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Mary’s Meals, the charity that feeds life-changing school meals to more than 3 million children living in some of the world’s poorest communities every day, has launched a new award, “Schools Feeding Schools”, for primary schools in the UK.
In 16 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, the promise of a good meal from Mary’s Meal brings hungry children into the classroom, where they can gain an education and better opportunities for the future. The meals make it possible for hungry children to come to school and give them the energy they need to concentrate and participate in class.
For children in this country, Schools Feeding Schools supports the curriculum aims of developing pupils as educated citizens, promoting opportunities in spiritual, moral, cultural and physical development.
Supported by cross-curricular learning resources for all ages, it gives school communities the opportunity to take social action that will support the mission and ethos of the school, whilst giving life changing meals to some of the world’s poorest children. In the process of learning new skills, pupils find out about different cultures in the world and how their actions can make a difference.
This scheme has been designed to fit in with the academic year and is supported by Mary’s Meals’ schools’ resources and an assembly if required, with the flexibility to work around the school calendar and commitments.
Each term has a theme:
In Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Mary’s Meals serves children steaming mugs of vitamin-enriched porridge, helping them to learn and grow.
UK schools have used World Porridge Day as an opportunity to enhance skills and knowledge about a healthy diet and the importance of a good start to the day. In one school, different classes made various porridge based products such as overnight oats, porridge, biscuits and these were accompanied by various healthy fruits such as kiwi, strawberries, raspberries. Pupils also have the opportunity to learn skills of measuring, mixing, hygiene and timing.
You can help to Raise Some Dough for Mary's Meals by holding a bake sale for your community – or even inviting people in for a coffee morning. Schools have used this as an opportunity to enhance skills and knowledge about a healthy diet and the importance of a good start to the day. Other schools have held a “pound for porridge” breakfast and inviting members of the local community to join them.
At the end of the academic year, Mary’s Meals would be delighted to visit your school to present you with your award!
This is an opportunity to use physical activity and turn this into meals for hungry children around the world. Running, bouncing, dancing, climbing, jumping have all brought attention to the work of Mary’s Meals globally. Hollywood Actor, Gerard Butler, upon visiting one of the feeding programmes stated, “Do you see what happens after a simple meal, they just came to life!” Schools have also incorporated this into their sport’s day or
As the headteacher at St Werburgh’s, one of the pilot schools, said about the Schools Feeding Schools award:
“Definitely do it! The children learn so much from the fundraising. They are really motivated and energised to help and support and enable other children around the world to do what they take for granted, going to school each day. The fundraising ideas each term are really creative and each class came up with their own ideas for the different events. Being part of the project has enriched our lives. Thank you.”
Source: Mary's Meals
