Nestlé South Africa hosted about 1 000 learners from Escourt and surrounding areas at Drakensview Primary School, for an activation of the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme.

The schools, which took part in this nutrition education and physical activity programme included Shayamoya, Ferdinand, Gourton and Drakensview Primary schools. All schools are from the Uthukela Education District.

The programme is designed for learners between the ages of six-12-years-old and focuses on teaching children about the importance of good nutrition, drinking water, taking part in physical activity and leading a healthy lifestyle.

The programme is designed to include a chef’s demonstration where learners are taught about different food groups and the benefits of eating healthily and the importance of managing food portions by a trained chef. The learners also take part in mass participation physical activity demonstrations, which include touch basketball, volleyball, soccer, netball, hoola hoop and skipping rope.

For the first time this year, included was a gardening activity where learners and educators are challenged to start their own food garden at their respective school. The Nestlé Estcourt factory volunteers came in their numbers to assist the learners and facilitated the sports clinics and the handing out of lunchboxes to the learners.

These activities were supported by information sharing sessions and discussions on good nutrition, facilitated through a learner-tailored workbook, which will be used by learners in class.

“We are quite excited by the level of enthusiasm demonstrated by the educators, learners and our own factory volunteers and making this event a success. Reaching out to more learners through this programme will ensure that our children grow up knowing the right types of food to eat in order to lead healthy lifestyles. This will also encourage educators to further promote good nutrition in their daily lesson plans,” said Nestlé South Africa spokesperson Motshidisi Mokwena.