The Faces of The Hungry

18/11/2012

If anything could inspire me to write a blog it would have to be the viewing of this movie about Mary's Meals. I've just sat for the past 31 mins watching a beautifully shot film about the work of this wonderful organisation. Tears streamed down my face as I watched the inspiring work of the people who run, work and volunteer for this charity. Seeing the people they help, most of them poor hungry children with difficulties in accessing education, gives you back your faith in humanity.

So many things are threaded into this film, not least the individual stories of the children highlighted. I cried to see the wall of one of the main storytellers adorned with the picture of Victoria and David Beckham. This is no refection on the couple themselves, but the stark irony of the situations of child and couple could not be more vivid. However, it shows that no matter what situation you find yourself in you can still have dreams and idols. The Beckhams do their bit for charity, I know that.

Even more heartbreaking was the little boy struggling to keep his little backpack together in the hope that he could get to school and be fed his only meal of the day. My God how I cried when I saw his efforts go awry. So many stories though of hope, of children conquering their "barriers to learning," crossing over the scourges of poverty to be educated and fed, a right all of us should have.

Please as we come up to Christmas again, think about purchasing this film; doing so will help to feed a hungry child for one year. When you think of what your children will get in their stockings never mind presents from Santa another few pounds is surely not much to ask, especially when you might be supplying those same children with a heart full of compassion for others much more needy than themselves. We could do worse than to include this DVD in every older child's stocking this year and spread the true message of Christmas.

Alternatively the movie CHILD 31 can now be viewed here online, in it's entirety.

Another way of helping Mary's meals would be to buy the book written by Martha Payne the young schoolgirl who caused a sensation with her blog about school meals. Little did she know when she started out on her quest to improve school meals that she would be able to help Mary's meals with donations of over £120,000 from well wishers and supporters.

If you are a teacher or educator you can find out more about Mary's Meals resources here

http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/education-zone/educational-resources/

Mary's Meals on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/Looking4U2/mary-s-meals-charity/

Now for the little film that introduced me to Mary's Meals in the first place and heartwarming it was.....