[Music] during 2002 I found myself in Malawi in
during 2002 I found myself in Malawi in
during 2002 I found myself in Malawi in Southeast Africa for the first time and
Southeast Africa for the first time and
Southeast Africa for the first time and I was there involved in emergency
I was there involved in emergency
I was there involved in emergency feeding programs helping bring food from
feeding programs helping bring food from
feeding programs helping bring food from the cities into into villages where
the cities into into villages where
the cities into into villages where people were literally eating the the
people were literally eating the the
people were literally eating the the leaves of trees and the roots of trees
leaves of trees and the roots of trees
leaves of trees and the roots of trees to survive that the previous year had
to survive that the previous year had
to survive that the previous year had been a year of of terrible drought
been a year of of terrible drought
been a year of of terrible drought across the whole of Southeast Africa at
across the whole of Southeast Africa at
across the whole of Southeast Africa at one point many millions of people faced
one point many millions of people faced
one point many millions of people faced starvation and while I was there those
starvation and while I was there those
starvation and while I was there those those months in 2002 I began thinking a
those months in 2002 I began thinking a
those months in 2002 I began thinking a bit about the the cause of of chronic
bit about the the cause of of chronic
bit about the the cause of of chronic hunger I began thinking about the fact
hunger I began thinking about the fact
hunger I began thinking about the fact that that chronic hunger isn’t really
that that chronic hunger isn’t really
that that chronic hunger isn’t really caused by by a lack of food there’s more
caused by by a lack of food there’s more
caused by by a lack of food there’s more than enough food in the world for all of
than enough food in the world for all of
than enough food in the world for all of us to eat well chronic hunger is caused
us to eat well chronic hunger is caused
us to eat well chronic hunger is caused by by poverty and that’s something I was
by by poverty and that’s something I was
by by poverty and that’s something I was considering that year as we bought that
considering that year as we bought that
considering that year as we bought that food with donations and in in the cities
food with donations and in in the cities
food with donations and in in the cities and brought it into those villages where
and brought it into those villages where
and brought it into those villages where people were hungry and during the course
people were hungry and during the course
people were hungry and during the course of the work I made this family it was a
of the work I made this family it was a
of the work I made this family it was a family that really changed the course of
family that really changed the course of
family that really changed the course of my life the the father of the family had
my life the the father of the family had
my life the the father of the family had died some time before I visited their
died some time before I visited their
died some time before I visited their their home and when I met them the
their home and when I met them the
their home and when I met them the mother Emma was also dying she had AIDS
mother Emma was also dying she had AIDS
mother Emma was also dying she had AIDS and she said to me as she sat they are
and she said to me as she sat they are
and she said to me as she sat they are surrounded by it by her children you
surrounded by it by her children you
surrounded by it by her children you know there’s only one thing left for me
know there’s only one thing left for me
know there’s only one thing left for me now and that that’s to pray that
now and that that’s to pray that
now and that that’s to pray that somebody will look after my children
somebody will look after my children
somebody will look after my children when I’m gone and then I began talking
when I’m gone and then I began talking
when I’m gone and then I began talking to her her oldest child sitting behind
to her her oldest child sitting behind
to her her oldest child sitting behind her at the back of that that picture I
her at the back of that that picture I
her at the back of that that picture I took that day and at one point in the
took that day and at one point in the
took that day and at one point in the conversation with Edward I said to him
conversation with Edward I said to him
conversation with Edward I said to him Edward what’s your what’s your hopes for
Edward what’s your what’s your hopes for
Edward what’s your what’s your hopes for what’s your am
what’s your am
what’s your am in life he looked at me and he said I
in life he looked at me and he said I
in life he looked at me and he said I like to have enough food to eat and I
like to have enough food to eat and I
like to have enough food to eat and I would like to be able to go to school
would like to be able to go to school
would like to be able to go to school one day and that was it that was the
one day and that was it that was the
one day and that was it that was the extent of his ambition at 14 years of
extent of his ambition at 14 years of
extent of his ambition at 14 years of age
age
age and that that plight of Edwards is one
and that that plight of Edwards is one
and that that plight of Edwards is one shared by millions of children around
shared by millions of children around
shared by millions of children around the world today around 61 million
the world today around 61 million
the world today around 61 million children are missing school because of
children are missing school because of
children are missing school because of poverty and hunger around 8,000 children
poverty and hunger around 8,000 children
poverty and hunger around 8,000 children just under the age of five are dying of
