Mary's Meals film premiere in Coalisland tonight

Volunteer cooks being filmed for Generation Hope, which premieres at the Craic Theatre Coalisland tonight, Friday April 15.

Titled ‘Generation Hope’, the film is an uplifting and compelling documentary highlighting the extraordinary difference that receiving a daily meal in school can make to children growing up in some of the world’s most impoverished communities.

Mary’s Meals is a grassroots movement with very strong support across Northern Ireland and a large audience is expected at the premiere event in the Craic Theatre.

Afterwards, supporters across the country will be encouraged to host their own screenings of the film to help raise awareness of the impact of the charity’s work.

Founded in 2002, Mary’s Meals began feeding 200 children in one school in Malawi. Today, the charity reaches more than 1.1 million children with daily meals in schools in 12 different countries around the world.

By serving a daily meal in a place of education, Mary’s Meals attracts impoverished children into the classroom, where they can gain skills that will help them escape poverty in the future.

The school feeding programmes are community-owned, with local volunteers working in rotation to prepare the meals for the children.

Mary’s Meals has a dedicated network of supporters across Northern Ireland and a volunteer group in Coalisland will be hosting the Generation Hope premiere.

The Mary’s Meals ‘Meitheal’ Support Community has been been very active in its support for Mary’s Meals, raising a staggering £19,000 for the charity between October and December last year.

Jackie O’Neill, co-ordinator of the Mary’s Meals ‘Meitheal’ Support Community, explained how Child 31 had inspired him to support the charity and described his excitement at hosting Generation Hope’s Northern Ireland premiere in Coalisand. He said: “I saw Child 31 and I was blown away. Our wee group is delighted with the support we’ve had and we’re hopeful that we can fill the theatre with people who will all hear about Mary’s Meals.

“Every time people hear about the charity, the reaction we get back is so positive. The idea behind Mary’s Meals isn’t complicated. Mary’s Meals asks a child if they’re hungry and feeds them in school. It’s that simple.”