WISHH News

WISHH Midwest Workshop Results in Counterpart International Introducing Textured Soy Protein to School Lunches in Republic of Georgia
 

June 2002 ....Thoric Cederstrom, a senior technical advisor for Counterpart International, participated in the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Midwest Workshop on May 8-10 in Illinois and Indiana. At the workshop, representatives of Private Voluntary Organizations like Counterpart expanded their knowledge about soy for international diets. As a result, Cederstrom took textured soy protein (tsp) to the Republic of Georgia where he started feeding trials for children in a new school lunch program funded by the Global Food for Education Initiative of USDA. Based on the success, Cederstom is now negotiating with private sector donors for more containers to fully launch Counterpart’s use of tsp.

Why was Counterpart International interested in a pilot project with tsp in Georgia?

“We see TSP as an excellent product for our school feeding program in conjunction with other traditional USDA commodities. It provides school-age children with an
excellent source of protein in a flexible form, i.e. that can be prepared in
many different ways and be adapted to the local diet. We are currently translating the WISHH recipes into the Georgia language. Initial response has been fantastic!”

How did the WISHH Midwest Workshop help you with this tsp utilization?

“The workshop convinced me that tsp is a product that can deliver high-quality nutrition to children in a cost-effective manner. (It also convinced me to add it to my personal diet. I went out and bought 2 lbs when I got back to Washington!) I hand delivered the 50 pounds of tsp, graciously provided by ADM, to our field office in the Republic of Georgia. We took it to one of the schools that will be participating in our school feeding program and explained the product to the director and the cooking staff. They were most enthusiastic and eager to receive the product to incorporate into the diets of the school children.”

Please describe your Global Food for Education (GFEI) Program in Georgia.

“Headquartered in Washington D.C., Counterpart now has offices and affiliates in more than 60 countries around the world. Counterpart is one of the major agencies, with on-the ground programs in every nation of the former Soviet Union. Counterpart's Global Food for Education (GFEI) Program sponsored by USDA in Georgia will increase access to nutritious food for school children in the draught-affected regions of Kakheti and Samagrelo. About 35,000 children attending 140 schools and boarding schools will receive a daily meal throughout the school year.”
“As many as seven out of every ten people in Georgia live below the poverty line, which affects school attendance. Distribution of donated products such as winter clothing, school supplies and school rehabilitation are additional activities that will be financed through the monetization component of this program. In addition, the program will organize nutrition and food security education for teachers and parents.”

Does Counterpart have plans to use tsp in the future?

“It is my hope that the U.S. soy industry will support Counterpart's efforts to create school feeding programs throughout the former Soviet Union where it is sorely needed. Right now, we are working on proposal for a school feeding program in Tajikistan under GFEI. We would certainly like to include tsp to help feed these kids. We are also working closely with WISHH to identify other soy products that would be appropriate to this vast region of the world.”