Learning on an empty stomach is tough on anyone, but most especially on pre-school children and those in elementary schools. And when you have to walk many kilometers to school every day, the problem of hunger and poverty becomes urgent and critical to
development.
Learning on an empty stomach is tough on anyone, but most especially on pre-school children and those in elementary schools. And when you have to walk many kilometers to school every day, the problem of hunger and poverty becomes urgent and critical to development.
This is why Wyeth Philippines, maker of formula milk like Promil and the Bona line as well as other health care products and resources, has signed an agreement with Synergeia Foundation to begin a feeding program in three strategic elementary schools in the country.
Children from these schools—Gen. T. de Leon Elementary School in Valenzuela City, Making Elementary School in Parang, Maguindanao, and Domingo and Jovita Rodriguez Memorial elementary School in Talisay, Negros Occidental—will be fed every school day for four months this year.
Employees from Wyeth will feed the children, wash dishes, and have storytelling sessions to inspire the children to read and come to school regularly. Synergeia will organize project management teams composed of volunteer parents and teachers who will feed the children on a daily basis.
“Improving nutrition is very important to us and we know that by having this agreement involving education of primary schoolchildren, we are helping the country prepare for the long haul,” said Andrew L. Santos, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Wyeth. “We are looking forward to continuing partnership with Synergeia.”
Wyeth’s “Nurture Nutrition” program also involves a long-standing tie-up with Gawad Kalinga, a movement to build houses for indigent communities all over the country through close involvement of the communities and the private sector.
Synergeia Trustee Solita Monsod, who signed the agreement, said that when the private sector is willing to roll up their sleeves and be involved in the communities themselves, their efforts are magnified.
“We want the children to be able to read by Grade One or even in pre-school! In schools all over the country, we have found that hunger is a huge obstacle in this effort,” she said.
Wyeth and Synergeia are preparing to make a big impact in this schools as the schools open this June.
