Smiles that shine around the world
Mary’s Meals began more than 20 years ago with the vision that every child in the world receives one daily meal in their place of education. Today, we are reaching more than 3 million children and with every meal there is hope of a better future.
A smile is a universal expression of happiness and hope. It is also synonymous with Mary’s Meals. A smiling child receiving their daily school meal, a parent knowing their child has eaten, or a teacher who is confident their pupils are getting the most out of their time in class. They share their smiles every day, reminding us of what the school meals mean to them.
With Mary’s Meals now serving more than 3 million children every school day, we all have another reason to smile. This is a remarkable moment and one we are proud of. It was made possible by a significant expansion of our program during the first half of 2025, with an additional 462,000 children receiving a daily school meal.
Mary’s Meals Founder and CEO, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, explains we committed to the expansion because the need for a reliable school feeding program in countries most affected by hunger and poverty is as urgent as ever.
“When we first began serving Mary’s Meals in one small primary school in Malawi back in 2003, we could never have imagined that this work would grow into a global movement now serving 3 million children every school day.
“And yet, at the same time, when we see how this simple, inexpensive intervention is helping to transform some of the world’s poorest communities we have an urgent desire for it to grow faster – and a belief that it can.”
School meals that make a difference
Not only do we believe our work must continue to grow, our research shows that our low-cost model is delivering high-impact results, with 74% of children feeling hungry before meals was served. This dropped to 1% once they had eaten. And 75% of pupils said they never left early during the school day because of hunger. Our meals also have a positive impact on attendance, participation, focus, lesson retention and pass rate, as well as reducing sickness and absenteeism.
School meals also give hope to the communities that help to deliver our program as they believe education is the key to a better future. Nyambi in southern Malawi is one community where earlier this year children began eating nutritious porridge at the local school, Namingwere Primary.
Louis Yahaya, the village’s senior chief, explains: “This community is very remote. People are struggling terribly. So many parents here today do not have food in their homes. Most families go to sleep without having eaten that day. For a household to achieve anything, they need food.
“My dream is that the children of this community will get an education and to be productive members of society. Mary’s Meals bringing this initiative is a first step to achieving this dream.”
The success and smiles of Mary’s Meals are thanks to the people who support and believe in our work as much as we do. Local volunteers who make it possible for our program to run by giving their time to prepare and serve the meals; our trusted partners who help us to deliver the school feeding in areas we would otherwise be unable to reach and the millions of supporters who share what they can – money, time, skills, and prayer - so children facing poverty can eat a much-needed meal every school day.
Reaching the next child
Even as we reach this important moment, millions of children around the world are still in need of Mary’s Meals. Founder Magnus adds: “The sad reality is that tens of millions of children remain hungry and out of school. This very day - in a world in which we produce more than enough food for us all - thousands of children will die of hunger-related causes. And yet it costs Mary’s Meals around 16 cents to serve one meal, and less that $32 to feed a child for a whole school year.
“And so, this landmark is less a celebration than it is a call to action. We invite every person of good will to join the Mary’s Meals movement so that our vision – that every child in this world receives one daily meal in their place of education – might be realized.”
Please join us in reaching more than 3 million children by uploading a photo of you smiling to social media and tagging it #SmileForMarysMeals.
Help us to keep our promise and to spread more smiles.
Just $31.70 provides a child with daily meals for an entire school year. Mary’s Meals is now reaching more than 3 million children with a nutritious daily meal in their place of education. While we're proud of this milestone, there are millions more children who are still hungry and out of school. Join us in the fight to end to child hunger.
Just $31.70 feeds a child for a whole school year.