Fonterra Brands Lanka partners with Childfund
As part of its ongoing commitment to improving the health and well-being of communities, Fonterra Brands Lanka has partnered with inter national child development organisation, Childfund to increase the capabilities of specialised health and nutrition services for underprivileged children aged 0-5 years and their families. For an initial 12-month period, the joint programme will support nutrition, children’s health and educational activities at Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centers, located in the Polonnaruwa district.
This includes improving ECCD buildings and facilities through providing lear ning materials, equipment and meals, offering home gardening starter kits and advice, as well as support funding for staff to reach out to parents and support networks.
In addition to funding the enhancements, volunteers from Fonterra Brands Lanka will work closely with Childfund’s team of aid-workers in Sri Lanka to exchange knowledge and resources around the areas of nutrition, pediatric and maternal health to create a network of best practice that benefits communities. Employees will also donate their time to help with the centre improvements and support educational activities with the children.
Fonterra Brands Lanka and Childfund staff joined togeth- er at Sirimavo ECCD Centre in Polonnaruwa to commemorate the partnership. Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena, also attended as the occasion’s Guest of Honour, demonstrating the ministry’s support for the initiative.
Speaking of the initiative, Managing Director of Fonterra brands Lanka, Achyut Kasireddy said, “Fonterra Brands Lanka aims to continually contribute to the nation in the areas of nutrition, community development and farmer development. We are delighted to be able to strengthen our commitment to mothers and children across Sri Lanka through our relationship with Childfund.”
Kasireddy added, “Childfund has an admirable track-record for its work in Sri Lanka and we hope that through our support, the organisation will be able to further develop the ECCD services it offers to children and their caregivers to change the lives of more people in Polonnaruwa.
Sri Lanka is one of the 54 countries that Childfund International operates in delivering comprehensive programmes incorporating early childhood care and development, health, nutrition, education, youth career guidance and skills development. Childfund’s programmes currently assist 33,650 children and youth in 12 districts across the country.
Childfund’s Country Director, Guru Naik stated, “At Childfund, we work for the wellbeing of all children in the communities we operate in. This includes assisting in the physical and cognitive development of children while also educating and training parents and caregivers. We are pleased that Fonterra Brands Lanka has partnered with us in this initiative and are supporting our efforts to ensure the all-round growth and development of children in the project areas.”
As children’s early years are fundamental to their long-term wellbeing, increasing the capabilities of the ECCD centers in the region and improving knowledge and awareness among parents and other caregivers on nutritional issues, will enable young children to receive the necessary resources, support and care to become healthy, well rounded individuals. Furthermore, parents who are trained in the programme can share their knowledge with other parents and parents-tobe within the community, ensuring that the effects of the project are sustained and that the benefits are felt throughout the entire community.
Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena said, “As we work together as a nation to enable more children to consume nutritious and healthy meals, it is heartening to see corporations and organisations such as Fonterra Brands and Childfund joining together in their shared goal to improve the physical and educational development of children so that they can receive a good start in life.”