Schools recognised with inspiring award for feeding hungry children
Three Scottish secondary schools were awarded the Mary’s Meals School Award
Pupils from three secondary schools across Scotland have won an award for fundraising to help hungry children across the world access food and education.
The Mary’s Meals Schools Award was awarded to St Joseph’s Academy in Kilmarnock, St Ambrose High School in Coatbridge and St John’s RC Academy in Perth following months of fundraising by passionate students.
The Schools Award initiative was set up to motivate young people to learn social responsibility, inspire leadership and provide valuable life experience, while helping communities in need internationally. The programme offers three levels of recognition based on a school’s engagement: a Bronze Award, Silver Award or Gold Reward.
Inspiring school communities to make a difference
The award-winning Scottish schools raised money and awareness through activities organised by student leadership teams, including a poster competition, an Easter raffle, a Move For Meals walking challenge and a spare change collection.
Shona Devine, Religious Education teacher at St Joseph’s Academy, which won a Bronze Award, says: “It was an extremely rewarding experience that inspired our school community to make a positive difference.”
One student commented: “It’s good to know that I’m helping those children in need and it makes me feel good about myself too!”
Making an impact with school meals
By supporting Mary’s Meals, the award-winning schools have helped children like 15-year-old Marlin from South Sudan. She lives in a farming-dependent household with her single mother and siblings. The impact of rising prices, conflict and climate change means that Marlin and her family often face severe economic challenges, leaving them without food. Mary’s Meals provides her with a daily meal which not only fills her empty stomach but also motivates her to go to school and work towards a better future.
She explains: “Before meals were given at school, we stayed without food until we went home. We felt hopeless and lazy in the classroom.”
Now Marlin receives a daily meal of maize or rice with beans, which gives her the energy to study and hope for a better future.
An opportunity for schools to make a real difference
The Mary’s Meals Schools Award Programme gives secondary schools an opportunity to make a real difference to hungry children while gaining valuable leadership experience. The pupils are the driving force behind the activity, asking them to bring together teachers and students, helping grow their confidence and build the school community.
Fran Lawson, Regional Development Officer for West Scotland at Mary’s Meals, says: “A huge congratulations to the students and staff at all three schools for achieving their award. It has been so lovely to hear all their enthusiasm and passion for helping others.
“A massive thanks for all your efforts. I have been blown away by the incredible young people doing amazing things in support of Mary’s Meals.”
It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for an entire school year, so fundraising as a school can make a huge difference for hungry children – while inspiring students to become part of a global movement focused on driving real change for children in some of the world’s poorest communities. Click here to find out more about how to get involved with the Mary’s Meals Schools Award.
