Trinity College Dublin set to honor charitable endeavors of Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow through a special event focus on his humanitarian initiative 'Mary's Meals'
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, a Scottish philanthropist and founder of the humanitarian organisation Mary's Meals, is set to speak at Thomas More University on September 11. The event, titled "A Heart of Service, Simple Solutions to World Hunger", will take place at the Ziegler Auditorium and is free and open to the public.
MacFarlane-Barrow's journey began at a young age when a trip to the Marian shrine of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina inspired him to start collecting donations for charity. His first organisation, Scottish International Relief, was established, and in 2002, he founded Mary's Meals, inspired by a young man named Edward in Malawi.
Mary's Meals operates in politically unstable or conflict-affected countries, including South Sudan, Liberia, Yemen, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, among its total presence in 16 countries. The organisation collaborates with existing groups in the areas they serve to provide one meal a day at schools, linking food to education as a method to create order and feed both the body and the mind.
MacFarlane-Barrow's wife and family are involved with the Mary's Meals mission, and he emphasises the importance of education for children's survival. He states that even subpar schooling can make a difference, keeping schools open, even in war-torn areas, as a means of providing education and food to children.
It costs just $25.20 to feed a child at school for a year through Mary's Meals. MacFarlane-Barrow's organisation, Mary's Meals, provides one meal a day for three million children in over 5,800 schools.
Andrew Cole, director of TMU's Campus Ministry, agrees that the event aims to promote service and give exposure to the university's mission. MacFarlane-Barrow encourages people to visit the organisation's website to learn more about their work and how they can get involved.
MacFarlane-Barrow was initially hesitant to speak in public, but has become a motivational speaker due to his passion. His visit to Thomas More University is a unique opportunity for the public to learn about his inspiring journey and the impact of Mary's Meals on children's lives around the world.
