³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

I was happy to hear that a Malawi won becuase it means money is being generated for a good cause and that's brilliant news. However, i know Malawi well and run a charity that works there and can assure you that it does not cost that little to feed a child there. I understand that charities use 'buzz pharases', something catchy and straightforward to generate funds, interest and awareness, but in my opinion it is hugely important not to create a misleading image of the assistance required there. It is a myth that people in Africa can live off pennies each day. Going to school for example costs more than fees - students need uniforms, food, soap, transport money to get to and from school, payment to write exams, pencils, exercise books, text books. In terms of food - maize in malawi per 50 Kg bag costs £5 right after the harvest (and this is only because farmers are desperate for money and sell their maize at prices that are too low for them to be able to survive on the profits) and rises to £12 later in the year. A family of 4 can live on about a bag and a half a month. However this maize (in the form of Nsima shown in the video) has practically zero nutrients and is not something a healthy person can eat alone. Malawians always eat relish along with the maize - ideally meat / fish / or eggs and vegetables - but most can't afford these often and may have beans / vegetables alone. They also need to buy cooking oil, salt, and if possible some sugar and groundnuts for porridge in the morning, and fruits. To give you an idea of the cost of relish a skinny chicken cost £2 - a fat one £3, while fish are cheaper - maybe for 30p you can buy enough of the little fish they eat in the village for one person for a meal. It is relish that is expensive - and it costs roughly £2-£3 on average a day to feed a family of 4 if they eat a minumum to be healty. Malawi has a huge problem with malnutrition - 50% of the population has stunted growth because of it. Furthermore HIV/AIDS affects a great percentage of the population (at least 16%, but probably more) and people who have the virus NEED a good balanced diet - the body uses more energy when it is fighting the virus and it is not possible to take the medicines available to fight HIV unless you have a lot of food. As I said - its brilliant that awareness has been raised for Marys Meals and for Malawi - school feeding programmes are undoubtably a good idea and we have supported similar locally run projects - but Malawians and others in the developing world - deserve more than being kept on the brink of starvation and malnutrition. An school feeding program will add oil, groundnuts and sugar to the nsima (maize) to make it nutritious - and thats only breakfast. A minimal diet for a healthy life costs a lots more that just pennies each day.