Page 2 - The Daily Builder - Day 03

School milk feeding programs, like the one Heifer building in Tanzania, play a crucial role in developing good Workers at a collection facility test milk for freshness. Since all the milk is locally produced, the program is
nutritional habits for kids. Heifer has seen time and again how milk positively affects children’s health, enabling
them to focus on learning, perform better in school, and be more energetic and alert. A daily glass of milk is a
treat that few families have the means to provide, so having it available in school is vital.
A ThirsT for Knowledge
By Austin Bailey improved health all around. The milk, she said, “gives me
Photos by Phillip Davis The benefits were immediate energy to listen to the teacher and
when Heifer International’s School answer questions, and to write.”
It’s not clear if it’s the sweet Milk Program launched in July Izabela’s family of four lives in
taste of milk that lures 7-year- 2017, Izabela’s mom, Justina two church van-sized buildings,
old Izabela Sambanae up the Mgimbadzu, reports. The daughter one made of adobe walls and
hill to school each morning, or who used to sleep in or skip school thatched with grass, the other of
if the daily protein boost to her altogether now wakes herself mud brick with a metal roof. The
otherwise starchy diet simply and darts up the hill to Itunduma small, squat buildings bracket
gives her enough energy to Primary without being asked. Tiny a packed-dirt courtyard shaded
wake up early and get going. Izabela’s newfound strength is by a mulberry tree, and rows
Regardless, the pouches of cold, evident when she hoists her 2-year- of crops surround the modest
fresh milk Izabela and other old brother Musa, who is possibly homestead. Farming the adjacent
students at Itunduma Primary heavier than she is, on to her lap. acre of land yields enough maize
School drink each morning are Izabela’s grades are among the and sweet potatoes for the family,
fueling soaring attendance rates, best in her class, and she’s feeling but no more. The skinny white
better concentration in class, and confident about her school work. sweet potatoes, boiled in their
2 Donate!
helping smallholder farmers earn income to support their families.
skins, pass for lunch most days, levels of local children improve, so does the local economy, thanks
and Izabela sometimes pops a so does the local economy, thanks to this strengthening connection
few into her pockets in case she to this strengthening connection between dairy farmers who need
needs a snack. This bare-bones between dairy farmers who need customers and children whose
lifestyle is common in the region, customers and children whose bodies are thirsty for calcium and
and Izabela’s low-nutrient, low- bodies are thirsty for calcium and protein. Glowing testimonials
energy diet is typical among protein. Glowing testimonials from the children, parents and
her classmates. A daily glass of from the children, parents and teachers benefiting from the
milk is a treat that few families teachers benefiting from the School Milk Program become the
here have the means to provide. School Milk Program become the best possible advertisements for
“We’re thankful for the milk best possible advertisements for dairy farmers looking to expand
being supplied,” Mgimbadzu dairy farmers looking to expand their customer base.
said. “Izabela has better health their customer base. The School Milk Program is part
and more energy.” And it’s not just children of a sophisticated plan to make
And it’s not just children drinking the milk who benefit sure demand continues to grow
drinking the milk who benefit from this project. This new by cultivating a new generation of
from this project. This new program takes aim at two customers. Students who get free
program takes aim at two challenges at once, attacking milk at school are walking, talking
challenges at once, attacking malnutrition while also helping testimonials to the benefits of dairy
malnutrition while also helping dairy farmers cultivate new foods. As these students enjoy the
dairy farmers cultivate new markets. As the health and energy good health and clear thinking
markets. As the health and energy levels of local children improve, Continued on page 4
3