A journey full circle
Our school meals fuelled a brighter future for Robert
Robert's Mary’s Meals story began 15 years ago, when he started eating our nutritious meals in school. For Robert and many of his classmates in Liberia, the food he received was more than just nourishment – it was a lifeline.
He says: “Without Mary's Meals, I honestly cannot tell you if I would be in the position I am today.”
Mary’s Meals has been feeding children in Liberia since 2006. While the country has experienced a decade of peace following a brutal civil war, it still faces enormous challenges. More than 50% of students don’t finish primary school, and poverty remains a barrier to education. Girls complete an average of just 3.5 years of school, while boys complete 6.2 years.
The promise of a daily school meal at school quickly made a profound impact on Robert’s life, improving his concentration in class, as well as his general health. He says: “Knowing we would get that meal at school made us pay more attention in class. The impact of Mary's Meals was twofold: it was about concentration and nutrition.”
Robert’s connection to Mary’s Meals goes far beyond eating our school meals. Today, he is a dedicated Transport Officer for Mary’s Meals Liberia, making sure that the programme, which feeds more than 150,000 children every school day, continues to run smoothly. His journey from a boy who worried about where his next meal was coming from, to a committed staff member helping others access the same vital support he had from Mary’s Meals, is testament to the transformative power of our school meals.
Ambitious and driven, Robert’s passion for education didn’t stop when school ended. He is currently studying Supply Chain Management at the Liberia Institute of Public Administration, as well as completing an online course in Business Administration – all while balancing his job at Mary’s Meals. Yet, he credits the stability of school meals as the foundation that allowed him to pursue his ambitions.
Robert says: "It is only God who can determine what life would be like without Mary's Meals. But I don't think we were going to be okay without it. Given the condition of my family and [me] back then, it was not good. Without Mary's Meals, it would have been very difficult – if not impossible – for us to get by.”
He continues: “Gradually, my plans have been fulfilled. I feel blessed to be where I am today, and I see it as a means to give back and help others. I'm privileged to be one of the beneficiaries of this kind gesture. That I can ensure others receive this support in a timely manner too is a blessing I can't fully express."
Despite the progress made in Liberia, our work there is far from over. There are children without the support they need to succeed, and our school feeding programme remains crucial in bridging these gaps and giving them a chance to build a better future.
Robert's final message is simple, but powerful: "What I want to say is that Mary's Meals has been incredibly helpful to people in Liberia and around the world. I pray and hope that this programme continues. There are still many people in need. My contribution to Mary's Meals is small, but this programme should persist and continue to impact lives."
With your support, we can ensure that more children, like Robert, have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their dreams.
