Message from Magnus: Families on the brink of starvation

In Malawi crops have been devastated by a horrible combination of floods and drought – 6.5 million people face chronic hunger. Families like 14-year-old Yamikani’s desperately need help.

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow
Mary's Meals founder and CEO

Back to all stories | Posted on 17 August 16 in Update from Magnus

I am writing to you from Malawi where, right now, a terrible situation is rapidly unfolding.

Southern Africa is facing its worst food crisis in many years. A horrible combination of floods and drought has devastated crops, leaving millions on the brink of starvation. None of the people we’ve spoken to know for sure how they will survive the coming months.

One of them is Yamikani who, at just 14, has been orphaned and left to look after her two younger brothers – Amos, 12, and Promise, three – alone.

Sitting outside the family’s mud brick home, Yamikani whispers: “It’s painful not to have our parents and grandparents here with us. We get scared at night time and we are really struggling with hunger. We planted some maize but it died with too much sun. I go into other people’s fields to look for any left-over maize, but find very little.”

And yet, amid such worry and fear, there is hope. Yamikani and her brothers are guaranteed at least one good meal every day - simply because your continued support of Mary's Meals makes it possible for us to go on working at their school, Chigona Primary.

During this time of crisis, our daily meals are not just a powerful incentive to come to school, but a vital lifeline for vulnerable children in desperate need of nourishment.

Even now, our work and your generosity allows children to set their sights on brighter futures. Yamikani tells us: "Exams are the most important thing. I would like to be a nurse - a midwife!"

We are determined to continue feeding the 1,101,206 children who already depend on our school feeding program - and we are desperate to, as funds allow, expand to reach even more. Please help us if you can.

Millions are going hungry. Help us reach more children now.