The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) will, in conjunction with food manufacturing giants Nestlé South Africa and Tiger Brands, celebrate National Nutrition Week (NNW) at Modimolle Primary School, Waterberg District in Limpopo on Friday, 14 October 2011.
Government celebrates NNW annually. This year, national celebration is 9 -14 October 2011.
The primary aim of the NSNP’s nutrition education campaign is to promote healthy lifestyles through advocacy initiatives on good nutrition to school communities (learners, school food handlers, teachers and parents) in order to emphasise nutrition knowledge, better food choices and the importance of physical activity.
This year, the NSNP has suitably chosen the theme: “Healthy Eating For A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body,” supporting Basic Education priority to enhance quality learning and teaching through improving and maintaining learners’ health and wellness.
“Chosen key messages to drive this nutrition campaign include the importance of a good breakfast daily, informed choice of foods, daily physical exercise and cutting down on unhealthy snacks and habits,” says Ms Gugu Ndebele, Deputy Director-General in the DBE.
To express their support for good nutrition and healthy living, Nestlé South Africa and Tiger Brands joined forces in sponsoring the NSNP three-hour fun and games event at Modimolle Primary School. Learners from Modimolle Primary School and other surrounding schools (i.e. Maokeng and Dagbreek Primary Schools) will take part in mass participation activities, which include dance aerobics, soccer and netball clinics and matches and Hoola Hoop showdowns facilitated by teachers and volunteer professional instructors.
These activities will be coupled with information sharing sessions and dialogues on good nutrition.
“At Tiger Brands we believe that the steps we take today will determine the future of our society and environment. It’s precisely for this reason that we regard our participation in the nourishment of the young minds as a critical component in creating a better future for our children. As part of National Nutrition Week,we have donated 5500 plates, cups and spoons to the five participating schools as well as peanut butter sandwiches,” says Bongiwe Njobe, Tiger Brands’ Group Executive: Corporate Sustainability.
Nestlé South Africa’s Ravi Pillay says: “As we strive to be the world’s leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company in South Africa, we have committed ourselves to contributing towards a healthier nation and we believe that starting with educating children and learners will go a long way towards entrenching the healthy lifestyle message.
We welcome the partnership with the DBE as it is only through a public private partnership that we can enhance the quality of life of South Africans.
In addition, our commitment to the National Nutrition Week campaign is in line with our Creating Shared Value business philosophy which says that to have a long-term business success, we have to create value for the business by making profit and create value for our society through socio-economic development initiatives.”
