Protein Alternative for Nigerian Children

I first met 7 year old Aisha end of last year during our Vegan School Outreach programme. Our non-profit organization 'LagosVeg' with the support of ProVeg International (Germany) brings the plant-based message to schools in Nigeria's largest city Lagos. Aisha lives in one of ten houses in an orphanage settlement in Lagos run by SOS Children's Village International with headquarters in Germany. Aisha alongside five other children are looked after by a foster mother, who has increasing difficulties trying to provide quality food for them, especially any kind of meat. In the past she had attempted to raise chickens with Aisha’s help to solve the problem, but all five of them died of bird flu.

Aisha's family is a glimpse into the struggles of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians and crucially children, who do not have access to adequate means of feeding. Their situation is presently aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and with its economic fallout, things are predicted to only get worse. Already prior to the health crisis, animal protein had become increasingly expensive for people. Africa has one of the highest rates of protein deficiency worldwide.

I would like to help Aisha and other SOS families by providing them with a healthier, more affordable and environmentally sustainable meat alternative. I have been following a plant-based lifestyle myself for over 20 years. Since 2013, we have been running Nigeria's first Vegan restaurant and also started 'LagosVeg', a non-profit organization advocating a plant-based lifestyle in Nigeria. Before then I was a journalist in West Africa for German media and a public relation consultant for international companies in Nigeria.

Partnership with SOS Children's Villages Nigeria

I would like to help Aisha and other SOS families by providing them with a healthier, more affordable and environmentally sustainable meat alternative. I have been following a plant-based lifestyle myself for over 20 years. Since 2013, we have been running Nigeria's first Vegan restaurant and also started 'LagosVeg', a non-profit organization advocating a plant-based lifestyle in Nigeria. Before then I was a journalist in West Africa for German media and a public relation consultant for international companies in Nigeria.

All donations made will go towards buying all 600 children in the SOS Children's Villages in Nigeria a protein rich, 100% plant-based meat substitute for a two months duration. This will alleviate the pressure of the orphanages having to purchase meat products. A $500 donation made by ProVeg COVID-19 emergency fund was already handed over to SOS in form of meat substitute. The locally produced VegChunks are the first of its kind in Nigeria and cost $2 per pack reducing expenditure for animal protein by up to 40% compared. VegChunks also have 5 times more protein than eggs and more than double compared to beef or chicken. One pack contains enough servings for all meals a child takes per week. One pack also covers for about half of the protein requirement of each child per week.

Kindly donate to make a measurable impact on the welfare of the SOS Children’s Village. THANK YOU!