Life in Liberia: Mary’s Meals made me who I am
Daniel from Liberia knows first-hand the difference that daily school meals can have on the lives of hungry children
As a boy, Daniel Maison ate Mary’s Meals at school – now he works hard to make sure children in classrooms across Liberia can also enjoy life-changing daily meals.
Daniel had a happy childhood until a brutal civil war broke out in his home country when he was just 10 years old.
He explained: “Our village was in an area of fighting, and we had to get out. We went to Monrovia and lived in a displacement camp there. It was tough.”
The family struggled to make ends meet. Without the promise of a daily meal at school, Daniel would have been unable to complete his education:
“I knew how crucial it was to continue my studies, but if it hadn’t been for Mary’s Meals it would have been impossible. To get that support was amazing!,” he says.
Six out of 10 primary school-age children in Liberia are not in school – the second highest number of any country in the world. But thanks to everyday heroes like Daniel, vulnerable children are finding their way back to the classroom.
As an area manager for Mary’s Meals, Daniel is responsible for ensuring that 80,000 children in Bomi County receive a nutritious daily meal in their place of education. He organises the delivery of food to 119 schools each month and runs the warehouse where sacks of rice and beans are safely stored.
It can be a challenging job, especially during the rainy season when dirt roads become waterlogged and the trucks used to transport supplies often get stuck in the churning mud. For Daniel, the effort is worthwhile.
He knows from personal experience how the promise of food and education can help to shape the future.
“I remember carrying my bowl to school every day, and how much it meant to have a tummy full of food,” adds Daniel.
“Mary’s Meals made me who I am. Without them, I wouldn’t have finished my education.”