Children Still Need Our Help
Hardworking Yvonne dreams of being a teacher
Yvonne would like to be a teacher when she finishes school so that she can educate other children growing up in Malawi.
She recognises the importance of an education, and her favourite subjects at her rural Kalira Primary School are English and Chichewa, the official languages spoken in Malawi.
Yvonne (11) wakes up before sunrise and carries out household chores before leaving for school on an empty stomach.
At school, Yvonne receives a daily mug of porridge from Mary’s Meals. The food is helping to attract children to the classroom where they are able to learn.
“Porridge makes me full. I don’t feel hungry any more,” said Yvonne.
“It tastes really good. When I have eaten, I can listen attentively in class, and I can understand what the teacher is saying.”
Yvonne’s family grow maize, sweet potato, ground nuts and pigeon peas. However this year’s harvest wasn’t good and they often struggle to find enough food to eat.
Even with Yvonne’s father working away in Johannesburg, it’s clear that resources are tight for the family.
The headteacher of Yvonne’s school says that the hunger situation is bad this year, given the poor harvests.
When we meet Yvonne, she is wearing her school uniform despite it being a non-uniform day, suggesting that she might not have another outfit she could readily wear that day.
She has no coat, jumper or shoes on, even though it is raining on and off and quite cold that morning. Her uniform however is very neat.
Talking about the future, Yvonne said, “The thought of finishing school and getting a job makes me happy.”