World School Milk Day

How did it start? Following discussion on FAO's email discussion lists regarding selecting a particular day on which school milk could be celebrated internationally, consensus was reach amongst members that World School Milk Day would be celebrated on the last Wednesday in September. This date was chosen because schools were open all the countries surveyed during this month. The end of the month was selected to allow countries in the Western hemisphere sufficient time to prepare for this day, as in most of these countries the school year starts in early September. Wednesday was chosen as it was a school day in all countries surveyed.

The 1st World School Milk Day was held in 2000 and it has since become an annual event . Every last Wednesday in September, a number of countries - regardless of whether they are large or small, rich or poor - celebrate World School Milk Day, demonstrating that the interest in school milk is universal.

This year WORLD SCHOOL MILK DAY is celebrated on Wednesday, September 24.  
 
The goal of World School Milk Day is to provide a particular day when attention is focused on this issue and thereby promote such programmes. Importance is lent to the event by the fact that other countries are doing the same thing, on the same day, and that FAO is supporting the activity.

FAO's role is to co-ordinate celebrations by informing people through the Dairy-Outlook and School-Milk lists about the Day and collating information from list members regarding preparations for celebrating this Day and inspire others to join in. From our end here, we can only remind, encourage and promote, but the real ideas and organizing work happens at the national or local level in the various countries.