Feature Organization: FIRST STEPS to combat malnutrition in NK children
Occasionally we will feature other volunteer organizations that are either helping a specific cause or bringing attention to the crisis in North Korea. It will take a network of passionate organizations to bring an end to the crisis.
FIRST STEPS
First Steps is a Vancouver-based organization whose mission is to provide essential nutrients to young children through their Soymilk Program to combat the severe malnutrition problems in North Korea.
According to the United Nations and World Food Programme:
…between two and three million North Korean children (infants to age five) consistently fail to receive sufficient nutrients vital to their physical and mental development. This has resulted in almost an entire generation of youngsters whose growth has been stunted.
It goes without saying that malnutrition during these important stages of development will lead to long term health consequences including increased susceptibility to infections and other diseases.
First Steps’ food-aid programs are currently providing protein-rich, growth-promoting soymilk to North Korean children (infants to primary school) who have not been receiving the nutrients so vital to their mental and physical development.
We have been focusing on our VitaCow/VitaGoat program because of its great efficiency and effectiveness. One electrically-powered VitaCow machine, purchased and delivered to North Korea for about $7,000, processes soybeans into soymilk, enough to provide a cup each to more than 2,000 children per day. The non-electrical VitaGoat uses any burnable fuel, costs about $4,000 and produces enough soymilk for about 1,000 or more children per day.
First Steps buys some of its soybeans and has them shipped in to supply these machines when our North Korean partners are unable to provide their own. Our partners take responsibility for distribution of the beans to the VitaCow/VitaGoat sites, as well as for soymilk production and delivery.
See pictures of the program in action.
How do we know the program is working? The picture below says it all…
(more “smiley” pictures here)
With your help, First Steps can deliver more soymilk to more children to meet their nutritional requirements. Working together with other in-country organizations, as well as nutritionists and scientists at the Institute of Child Nutrition, we will continue to monitor and report on the measurable outcomes of the assistance you help to provide.
