. He stays with his grandmother, she’s a volunteer at Mzedi Primary School but aside from that she doesn’t work.
“It’s difficult for Molesi and his grandmother. His life will only improve if he gets all the necessary food. You can see that even though he eats here twice a day his body is still weak.
“I can’t imagine what his health would be like if he wasn’t at this centre.”