just under the age of five are dying of
just under the age of five are dying of hunger related causes every year around
hunger related causes every year around
hunger related causes every year around 66 million children go to school hungry
66 million children go to school hungry
66 million children go to school hungry and and that so that’s a huge huge
and and that so that’s a huge huge
and and that so that’s a huge huge impact on those on those children that
impact on those on those children that
impact on those on those children that really traps those children in a in a
really traps those children in a in a
really traps those children in a in a cycle of poverty girls especially are
cycle of poverty girls especially are
cycle of poverty girls especially are likely to miss out school and in those
likely to miss out school and in those
likely to miss out school and in those circumstances perhaps working in the
circumstances perhaps working in the
circumstances perhaps working in the fields with their their parents begging
fields with their their parents begging
fields with their their parents begging on street corners working in rubbish
on street corners working in rubbish
on street corners working in rubbish dumps finding things to sale for for
dumps finding things to sale for for
dumps finding things to sale for for recycling and they get caught up in that
recycling and they get caught up in that
recycling and they get caught up in that vicious cycle of poverty we see that
vicious cycle of poverty we see that
vicious cycle of poverty we see that that that hunger results and their
that that hunger results and their
that that hunger results and their health being impaired for life millions
health being impaired for life millions
health being impaired for life millions of children their development is stunted
of children their development is stunted
of children their development is stunted by hunger and their their early years of
by hunger and their their early years of
by hunger and their their early years of of life and of course missing out in
of life and of course missing out in
of life and of course missing out in education missing out on the possibility
education missing out on the possibility
education missing out on the possibility to learn how to to read and write
to learn how to to read and write
to learn how to to read and write greatly diminishes the prospects of
greatly diminishes the prospects of
greatly diminishes the prospects of their lives
their lives
their lives so in the face of that in the face of
so in the face of that in the face of
so in the face of that in the face of that they’re very simple ants or the
that they’re very simple ants or the
that they’re very simple ants or the Edward gave me that that day and and in
Edward gave me that that day and and in
Edward gave me that that day and and in the face of the plight of those millions
the face of the plight of those millions
the face of the plight of those millions of children that I’ve just talked about
of children that I’ve just talked about
of children that I’ve just talked about we started a very simple project at the
we started a very simple project at the
we started a very simple project at the end of that that famine year at the end
end of that that famine year at the end
end of that that famine year at the end of 2002 we called it may these meals and
of 2002 we called it may these meals and
of 2002 we called it may these meals and the project is all about providing one
the project is all about providing one
the project is all about providing one good
good
good meal every day in a place of Education
meal every day in a place of Education
meal every day in a place of Education so that we meet the the immediate need
so that we meet the the immediate need
so that we meet the the immediate need of the hungry child for food but at the
of the hungry child for food but at the
of the hungry child for food but at the same time we always serve that food in a
same time we always serve that food in a
same time we always serve that food in a way that enables those children to come
way that enables those children to come
way that enables those children to come into the classroom and to gain that
into the classroom and to gain that
into the classroom and to gain that education that can set them free I think
education that can set them free I think
education that can set them free I think the way that we began this work of
the way that we began this work of
the way that we began this work of Middies meals is absolutely key why it’s
Middies meals is absolutely key why it’s
Middies meals is absolutely key why it’s worked and why it’s grown around the
worked and why it’s grown around the
worked and why it’s grown around the world in the amazing way that that it
world in the amazing way that that it
world in the amazing way that that it has we recognized from the beginning
has we recognized from the beginning
has we recognized from the beginning that if this was going to work at last
that if this was going to work at last
that if this was going to work at last it would have to be owned by the by the
it would have to be owned by the by the
it would have to be owned by the by the local community more than it could ever
local community more than it could ever
local community more than it could ever be owned by us from from outside so the
be owned by us from from outside so the
be owned by us from from outside so the first thing that we did was that we held
first thing that we did was that we held
first thing that we did was that we held some public meetings and we said to the
some public meetings and we said to the
some public meetings and we said to the people that came you know we’ve got this
people that came you know we’ve got this
people that came you know we’ve got this idea that we would like to start serving
idea that we would like to start serving
idea that we would like to start serving meals in your primary school but we’ll
