バングラデシュの学校での食育セミナーについて
【2018年8月の活動報告】
By August, we distributed approximately 910,000 meals (progress rate: 83%) against Euglena cookie distribution target of 1.1 million meals for this term (April-September 2018).
1. Food education seminar at school
The GENKI program continuously holds food education and hygiene seminars. Generally, there are no school-based food education seminars in Bangladesh. However, Euglena cookies in July, holds a school-based dietary education seminar every Thursday. Since 2014, teachers trained by nutrition experts have been teaching children about food. In addition, we distribute to children materials supervised by specialists that provide specific information such as explanations of nutritious foods and guidance on how to wash hands (Photo 1). This time, I would like to introduce two specific examples of food education seminars held at this school.
The first is nutrition improvement guidance using wasabi noki (moringa). Moringa oleifera is planted around the children's homes and can be obtained all year round. Moringa oleifera is rich in vitamins A, B, protein, iron, etc., so we recommend that mothers take more. You can boil the leaves like spinach or stir-fry vegetables with curry (Photo 2). The second is guidance on treatment methods through food. It is recommended to take basil as a warm herbal tea at the beginning of a cold such as a sore throat. Basil has a warming and antibacterial effect. Like the drumstick tree, basil grows naturally and can be taken in without spending money. The teachers encourage mothers to participate in the seminar and actively hold it at home.
Currently, in addition to these school-based food education seminars, the GENKI program also holds food education and hygiene seminars. Through these dietary education and hygiene seminars, it is a future task to quantify the nutritional status of children before taking the course and the effects after taking the course. From October, we plan to conduct a household survey of the target schools to understand the eating habits of children and improve the content of the seminar. And we will promote dietary education in a form where a clear effect can be seen.
Photo-1: Materials used in food education seminars
Photo-2: Children learning why and how to take wasabi noki
2. Introduction of Tasunuba-chan family
This month, I would like to introduce the Tasnuba family who attend the Mohila Mission High School in Dhaka. Euglena cookies to nursery school children aged 4-5 to 8th grade children aged 12-14. Tasunuba is 14 years old and is the oldest person in the program.
The family consists of a father, a mother, a second-year sister, and Tasunuba-chan. I used to live in Jamanpur province in the north, about 200km away from Dhaka. However, due to the flood in 2011, my house collapsed and I had to move to the capital city of Dhaka where I have a job. Due to the lowlands of Bangladesh, it is susceptible to floods and storm surges, causing great damage every year.
After moving to Dhaka, Dad works as a day laborer at a construction site. However, I suffered from heart disease a few years ago and now I only work about 15 days a month. Dad's monthly income is about 13,000 yen. My mother has a job of attaching buttons to traditional Bangladeshi men's clothing called "Punjabi" (Photo 3), and earns 4 yen per piece. I attach buttons to 10 sheets a day and earn about 1,200 yen every month. While the average monthly income of slums is about 20,000 yen, the household income of the Tasunuba family is about 14,000 yen. Mothers manage their lives by having their neighbors share food such as rice. Tasunuba sometimes misses school to take care of her father and sometimes to help her with her mother's job. However, she wants to go to school until the 12th grade when she graduates from junior high school in Japan. After graduating, her goal is to work at a textile factory, which is a major industry in Bangladesh, and earn a monthly income of about 10,000 yen. "Now my sister is being taken care of by my uncle's family far away. It's very lonely for my family to live apart. I want my sister to go to school every day, study and play with friends. I don't want to let you go, "he told our local staff.
Photo-3: Punjabi
Photo-4: From left: Dad, Tasnuba, Mom
3. Introduction of Principal Munir
Introducing Dr. Munir, Principal of Bakalia Childcare Academy, who started distributing Euglena cookies in August. The principal has a special idea about food. It has to do with his background. While working in the field of education, Principal Munir is a member of the Bangladesh Consumers Union, which was established in 1978. The main purpose of the federation is to protect food safety in urban areas, especially in Dhaka. Recently, various foods are distributed in urban areas due to the improvement of living standards, but many of them contain additives and residual pesticides, which have an adverse effect on consumers' bodies. To protect the health of consumers, he, along with other members, recommends institutionalization to government agencies such as safe food distribution and proper food labeling.
Meanwhile, the school solicited donations from local voters and offered light meals such as bananas and bread to children who couldn't eat enough breakfast. However, these light meals are undernourished, so I was looking for a nutritious meal. After receiving an explanation of Euglena cookies from our local staff, Principal Munir said that Euglena cookies are not only nutritious but also highly safe made according to Japan's high quality standards. Knowing that it is a cookie, I decided to introduce the GENKI program.
His motto is "Good food is the first priority". The GENKI program will not only distribute high-quality cookies, but will continue to provide nutrition improvement programs including dietary education.
Photo-5: Principal Munir
Photo-6: Children receiving cookies
Thank you for your continued support.
Euglena Co., Ltd.
Overseas Business Development Department / Bangladesh Office