Liberia

Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 177 out of 193 countries and territories in the Human Development Index (HDI).

In Liberia, like many poor countries, survival often takes priority over education – unless there is the incentive of a meal being provided at school. 

Nearly 70% of the Liberian workforce relies on agriculture to make a living and it is a vital sector for reducing hunger and poverty. However, several factors hinder Liberia’s agricultural progress, such outdated farming methods or machinery, inadequate storage facilities, and limited access to markets.

Mary's Meals in Liberia 

Mary’s Meals currently serves school meals to more than 95,000 children in schools across Liberia. 

The schools we support are mainly in remote and often inaccessible areas. Delivering food to these schools, deep in the jungle, via off-road routes, is particularly challenging in rainy season when monsoons are common. 

Mary’s Meals has been working in Liberia since 1992. Our early work there included a mobile health clinic for difficult-to-reach regions, and we started serving school meals in 2006. 

We are the only organisation serving school meals in Bong County. We also deliver our programme in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Montserrado counties. 

While we strive to source as much of our food locally as possible, it is sometimes necessary to order from further afield – as much as five months in advance – to ensure we can keep our promise to feed the hungry children we serve in Liberia. 

Hear from Agnes and Peter, volunteer cooks for Mary's Meals in Sinje Town