Lisburn group to help children in Malawi

The club will be raising money over the next year to give to the charity Mary’s Meals , which provides ‘one meal every day in a place of education for the world’s poorest children’.

From modest beginnings in 1992, Mary’s Meals now feeds over one million children daily in 13 countries.

The food is locally grown by small-holder farmers and prepared and distributed by community volunteers – 65,000 in Malawi alone.

Andrew Mulholland, Mulhollands Butchers and Susan Nelson, current President of Lisburn Soroptimists.

Lisburn Soroptimists recently held a fundraising Pig-on- a-Spit night in aid of the charity at the home of their President, Susan Nelson.

Local butcher Andrew Mulholland prepared a hog roast and trimmings and wine was supplied by Carlisle’s.

Ballynahinch Rugby Club supplied tables and chairs.

Young children from MusicLand, music and art experiences entertained the guests followed by Juram Gavero and Gerry Rice.

A Tombola raised additional funds withprizes donated by Paparazzi Clothing, Green’s Food Fare and Heather Burnside. The group plans to hold other fundraising activities throughout the year.

A spokesperson said: “The food given to the children is an incentive for poor children to engage in education.

“Their school attendance improves.

“They can concentrate better, free from the fear of hunger.

“Ultimately the enhanced literacy and numeracy skills they gain helps lift them and their communities out of poverty.

“Mary’s Meals’ track record is impressive – 93p in every pound raised is spent directly on their charitable activities.

“Recorded school attendance and pupil performance has soared in participating schools.

“The first children to benefit from the school feeding programmes are now adults who are successfully finding their own way in life.

“Mary’s Meals helps feed 1,101,206 of the world’s poorest children every day that attend schools across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America.

“Mary’s Meals is a registered charity, formerly known as Scottish International Relief.

Mary’s Meals is named for the Virgin Mary by its founders, who were inspired by their Catholic faith