Protein Program
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Protein - The Current Situation. The children at the Suan Luang Facility for Disadvantaged Children and Orphans are undernourished in terms of protein with their regular food supply at the Suan Luang facility. The protein supplied by the facility is around 200 grams per month per child and this includes pork fat, chicken heads, and bony fish. They have only 2 meals per day provided - one around 11.30 am and the other around 4.30 pm. They are provided enough of their traditional sticky rice every day and are also provided one small bowl of vegetable soup/slop (to feed 6 - 8 children) which may contain a few grams of fat or protein to share between the children.
Can the environment provide? The children try to supplement their protein when they can by foraging in the forest and river. This is quite difficult as there are 600 plus children and only a small forest area close by - so it is more and more difficult to find things due to the density of the population. Anything the children catch or find is usually shared with the others in their dormitory. While catching 5 frogs might seem great - once it is shared, the children get very little each. The children therefore are lucky if they can find what they need. Termites and Cicadas are also examples of the type of protein they look for. These proteins are actually good for their health but the environment near the facility will not be able to provide as much as time goes on. |
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Increasing Protein. The Laos Government can only afford to provide rice and a very minimal amount of protein. These are growing kids and need protein and vitamins to be healthy. We would like to supplement their diet by supplying eggs, fruit and meat on a regular continuous basis.
Some meat and eggs is provided by an NGO from Luang Prabang - Andrew Brown - but he also has to provide food for the Luang Prabang Facility (also with 600+ children) so resources are spread thin. Global Support Association Inc. would like to take this responsibility on board by providing ongoing protein and food for the children at the Suan Luang facility. The children will still have to provide supplements but if we can provide quality protein at least twice a week in the form of eggs and meat as well as fruit once a week - we will be helping these kids immensely. We will not only be helping them with additional protein and vitamins but allowing them more time to study instead of hunting and gathering.
Based on the on-going assistance given to the Luang Prabang Orphanage, a small but realistic target is 2 eggs, 2 pieces of fruit and 2 x 100 grams of meat per child per week. This equates to 2 eggs @1,000 kip, 2 fruit @ 2,000 kip and 200 g meat @ 8,000 kip (40,000 kip per kg). Total = 2,000 + 4,000 + 8,000 = 14,000 kip = $2 Aus per week (7,000 kip = $1 Aus). On a weekly basis this means $2 x 600+ kids = $1,200 AUD per week. Sounds a lot but there are 600 kids involved.
This needs to be ongoing funds so that we can maintain this nutrition for them and not on a once off basis. If you wish to donate for food - please donate per month for this project as we wish to be able to measure what is coming in and what we can purchase each week to ensure continuity.
Some meat and eggs is provided by an NGO from Luang Prabang - Andrew Brown - but he also has to provide food for the Luang Prabang Facility (also with 600+ children) so resources are spread thin. Global Support Association Inc. would like to take this responsibility on board by providing ongoing protein and food for the children at the Suan Luang facility. The children will still have to provide supplements but if we can provide quality protein at least twice a week in the form of eggs and meat as well as fruit once a week - we will be helping these kids immensely. We will not only be helping them with additional protein and vitamins but allowing them more time to study instead of hunting and gathering.
Based on the on-going assistance given to the Luang Prabang Orphanage, a small but realistic target is 2 eggs, 2 pieces of fruit and 2 x 100 grams of meat per child per week. This equates to 2 eggs @1,000 kip, 2 fruit @ 2,000 kip and 200 g meat @ 8,000 kip (40,000 kip per kg). Total = 2,000 + 4,000 + 8,000 = 14,000 kip = $2 Aus per week (7,000 kip = $1 Aus). On a weekly basis this means $2 x 600+ kids = $1,200 AUD per week. Sounds a lot but there are 600 kids involved.
This needs to be ongoing funds so that we can maintain this nutrition for them and not on a once off basis. If you wish to donate for food - please donate per month for this project as we wish to be able to measure what is coming in and what we can purchase each week to ensure continuity.