The children of the world are innocent, vulnerable and dependent. They are also curious, active and full of hope. Their childhood should be one of joy and peace, of playing, learning and growing. Their future should be shaped in harmony and co-operation. Their lives should mature, as they broaden their perspectives and gain new experiences. But for many children, the reality of childhood is altogether different. Food, or the lack of it, is one of the factors affecting the nutritional status of children in South Africa.
Fact: 1 in 5 children in South Africa go to bed hungry each night.
Danone Clover believes that action is the answer – action that is within the grasp of people themselves. If only they are shown how.
In-line with Danone Clover’s international mission statement – ‘To bring health through food to as many people as possible’ – in South Africa, the Danone Clover Kids ‘Caring for Our Children’ campaign has now aligned itself with the Food Gardens Foundation which will focus on children and nutrition in particular. Danone Clover, producer of yoghurt and other dairy products, while still supporting CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation, has added the Food Gardens Foundation to its corporate social responsibility portfolio of beneficiaries.
For the initial roll out, Danone Clover has chosen disadvantaged schools that currently receive limited support. Also taken into account will be the number of children who can benefit as well as their vulnerability. Priority will be given to schools in which the children include many orphans, abused children, child heads of households, and so on.
The benefits include sustainability, skills development and empowerment of each school and local community, and children will benefit in particular through the alleviation of hunger and malnutrition.
‘We aim to raise funds for Food Gardens Foundation,’ says Stéphane Jacqmin, Marketing Director at Danone Clover. ‘With that kind of aid, Food Gardens Foundation, together with Danone Clover will be able to help create urgently required food gardens in underprivileged schools, primarily to feed these vulnerable children, increasing the quantity and quality of their meals and subsequently providing a sustainable livelihood for them now and into the future.’
‘For every Danone Clover product, including yoghurt, dairy-fruit juice blend, maas, and Ultramel custard purchased during the winter months of June and July, consumers will be contributing to the creation of much needed sustainable food gardens. We shall be marketing the Danone Clover Kids ‘Caring for Our Children’ campaign as usual to the nation’s generous consumers, who we know will support this cause with their shopping choices. Additional ways to contribute to the campaign will be made available to consumers on the Danone Clover website – www.danoneclover.co.za.‘
WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF : DANONE CLOVER
BY : CH COMMUNICATIONS
FURTHER INFORMATION : CELESTE HEWETT
TEL : 011 656 0133
FAX : 086 518 2177
EMAIL : chcomm@worldonline.co.za
