Pupils eat enough school meals to buy 22 yaks

From November 2008 to April 2009, pupils who ate in any of the 44 primary and nine secondary schools were able to earn points for meals served. With around 6,500 school meals purchased every day, youngsters have collected a grand total of 74,597 points. Each school has the option to convert these points into gifts of their choice from Save the Children's Wish List. Pupils now have enough purchasing power to buy more than five classrooms, 5,000 chickens or 40 first aid kits to be donated to needy people across the world. Children in schools across the region are now selecting their wish list items - 280 points is enough for a new school desk; 780 points buys a bicycle; and 3,200 points allows the charity to deliver a Yak, providing milk, wool and help with ploughing. Save the Children hope that the tie-in with East Ayrshire Council will lead to similar schemes being adopted elsewhere across the country. Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: "This innovative idea was devised by council officials in East Ayrshire who hoped it would lead to a greater uptake of healthy meals, while educating pupils about the plight of those less fortunate than themselves. "Our campaign has attracted national and international interest and is proving very popular in schools. Global citizenship is an important theme within a Curriculum for Excellence and this task helps children to learn about other cultures." Robin Gourlay, Head of Facilities Management with East Ayrshire Council, said: "In this first-ever school meals charity campaign, children have benefited from healthy, locally-sourced meals, while the points they have collected will make a real difference to the lives of many."