Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow
To some it may seem odd, perhaps even stupid, to retain the HQ of a global organization in this lopsided and tired-looking shed, in a very remote part of Scotland. But being here helps remind me how and why we began this work.
Who is Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow?
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow OBE is the founder and Global CEO of the charity Mary’s Meals, a non-profit organization that provides life-changing meals to some of the world’s poorest children every school day. Mary’s Meals is now feeding 2,429,182 children across the world.
Early beginnings
In 1983, a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina renewed Magnus and his family’s Catholic faith and led the family to convert their guesthouse into the Craig Lodge ‘Family House of Prayer’, a Catholic retreat center.
Magnus started his career as a fish farmer in Argyll, Scotland. In 1992 during the Balkan conflict, he and his brother Fergus were so moved by scenes of the conflict on television that they took a week’s leave from their jobs, loaded a jeep with aid and joined a convoy travelling to Medjugorje, in Bosnia, to distribute it.
On their return, donations continued to flood in, resulting in Magnus eventually driving from Scotland to Bosnia a total of 23 times to deliver vital supplies. Magnus never returned to his old job and instead set up a registered charity, Scottish International Relief (SIR).
Mary's Meals is born
In 2002, during an aid trip to Malawi in Southeast Africa, Magnus experienced yet another landmark moment when he met 14-year-old Edward. Edward was the eldest of six, and his mother was dying of AIDS. Edward’s one simple hope was to have enough food to eat and to go to school one day.
As a result of hearing Edward’s story, Mary’s Meals was born. From initially feeding 200 children in Malawi the charity now feeds an incredible 2,429,182 children every school day. The humble shed that was home to those initial gifts, continues to be the charity’s spiritual home to this day.
Mary’s Meals is a simple idea that works. A daily meal in school has a positive impact on enrollment, attendance, and performance in class, and could even hold the key to eradicating child hunger altogether. The average cost of feeding a child for a whole school year with Mary’s Meals is just $25.20 .
More from Magnus
Explore Magnus' books, films and latest online articles as well as forthcoming speaking engagements and events.
Books and Films
Read, watch and share the work of Mary’s Meals and our mission to reduce child hunger at school through our inspirational films and heart-warming books.
Read more about Books and Films 
How Do We Stop The Global Hunger Crisis?
After a visit to Kenya in Mary’s Meals’ 20th year, the founder lays bare the extreme hardships facing children in this increasingly unliveable environment, and makes plain the simple and achievable objective to eliminating child hunger in this world of plenty.
Read more about How Do We Stop The Global Hunger Crisis?
Zambia
Mary's Meals is providing school meals to children in seven districts across the Eastern Province of Zambia.
Read more about Zambia
Benin
Serving school meals to chronically malnourished children in Honji, Biro, Save and Hozin.
Read more about Benin
