新規校でGENKIプログラム開始と血液検査について
【2016年5月の活動報告】
1.First of all
Thank you for your continued support of the GENKI program. As early as the end of May, the two months of the new year have ended, and the current number of students is 8,848.
Since Ramadan (fasting month) begins in early June, many educational institutions will be closed. The way of rest and the period of rest are different, but based on these circumstances, we will firmly promote the distribution of 1.5 million meals, which is the goal for this term.
2. Visit to a new contract school
Last month, we started distributing cookies to two schools, Dhaka Ahsaniya Mission (DAM) and Shathi Somaj Kolan Songtha (SSKS), which completed the contract. The total number of students at these two schools is about 600. As it is a new contract school, three friends from Japan visited us this time. The children were embarrassed at first because Japanese people seemed to be rare, but as they talked about various things, they began to actively ask questions. As a result, we were able to exchange a lot. For example, we are currently distributing cookies with three flavors, milk, butter, and fruit, and we were able to hear your opinion about which flavor you like. At the end, we sang the theme song of Doraemon, which everyone loves, in the Bengali (Bangladeshi language) version. By the way, Doraemon is very popular in Bangladesh, and the names of Bamboocopter and Nobita can be understood by children as they are.
3. DAM and SSKS GENKI Program Opening Commemorative Ceremony
At the two schools mentioned above, the distribution of cookies began on May 17th. A commemorative ceremony was held on this day (Photo 1). NGO educators, teachers, children's parents and members of our Bangladesh office attended. The pictures below are of the commemorative ceremony, children eating cookies for the first time, and children who are happy to distribute cookies (Photos-2,3).
Photo-1: Commemorative Ceremony
Photo-2: Cookie tasting
Photo-3: Happy children
4. Interview with Euglena
We interviewed about 20 students to measure the effectiveness of cookie distribution.
Many students seem to eat cookies deliciously, but some children say that they get tired of the same taste every day. We also asked children who didn't like it to try cookies from other companies and asked what kind of taste they were satisfied with. There are various tastes such as spicy taste, nut taste, chocolate taste, etc., and I would like to make use of these opinions to create a more effective program. We would also like to continue to consider what kind of foods other than cookies are suitable for this program (Photo 4). In addition, our officers and members who were on a business trip to Bangladesh also participated in the hearing (Photos-5, 6).
Photo-4: Interview survey of taste
Photo-5: Our officers visit the school
Photo-6: Our members visit the school
5. About blood tests outsourced to Grameen Communication (GCC)
Photo-7: Explanation of blood test resultsPresentation by ICH Foundation Hospital Dr.fazral Haque
The purpose of this test is to investigate the improvement of nutritional status after cookie intake and how it was effective in the problem of anemia, which is a problem for children in this country. The first inspection commissioned to GCC was completed this month and the results were obtained, but we plan to accumulate more detailed data over and over again (Photo 7). Therefore, the R & D department at the head office and local research institutes are collaborating to prepare for more efficient and useful research.
6. Summary
Currently in the middle of Ramadan, cookie distribution is about half the normal, but we will consider plans for a better program during this period. With the expansion of our business, we plan to add another member from next month. We look forward to your continued support in the future.
Euglena Co., Ltd.
Bangladesh Office Project Manager
Mohammed Akerzaman