A CENTRE caring for orphans and vulnerable children at Tsumeb have started milking donkeys to provide nutrition to the needy.

The Tov Multipurpose Centre at Tsumeb was started in 2001 in response to the growing number of orphans and vulnerable children in the Oshikoto Region.

This project is a community-based initiative aimed at two key areas: firstly to help and support orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in the region and secondly as an income-generating scheme to raise funds and to provide jobs for the local community.

Reverend Eduard Amadhila last year read an article in The Namibian published by Donkey Welfare of Namibia (DWoN) about the nutritional value and benefits of donkey milk.

Tov has three donkeys and in December the first donkey was milked and the milk given to the people to drink.

"I am Oshiwambo and we see the donkey as a work animal and not as an animal that can provide nutrition. I was the first one to taste the milk and it is very sweet," said Amadhila.

It has been proven that donkey milk is the closest to human milk. It is very nutritious, with low fat and high levels of vitamins and proteins.

The benefits of donkey milk, both as a source of nutrition and as a skincare product, have been known for thousands of years (Cleopatra of Egypt is supposed to have bathed in it regularly), but they are little known today in Africa and especially in Namibia.

"With an unemployment rate of 51,2% and very soon 250 000 orphans and vulnerable children, we need to come with solutions for our community, if not we will have more people eating from the dumpsite," said Amadhila.

In France in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, donkey milk was used as a palliative for people suffering from tuberculosis, and as a substitute for mother's milk for orphans, with a number of hospitals maintaining herds of lactating donkeys for this purpose.

There are reports that in Germany it was used for people with meningitis. Italy today is the biggest producer of donkey milk, which is mostly used in cosmetics as it is very low in fat, but also in hospitals for children who are allergic to other milk.

Amadhila met a Damara woman who told him that she has been drinking donkey milk for some time now because she had lung problems. Although her condition has improved and she is much healthier now, she is still drinking donkey milk.

There are about 200 000 donkeys in Namibia and Tov plans to provide 200ml of milk to each child each day. For this purpose they will need 18 to 20 donkeys. If a foal is kept within sight and smell of its mother the donkey will lactate for up to nine months, thus providing milk for the children for nearly a year.

The support for children consists of a daily feeding programme at the centre. Additionally 80 children have their school fees, school clothing and school equipment provided by Tov.

Tov also provides after-school activities, including life skills programmes, which aim to equip children with the self-esteem, knowledge and skills to protect themselves against HIV-AIDS and to care for others who are infected or affected by the disease.

The income generation projects currently run by Tov include a kindergarten and the Tov Evergreen Farming Project.

The kindergarten has 63 children enrolled who pay N$50 a month to contribute to the running costs of Tov.

The Tov Evergreen Farming Project has a huge potential to feed over 3 000 children three meals a day.

Tov is currently building six fish ponds. The idea is to farm with African catfish and Nile tilapia and they hope to harvest up to 25 000 monthly.

Tov is also confident that by 2015 they will send two students to the university of their choice.