The canteen is important because it provides a stable frequency rate at the schools, because the students can count on a warm meal. This gives them peace of mind.
School feeding programmes are widely recognised as a cost-effective way to tackle poverty by addressing the immediate needs of hungry children and contributing to the long-term development of their communities. We conduct research annually to show the ongoing impact of our work.
This 2025 report adds to our evidence that providing a nutritious daily meal in a place of learning is one of the most practical ways to support children facing hunger, encouraging them to attend school and giving them energy to concentrate and actively participate in class. The report also shows that Mary's Meals delivers consistent school meals that reduce hunger, boost wellbeing, and support household resilience while also laying the foundations for long-term change through education in places of greatest need.
Assessing our impact
Our five-year research project observed our school feeding programme in two of our largest country programmes: Malawi and Zambia.
We spoke to children, teachers, parents and volunteers in each country to find out more about the difference school meals are making. Our findings showed that the meals we serve every school day have the power to impact child hunger and children’s energy and wellbeing and to increase school enrolment and improve attendance.
Although our focus will always centre around the children we serve, the impact of our work on communities is also significant, and the generosity and dedication of our volunteers and local communities is intrinsic to our approach to school feeding.
