The Managing Director of FanMilk PLC, Ghana, Yeo Ziobeieton, has urged stakeholders to unite to promote proper sanitation habits among children.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 2022 School Caravan Reward Event held at Harmony International School, Nungua, on the theme “Healthy Snacking and Good Sanitation, FanMilk Leads the Way,” Ziobeieton emphasized the company’s commitment to influencing the behaviour of its consumers toward proper sanitation practices.
“What I believe is the major impact, something that we will not see today, but we will see in the years to come, is the behaviour change program we are doing. We are very proud that we are teaching hygiene and sanitation in the environment. Let me also use this opportunity to invite other organizations. We are making a difference but imagine if the others join us, I think it will have a bigger impact. We encourage those who want to join us to join us so we can make Ghana a better place.”
The Municipal Education Director, Madam Justina Djabah, also indicated that their partnership with FanMilk aids in the promotion of students’ health. She admonished parents to encourage their wards to eat healthy foods.
“So we are partnering with this product to improve student learning and also their health in other schools. This partnership helps students segregate waste and also be responsible for a safe environment and more to improve their snacking. Healthy snacking is very important for us as Ghana Education Service, and we would continue to partner with them on this project. It is a very good project, and we encourage parents to ensure their kids eat healthy and provide them with healthy snacks.”
Speaking on expectations for the year 2024, the Category Head of FanChoco, Helen Korley, highlighted the FanMilk School Caravan as a progressive initiative aimed at instigating behavioural change among Basic Schools in Accra. She expressed the company’s aspiration to extend this impact beyond Accra in the coming year.
“Into 2024, we expect to expand the program beyond Accra. So we are looking at other cities like Kumasi and other places that definitely must benefit from this education and also the safe disposal of waste and recycling of our products.”
The overall top three schools were Harmony International School, Services Basic School, Burma camp, and the third is Community 7, 1, and 2 Cluster School. The schools were awarded cash prizes, including GHC5,000, GHC4,000, and GHC3,000 respectively, to fund sustainable educational projects.
In addition, the top ten students in the competition were also awarded tablets and some souvenirs from the company.
As the Headmaster of the winning school, Addo Kanty, revealed that the school’s motivation was based on God’s commandment to keep our environment clean. He also encouraged other schools to participate in the caravan as it is a call to duty.
“One motivation, from what the Bible said that we should all protect our environment so when this competition came up I told them they shouldn’t only be concerned about the awards. It is the responsibility for all schools to come together to do something to save the planet Earth. I want to urge all schools to get involved not because of the prices but to help keep our environment clean.”
Launched in 2018, the FanChoco School Caravan is an educative program that teaches children healthy snacking and good sanitation habits. A key part of the initiative is inculcating the habit of proper environmental management through the Wrapper Collection drive. The initiative has since reached over three thousand children in five hundred schools with four million sachets gathered to be recycled.