(Galle, Sri Lanka) Just in line with World Food Day 2024, the ATG Hand Care, Koggala officially launched the “Towards a Healthier & Nutritious Nation” initiative at Martin Wickramasinghe School in Habaraduwa, Sri Lanka. It aims to establish school-based health clubs, introduce family-friendly and financially conducive health practices, and drives community-wide awareness of the importance of nutrition. This initiative is part of ATG’s social sustainability pillar and is dedicated to promoting nutritional well-being among underprivileged schoolchildren in Sri Lanka.
In the past year ATG already successfully run a weekly meal distribution programme at the Martin Wickramasinghe School which was now expanded to an initiative with interactive sessions that involve students, parents, and teachers. Together with the initiative’s technical partner Scaling Up Nutrition People’s Forum (SUNPF) and the Ministries of Education and Health a programme was developed that implements a holistic and solution-oriented approach to nutrition education and healthy living amidst Sri Lanka’s current economic decline and financial difficulties.
The initiative began with an official event on the 5th of November 2024. ATG representatives as well as officials of the Ministries of Education and Health, and SUNPF met with the principal and school staff of Martin Wickramasinghe School to launch the programme. The principal – Ms M.P. Manamperi – took the opportunity to explain how ATG’s weekly meal distribution programme at the school has already led to improved daily attendance and overall well-being of her students.
Starting this November, ATG Group will be scaling the “Towards a Healthier & Nutritious Nation” programme to other districts where its factories have supported underprivileged schools for years. With the strategic support of SUNPF, ATG aspires to develop a replicable model for sustainable, community-driven nutrition improvement across Sri Lanka.