Primary pupils in Renfrewshire can learn how the power of food is changing the story for children in some of the world’s poorest countries with the launch of new school resources by Mary’s Meals.
The Scottish-based charity is offering free, downloadable activity packs to primary schools to help youngsters find out more about its work feeding kids in 19 countries where poverty levels are high, which include Malawi, Haiti and Madagascar.
Centred on Upile, a girl from Malawi, and her friends, the educational ‘Superheroes’ resource shows how the daily mug of vitamin-enriched porridge they receive from Mary’s Meals gives them energy and superhero powers.
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Resources include a video, fun activities such as colouring-in sheets, and the chance for children to design their own superhero masks. The materials also support learning across the curriculum including language, literacy and health and wellbeing.
The educational packs are aimed at primary school children and contain different resources for children aged between five and 11-years-old.
Mary’s Meals provides a daily meal in a place of learning in order to attract chronically poor children into the classroom, where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty.
The organisation has also produced an updated resource called Amazing Grace which is aimed at pupils in upper primary school. This explores how poverty can prevent children around the world getting an education, but how a daily meal at school is transforming the lives of children like Grace, enabling them to gain an education and learn and grow.
Emma Hutton, head of grassroots engagement at Mary’s Meals, told Renfrewshire Live : “These engaging resources for schools offer pupils a glimpse of what life is like for children in some of the world’s poorest countries, where food cannot be taken for granted, and where Mary’s Meals provides one daily meal in a place of education. These meals play an important part in attracting children into the classroom.
“For some children, this can be the only meal they receive in a day. As well as giving them nutrition, the food gives them a gateway to education and helps them become superheroes in their own lives so they can grow up to become the men and women who will lift their communities out of poverty.
“We hope these resources will provide many hours of fun for pupils, while also providing a valuable learning opportunity about the life-changing impact of a daily meal for the children supported by Mary’s Meals.”
Both Superheroes and Saving Grace are available on the children’s resources page of the Mary’s Meals website.
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