Dairy giant teaches kids about nutrition
FrieslandCampina employees give health advice to Shanghai students
For Rahul Colaco, president of Royal FrieslandCampina China, May 31 was a special day when he swapped his role as an executive of the Dutch dairy giant to an English teacher of the children of Chinese migrant workers.
In a 90-minute class, the children learned words such as “milk” and “dairy cow”, and took part in a Q&A session about the nutritional function of dairy products.
The day before International Children’s Day, Royal FrieslandCampina China sent 50 employees to Yanglin Primary School in Shanghai to teach, build a book corner and paint pictures with local pupils as part of efforts to help children in need, the company said.
Colaco told the class his mother asked him to drink milk every day when he was young and that’s why he is now 1.83 meters tall.
He also shared pictures of his two sons, aged 12 and 8, who drink milk three times a day and love to play outside.
“This knowledge can help children understand how milk can benefit their health, which conforms to our idea of ‘nourishing by nature,” Colaco said.
Founded in 1871, the company is now one of the world’s largest dairy companies with its revenue hitting 12.1 billion euros ($14.23 billion) in 2017. Its dairy-based drinks, infant nutrition, cheese and desserts are sold to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, according to its official website.
Since it entered the Chinese market in 1992, the company’s most popular products with Chinese customers include Friso and Dutch Lady, its premium infant and toddler formula brand.
The event, held ahead of World Milk Day on June 1, aimed to raise awareness of the effect of milk on the human body and the firm hopes to let children from around the world to have access to milk, the company said.
Colaco said although learning and living conditions that were not so good, the shining smiles on the children’s faces revealed their positive attitude to life.
“The big brothers and sisters are all nice to us,” Kang Haijing, a girl at the primary school wrote in a thank-you note. “Mr Colaco is tall, rich and handsome. He is perfect, except for his oral Chinese. I hope they can come again next year!”
Zou Ye, principal of the school, said she hoped the children could feel love and gratitude through the event, and learn to help other people in need when they grow up.
The company said it will help improve the nutrition of Chinese children by raising awareness, donating dairy products and providing volunteering services.
During last year’s International Children’s Day, it donated milk, milk powder, schoolbags and toys valued at 500,000 yuan ($78,000) to children in Gyirong and Burang counties in the Tibet autonomous region.
The company also set up two stations in Beijing and Shanghai to provide longterm volunteering services for underprivileged children.