Year 8 pupils at Timaru’s Bluestone School, Sophie Chapman, Jack Gibson-Pani and Flynn Parker had a problem with Fonterra’s milk in schools programme.
»The milk went to the year one to sixes. The Year 7s and 8s didn’t get any, and we wanted it,» said Jack.
Not being ones to sit back and do nothing, after talking to principal Ian Poulter, it was suggested they make a video to voice their concerns to Fonterra.
»We wanted to do it properly,» videographer Flynn said.
They submitted the video in May, and have recently heard Fonterra have changed the rules throughout New Zealand, to include Year 7 and 8 pupils in the scheme.
»Fonterra said they’d heard from a number of school, but we’d like to think our video was a major influence. I doubt other schools would have gone to as much effort,» said Mr Poulter.
Year 7 and 8 students were excluded from the scheme for cost reasons. Now schools have the option to include the older children and receive free milk four days a week instead of five.
Sophie, Jack and Flynn said they feel encouraged and heartened because Fonterra listened.
»It proved that we can have a voice in a big world,» said Sophie.
The pupils have also learnt a real-life lesson in tenacity.
»We learnt that it does pay to not give up,» said Jack.
Source: Stuff
