PUPILS across Glasgow have raised more than £23,000 for the Mary's Meals charity over the past three years.

By taking part in initiatives organised by Cordia Services – which runs school catering in the city – youngsters have raised £23,275.

Their efforts have allowed Cordia to sponsor a kitchen in Milonga Primary School in southern Malawi and helped Mary's Meals feed 1654 pupils there every day in 2012.

One year after Cordia sponsored the kitchen, school enrolment was up by 302 pupils on the previous year.

With daily meals provided, more children were able to attend classes, rather than having to find employment or search for food.

Cordia's head of facilities management, Julia McCreadie, said: "It really is fantastic to look back and take note of the generosity of our city's school children and the Cordia team.

"It's heart-warming to know our efforts have helped to feed so many children in Malawi, while also contributing to their education and long-term prospects.

"In Glasgow we have recently altered our primary school menu to include even more nutritional options, so we are well aware how a child's achievements in the classroom are hugely impacted by diet."

Since 2009, Cordia has run major fundraising campaigns for Mary's Meals in school dining halls across the city.

In 2011, it co-ordinated the Step up to the Plate project and launched Pitch in for the Kitchen the following year.

At each event, Cordia donated the cash equivalent of five meals for children abroad for every portion purchased in primary and secondary schools across Glasgow.

It also held smaller fundraising initiatives across its workforce, including dress down days and selling tray bakes at its headquarters in Borron Street.

Tracy Coughlan, education co-ordinator for Mary's Meals, said: "We are extremely grateful for Cordia's support, which has helped us provide a good meal and hope to impoverished children in Malawi."

Mary's Meals serves meals to 700,000 children every day in five continents. Each child can be nourished for a full academic year, with a porridge-like dish called likuni phala, for just £7.

For more about Mary's Meals visit www.marysmeals.org.uk

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk