Life-changing support in Liberia

Almost 43,000 children in Liberia eat Mary’s Meals every school day, thanks to the incredible response to a previous match funding campaign. 

Donations from our generous supporters to the Double The Love campaign in 2020/21, matched by the UK Government up to £2 million, have allowed us to feed 42,761 hungry children with a daily school meal in 242 schools across the West African country. 

In Liberia, like many lower-income countries, education is often a low priority especially amongst every day challenges, but the promise of a nutritious meal can be a powerful incentive for children to attend school. 

Liberia’s children suffered greatly as a result of a brutal 14-year civil war, which destroyed the majority of schools and forced most of the country’s children out of education.   

Despite a decade of unbroken peace, Liberia still faces huge challenges to re-establishing its education system. More than 50% of all students do not finish primary school, and poverty and gender inequality continue to hinder access to education, with girls completing an average of 3.5 years of school and boys 6.2 years.  

Ericson, aged 13, recently graduated from primary school in Bong County, Liberia, with his proud parents by his side. A talented student, and football fanatic, he has worked hard at school, achieved fantastic grades, and finished as the top student in his class.   

He believes the foundation he built at primary school is strong and says he will do all he can to complete his secondary schooling, enrol in college, and become a doctor.   

He says: “It could [have been] difficult for me if Mary’s Meals were not served at my school. Me and some of my friends sometimes used to feel sad and were unable to participate well in class when we went to school hungry, but as soon as we finished eating Mary’s Meals, we became active in class with smiles on our faces.”  

Our school feeding programme in Liberia has enabled access to education for both boys and girls, with an equal gender split in the children who attend the schools. Mary’s Meals has also been working to ensure gender parity across School Feeding Committees in schools too, making sure there is a representation of women involved in community decision-making, which is helping to empower women within the wider community.  

Girls, like 14-year-old Favor, are being fuelled by Mary’s Meals, and have the energy to learn and dream of a bright future. Favor says: “I like school because I make so many friends.   

“Mary's Meals is helping me study my notes and making me pass in school. Thank you for being a good friend to us in Liberia and providing food for us to eat.”  

We would like to thank everyone who donated to the Double The Love campaign for the impact you have made. In total, more than 90,000 children eat Mary’s Meals in Liberia every school day and our work is helping to transform the lives of children living in some of the world’s poorest communities.