Eurita’s struggle for survival
Malawi is in a state of emergency and mums like Eurita are struggling to feed their children. Millions are going hungry.
It’s hard to imagine things being much worse for Eurita and her children. Since her husband died, she has fought to keep the family going, but recently it has been impossible to make ends meet.
A horrible combination of floods and drought has destroyed Malawi’s usual harvest, leaving many families on the brink of starvation. Eurita fears for the future of her six young children.
Eurita tells us: “On days like today when we have no food, I just watch my children and feel helpless. There is no food and it’s heart-breaking to see my children like this. I am in the dark. I’m scared.”
But there is some light in Eurita’s daily struggle for survival. Her children now attend Mchenga Primary School every day, where they receive food from Mary’s Meals.
Amidst the crisis, the daily meal we provide is not just a powerful incentive to come to school, but a vital lifeline for children in desperate need of nourishment.
Mariya, Eurita’s 14-year-old daughter, says: “I feel weak and dizzy when I’m hungry, but when I’ve eaten the phala [porridge] I feel strong and have energy. The phala makes school possible.”
Mariya is one of 814,000 children in Malawi – this country where 6.5 million people are facing chronic hunger – who already depend on our school feeding programme.
This food crisis is only going to get worse. As more and more families go hungry, we are determined to continue providing these children with a nutritious daily meal at school, while expanding our global programme to reach even more.
We can only achieve this with your support.
Just $31.70 feeds a child for a whole school year.