meals in your primary school but we’ll
meals in your primary school but we’ll only try to go forward with this if you
only try to go forward with this if you
only try to go forward with this if you believe in it if you believe this is a
believe in it if you believe this is a
believe in it if you believe this is a good idea and more than that we’ll only
good idea and more than that we’ll only
good idea and more than that we’ll only go forward with it if you’re willing to
go forward with it if you’re willing to
go forward with it if you’re willing to take responsibility locally to volunteer
take responsibility locally to volunteer
take responsibility locally to volunteer to cook and serve those meals every day
to cook and serve those meals every day
to cook and serve those meals every day and immediately the people who came to
and immediately the people who came to
and immediately the people who came to those meetings said yes this is this is
those meetings said yes this is this is
those meetings said yes this is this is what we want this is what our children
what we want this is what our children
what we want this is what our children need and they began drawing up rotors
need and they began drawing up rotors
need and they began drawing up rotors fatigue turns to come in to volunteer
fatigue turns to come in to volunteer
fatigue turns to come in to volunteer their time and then the other the other
their time and then the other the other
their time and then the other the other key thing from the beginning was that as
key thing from the beginning was that as
key thing from the beginning was that as much as possible we wanted to buy the
much as possible we wanted to buy the
much as possible we wanted to buy the food locally to support the local farmer
food locally to support the local farmer
food locally to support the local farmer to support the local economy in Malawi
to support the local economy in Malawi
to support the local economy in Malawi that meant a dish called lacunae Paulo
that meant a dish called lacunae Paulo
that meant a dish called lacunae Paulo which is a corn soya blend it’s like a
which is a corn soya blend it’s like a
which is a corn soya blend it’s like a porridge made of the the maize grown in
porridge made of the the maize grown in
porridge made of the the maize grown in Malawi soya small amount of sugar and
Malawi soya small amount of sugar and
Malawi soya small amount of sugar and then added vitamins and minerals so a
then added vitamins and minerals so a
then added vitamins and minerals so a very nutritious meal but all sourced
very nutritious meal but all sourced
very nutritious meal but all sourced from things grown and produced within
from things grown and produced within
from things grown and produced within Malawi and very inexpensive and so we
Malawi and very inexpensive and so we
Malawi and very inexpensive and so we began the volunteers in that particular
began the volunteers in that particular
began the volunteers in that particular village began serving the first meals to
village began serving the first meals to
village began serving the first meals to about 200 children at the end of 2000
about 200 children at the end of 2000
about 200 children at the end of 2000 and fairly quickly we could see this
and fairly quickly we could see this
and fairly quickly we could see this wasn’t just a nice idea it was it was
wasn’t just a nice idea it was it was
wasn’t just a nice idea it was it was something that was really going to
something that was really going to
something that was really going to change the lives of those children
change the lives of those children
change the lives of those children because almost immediately we could see
because almost immediately we could see
because almost immediately we could see the children who’d never been to school
the children who’d never been to school
the children who’d never been to school before began coming to the school
before began coming to the school
before began coming to the school because of that promise of a meal
because of that promise of a meal
because of that promise of a meal children who used to come just some days
children who used to come just some days
children who used to come just some days began coming every day after a longer
began coming every day after a longer
began coming every day after a longer period of time the teachers reported to
period of time the teachers reported to
period of time the teachers reported to us that there was a very dramatic
us that there was a very dramatic
us that there was a very dramatic improvement in academic performance
improvement in academic performance
improvement in academic performance children who previously came to school
children who previously came to school
children who previously came to school too hungry to learn were now able to
too hungry to learn were now able to
too hungry to learn were now able to concentrate and and pass their exams so
concentrate and and pass their exams so
concentrate and and pass their exams so this very very simple thing we were
this very very simple thing we were
this very very simple thing we were doing we could see there was having
doing we could see there was having
doing we could see there was having enormous results and around that very
enormous results and around that very
enormous results and around that very simple thing a movement of support began
simple thing a movement of support began
simple thing a movement of support began to grow first of all here in Scotland
to grow first of all here in Scotland
to grow first of all here in Scotland and other parts of the UK and then very
and other parts of the UK and then very
and other parts of the UK and then very rapidly that support splayed around the
rapidly that support splayed around the
rapidly that support splayed around the world people volunteering to fundraise
world people volunteering to fundraise
world people volunteering to fundraise to raise awareness
