Mondelez shares joy, healthy lifestyle in 6 elementary schools

Food and beverage giant Mondelēz Philippines held an employee-led program recently in its adopted schools to promote a healthy lifestyle among elementary students.

Mondelēz, formerly named Kraft Foods, mobilized its employees to hold the annual “Share Joy Day” in its six adopted elementary schools across the country.

Maria Cindy Lim, head of Mondelēz corporate and government affairs, said this year’s program is part of their global volunteer month that aims to unite all of their employees to do small acts of service to their respective communities.

During the activity at the Vicente Lim Elementary School in Manila, Mondelēz employees joined the students in various activities, including a quiz bee and a cooking competition, aimed at promoting balanced nutrition among children.

Lim said the “Share Joy Day” encouraged their employees to create “delicious moments of joy” for their adopted students through various participative activities in their adopted schools.

Launched in 2013, the Joy Schools Program aims to address hunger and malnutrition among Filipino youth through a series of programs on nutrition, teacher training, and facilities improvement.

It aims to empower the adopted schools and the students to live healthy lifestyles and improve their educational standing.

Lim said the ultimate objective is to create an environment that will encourage the students to go to school and actively participate in their classes.

Other adopted schools include the Sampaloc Site II ES in Paranaque, Bayanan Main ES in Muntinlupa, Padre Zamora ES in Pasay, P. Manalo ES in Pateros, and Panalaron Central ES in Tacloban.

Under the nutrition arm of the program, Mondolēz provides a nine-month daily feeding program for 1,200 severely undernourished elementary students.

The company also educated parents on urban vegetable gardening, and provided teachers with training on various subject matters.

Mondelēz supported renovation of school kitchens, libraries and sanitation facilities of its adopted schools.