Activities

First Steps’ current focus is to supply specially-designed VitaCow and VitaGoat machines to food production centres. Operating like over-sized pressure cookers, these highly energy-efficient machines process soybeans into protein-rich soymilk. Each machine can produce enough soymilk daily to meet the vital protein (growth) requirements of up to 2,000 young children. As of May 2010, we are daily reaching more than 80,000 children in orphanages, daycares, and kindergartens in the cities of Nampo, Wonsan and Hyongjesan as well as several co-operative farms.

First Step’s North Korean partner checks pressure gauge on VitaGoat July, 2009.
^{Photo: Mark Pearson}

A boy shyly smiles before sipping his soymilk July, 2009.
^{Photo: Sammy Ross}

Factory worker operates VitaCow July, 2009.
^{Photo: Mark Pearson}

Workers in Nampo operate VitaGoats to produce fresh soymilk November, 2009.
^{Photo: Sammy Ross}

Workers at Bongchun Food Factory in Wonsan April, 2010.
^{Photo: John Cuddeford}

First Steps’ Resources

Since pursuing this program, First Steps has raised the funds to purchase and deliver 42 VitaCows and 36 VitaGoats. With your help, First Steps will deliver more soymilk to more children to prevent malnutrition and meet their nutritional requirements. Working together with other in-country organizations as well as nutritionists and scientists at the Institute of Child Nutrition, we regularly monitor and report on the measurable outcomes of the assistance you help to provide.

Sam and factory worker beside cooker November, 2010.
^{Photo: Sammy Ross}

Workers transport warm, fresh soymilk in milkcan July 2009.
^{Photo: Mark Pearson}