A lifeline in every mug

“I did some farming last rainy season,” she explains, “but I only have five bags of maize to last us the rest of the year, and this is June.”

It’s a reality faced by millions in Zambia as the country grapples with the adverse impacts of climate change. Increased seasonal droughts are straining the country’s already vulnerable resources, particularly agriculture and food security. For the very poorest households – that are largely dependent on maize for food – having enough to feed their families is an immense challenge.

Peggy’s children attend Nyakutwa Primary School, where Mary’s Meals are served to children every school day. The meals they receive bring much-needed relief for her family; not only do they mean that they will have food for that day but, crucially, their maize can stretch further.

Peggy explains: “When a child eats in school, they only need one other meal at home, making the little food we have last longer. Instead of my maize finishing in October, it can last up to January because the children have porridge in school, and I can provide one meal at home.”

And it’s not just Peggy’s family benefitting from Mary’s Meals – the impact is community-wide.

“Both the parents and children are saved because of the porridge,” she adds. “The program has brought a lot of benefits, and it is helping us in a number of ways. When a child comes to school in the morning, they have something to eat, so we don’t have to struggle to find them food like in the past.”

As a strong advocate of school feeding, Peggy is also a volunteer cook, and impresses on other community members the importance of providing meals at school for children.

“The porridge is bringing lots of benefits to many families. My advice to my fellow mothers is, let us continue to volunteer and cook for the children, so that we can develop their lives.”