About Us – Ngaara School Meals

Our Story

One school. One community. Every school day.

Ngaara School Meals provides school meals to the children of Ngaara Primary School, Uganda, on every school day of the year. We fundraise to pay for the ingredients needed — morning porridge and a cooked lunch — and transfer the funds directly to the school.

School meal programmes help to encourage children into the classroom and give them the energy to concentrate on lessons, so they can gain an education that can help them work towards a brighter future.

The promise of a daily meal in school can be life-changing for families struggling financially. With the worry of hunger taken away from the child and their family, the child is free to learn, grow, and achieve their potential.

Where We Work

Mbarara, Uganda

We are an Irish registered charity operating in Mbarara, Uganda. Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, often referred to as the Pearl of Africa, known for its stunning landscapes, lush forests, and welcoming people.

However, Uganda also faces significant challenges — poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, and environmental concerns. According to the World Bank, 45% of Uganda's population were under the age of 14 in 2022.

Thanks to the relentless and dedicated work of a group of individuals during the past ten years, Ngaara Primary School is in a position to offer children from the local area a quality education. Classrooms are no longer overcrowded, most children can reach the school easily by foot, and the school offers basic amenities like textbooks, desks, and well-constructed classrooms.

Our charity takes Ngaara Primary School to the next level by ensuring that each child receives a warm meal on every school day of the year.

Our Team

The trustees behind Ngaara School Meals

Three volunteer trustees govern Ngaara School Meals. All are unpaid. All income goes to the programme.

John Colreavy

Oversight & Assistant Secretary

Ann Murray

Chairperson

Emma Farrell

CFO & Secretary

On the Ground

Local oversight in Uganda

Our on-the-ground lead in Mbarara coordinates procurement, manages supplier relationships, oversees storage, and provides termly financial reporting to our trustees in Ireland.

Ngaara Primary School is governed by its own Board of Management, which is our formal partner through a signed Partnership Agreement. All expenditure is receipted and reconciled against the approved term budget.

We serve one school, one local community, and support the local economy by purchasing all food ingredients locally.

Join Us

Be part of something that works

A lean, accountable charity with 99% of income directed to the programme. Every donation tracked, receipted, and reported.

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