50,000 lives improved through Fonterra’s grass roots sustainability projects
While a number of areas in Sri Lanka lack access to clean water supply, sanitation and other infrastructure which naturally poses a threat to education and quality of life, Fonterra - since 2014, has completed over 82 projects in line with creating happier and prosperous dairy communities.
Through these projects, dairy co-operatives have focused on sustainable water and sanitation solutions, community infrastructure development at Early Childhood Development centres and schools and community engagement activities including teacher-training, food safety and health and safety programmes, according to a Fonterra media release.
“Fonterra has to date created a lasting positive impact for more than 50,000 people in rural dairy farmer communities, marked by its most recent water and sanitation project hand-over recently in Horana,” the release said.
The new facility provided a sustainable solution for 1,512 students and 64 teachers of the Moragahahena Maha Vidyalaya, who previously had no access to clean water during the drought months of the year.
Director of Corporate Affairs at Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka, Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage, said that the co-operative was committed to strengthening dairy farming communities, according to the release.
“Ensuring our communities have reliable access to safe and affordable drinking water helps prevent waterborne and kidney diseases. In the long-term, clean water and sanitation will improve health, help the children of our farmers stay in school and provide better economic opportunities for their families. This is why we work in close collaboration with our partners Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Kansarmen Foundation and the community to identify initiatives that make a real difference today, and for generations to come,” said Dr. Kahandaliyanage.
Working in partnership with the Kansarmen Foundation, the School Development Society and the Past Pupils’ Association, Fonterra equipped the Moragahahena Maha Vidyalaya with a sustainable solution with an upgraded well, underground pipelines and pumps, and a brand new set of sinks.