to raise awareness
to raise awareness thousands of people donating the money
thousands of people donating the money
thousands of people donating the money required to buy the food in country
required to buy the food in country
required to buy the food in country people loving this very simple thing
people loving this very simple thing
people loving this very simple thing that that worked and for us that that
that that worked and for us that that
that that worked and for us that that simplicity and that sharp focus of
simplicity and that sharp focus of
simplicity and that sharp focus of mission is really key something we never
mission is really key something we never
mission is really key something we never want to lose as we grow this pictures of
want to lose as we grow this pictures of
want to lose as we grow this pictures of the global HQ of Mary’s meals it’s a
the global HQ of Mary’s meals it’s a
the global HQ of Mary’s meals it’s a shade that I borrowed off my father back
shade that I borrowed off my father back
shade that I borrowed off my father back in 1992 to collect some aid when we were
in 1992 to collect some aid when we were
in 1992 to collect some aid when we were helping the refugees and in Bosnia and
helping the refugees and in Bosnia and
helping the refugees and in Bosnia and I’ve never given it back to him and and
I’ve never given it back to him and and
I’ve never given it back to him and and but that’s a deliberate thing as well
but that’s a deliberate thing as well
but that’s a deliberate thing as well it’s a symbol of that simplicity that we
it’s a symbol of that simplicity that we
it’s a symbol of that simplicity that we want to keep under a recognition of the
want to keep under a recognition of the
want to keep under a recognition of the fact that when people give us the
fact that when people give us the
fact that when people give us the nation’s they do that so that we can buy
nation’s they do that so that we can buy
nation’s they do that so that we can buy food for hungry children not so that we
food for hungry children not so that we
food for hungry children not so that we can build fancy officers or pay
can build fancy officers or pay
can build fancy officers or pay ourselves high salaries so today we’re
ourselves high salaries so today we’re
ourselves high salaries so today we’re feeding 1 million two hundred and thirty
feeding 1 million two hundred and thirty
feeding 1 million two hundred and thirty thousand one hundred
thousand one hundred
thousand one hundred 71 children every school day across 14
71 children every school day across 14
71 children every school day across 14 different countries so Malawi still by
different countries so Malawi still by
different countries so Malawi still by far the biggest project we feed they are
far the biggest project we feed they are
far the biggest project we feed they are over 30% of the primary school
over 30% of the primary school
over 30% of the primary school population in Liberia we have a very
population in Liberia we have a very
population in Liberia we have a very large project they are Liberia as one of
large project they are Liberia as one of
large project they are Liberia as one of the worst statistics in the world today
the worst statistics in the world today
the worst statistics in the world today for numbers of children out of school
for numbers of children out of school
for numbers of children out of school only about 50% of Liberian children ever
only about 50% of Liberian children ever
only about 50% of Liberian children ever enroll in a school so there we see
enroll in a school so there we see
enroll in a school so there we see particularly dramatic results when we
particularly dramatic results when we
particularly dramatic results when we begin serving the meals in Haiti for
begin serving the meals in Haiti for
begin serving the meals in Haiti for example were working in huge urban slums
example were working in huge urban slums
example were working in huge urban slums they are and again we see those meals
they are and again we see those meals
they are and again we see those meals bringing the children off the streets
bringing the children off the streets
bringing the children off the streets into school very often for the first
into school very often for the first
into school very often for the first time in northern Kenya working with
time in northern Kenya working with
time in northern Kenya working with semi-nomadic people people who are
semi-nomadic people people who are
semi-nomadic people people who are really having to adapt their way of life
really having to adapt their way of life
really having to adapt their way of life life due to the climate change they are
life due to the climate change they are
life due to the climate change they are and more important than ever that their
and more important than ever that their
and more important than ever that their children have the opportunity of an
children have the opportunity of an
children have the opportunity of an education lots of different logistical
education lots of different logistical
education lots of different logistical problems to solve always trying to do
problems to solve always trying to do
problems to solve always trying to do that as locally as possible so most
that as locally as possible so most
that as locally as possible so most often it’s about moving food and country
often it’s about moving food and country
often it’s about moving food and country this is a dugout canoe taking rice
this is a dugout canoe taking rice
this is a dugout canoe taking rice across the river my hair in Liberia –
across the river my hair in Liberia –
across the river my hair in Liberia – one of the villages that we that we
one of the villages that we that we
one of the villages that we that we serve they are less often we have to
serve they are less often we have to
serve they are less often we have to move food in from outside the country
move food in from outside the country
move food in from outside the country for example now in the famine situation
for example now in the famine situation
for example now in the famine situation in in South Sudan we’re having to take
in in South Sudan we’re having to take
in in South Sudan we’re having to take food in from Uganda from Kenya sometimes
food in from Uganda from Kenya sometimes
food in from Uganda from Kenya sometimes even flying it in but always all these
even flying it in but always all these
even flying it in but always all these years we’ve always found a way we’ve
years we’ve always found a way we’ve
years we’ve always found a way we’ve always found a way to keep our promise
always found a way to keep our promise
always found a way to keep our promise when we begin those projects and to
when we begin those projects and to
when we begin those projects and to serve the meals every day and that that
serve the meals every day and that that
serve the meals every day and that that promise is really important for us that
promise is really important for us that
promise is really important for us that promise to the communities that promise
promise to the communities that promise
promise to the communities that promise to the children because when they can
to the children because when they can
to the children because when they can trust in that
trust in that
trust in that they keep coming and and it changes
they keep coming and and it changes
they keep coming and and it changes their lives and and one thing that’s
their lives and and one thing that’s
their lives and and one thing that’s very important for us as this work goes
very important for us as this work goes
very important for us as this work goes on is that we see that that we need to
on is that we see that that we need to
on is that we see that that we need to build a body of evidence to show that
build a body of evidence to show that
build a body of evidence to show that this that this works it’s not just
this that this works it’s not just
this that this works it’s not just something that we talk about we spender
something that we talk about we spender
something that we talk about we spender that we talk about in terms of stories
that we talk about in terms of stories
that we talk about in terms of stories or anecdotes or something there’s really
or anecdotes or something there’s really
or anecdotes or something there’s really working in terms of increased enrollment
working in terms of increased enrollment
working in terms of increased enrollment increased attendance rates and and so on
increased attendance rates and and so on
increased attendance rates and and so on one in pipe we see is huge improvements
one in pipe we see is huge improvements
one in pipe we see is huge improvements in agriculture just simply by saying to
in agriculture just simply by saying to
in agriculture just simply by saying to farmers that we can buy their produce it
farmers that we can buy their produce it
farmers that we can buy their produce it enables them to invest in their farms in
enables them to invest in their farms in
enables them to invest in their farms in Liberia also every school that takes
Liberia also every school that takes
Liberia also every school that takes part in our mission we say to them they
part in our mission we say to them they
part in our mission we say to them they have to start a school farm now and
have to start a school farm now and
have to start a school farm now and begin to contribute towards the project
begin to contribute towards the project
begin to contribute towards the project that way also and we see the
that way also and we see the
that way also and we see the government’s now the Malawian government
government’s now the Malawian government
government’s now the Malawian government now have a policy of school feeding for
now have a policy of school feeding for
now have a policy of school feeding for the first time and they say publicly
the first time and they say publicly
the first time and they say publicly they’ve done that because they see the
they’ve done that because they see the
they’ve done that because they see the impact of midis meals in their country
impact of midis meals in their country
impact of midis meals in their country and I’ll just finish with Veronica
and I’ll just finish with Veronica
and I’ll just finish with Veronica Veronica is now in university studying
Veronica is now in university studying
Veronica is now in university studying finance someone who speaks with great
finance someone who speaks with great
finance someone who speaks with great hope about the future of our country and
hope about the future of our country and
hope about the future of our country and her own future
her own future
her own future turns out Veronica was amongst the first
turns out Veronica was amongst the first
turns out Veronica was amongst the first group of 200 children we ever fed back
group of 200 children we ever fed back
group of 200 children we ever fed back in 2002 an orphan who went sometimes a
in 2002 an orphan who went sometimes a
in 2002 an orphan who went sometimes a week without food at home who said she
week without food at home who said she
week without food at home who said she never would have gone to school without
never would have gone to school without
never would have gone to school without her meals so our vision is that every
her meals so our vision is that every
her meals so our vision is that every child in this world should at least be
child in this world should at least be
child in this world should at least be able to eat one good meal every day in
able to eat one good meal every day in
able to eat one good meal every day in the place of Education and I believe
the place of Education and I believe
the place of Education and I believe that’s possible thank you
that’s possible thank you
that’s possible thank you [Applause]
”
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