New Zealand rugby hero inspires Sri Lankan school children

Saturday, 6 April 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Fonterra Ambassador and New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Captain Richie McCaw last week visited the Science College in Mount Lavinia to see first-hand the support Fonterra provides to local communities and schools.

Fonterra is the company behind Sri Lanka’s favourite dairy brand, Anchor and the students at the Science College are 650 of the 36,000 school children that the Anchor team has touched through the recent ‘Anchor Milk is Good’ program.

This program has been visiting schools across the Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces to promote achievement and encourage children to reach for their goals.

As Fonterra’s global ambassador, McCaw was in Sri Lanka to learn more about the business and last week’s visit to the Science College allowed him to see one of the ways Fonterra is contributing to local communities.

McCaw said: “It was great to see how Anchor is encouraging kids to express themselves and aim high through this program”.

“The encouragement I received growing up has helped me become the All Blacks Captain and it’s fantastic that Fonterra and Anchor are providing the same support for Sri Lankan students,” he added.

The Anchor Milk Program, which has visited 56 schools over the last two months, is just one of the ways Fonterra, and Anchor are supporting Sri Lankan communities.

Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka Managing Director, Leon Clement said: “Support for communities and schools, is an integral part of what Fonterra does.

“Fonterra and Anchor have been part of the Sri Lankan community for more than 35 years and this program is just one of the initiatives we have in place to help encourage education and good nutrition.

“A similar initiative last year encouraged 50,000 of children across the Western and Central provinces to express themselves through art and highlighted the importance of education and working hard to succeed,” he said.

Principal of Science College Mount Lavinia D. B. Peramuna said that the Anchor program has made a real impact on the children at the school.

“The program showed students the importance of aiming high and working hard to make these dreams come true. Anchor has always been a big part of the Sri Lankan community – I can remember Anchor milk being given out to local communities almost 30 years ago. It’s fantastic that it is continuing to contribute to the development of students today,” he said.

McCaw added that he drinks Anchor milk everyday at home in New Zealand and the dairy nutrition he gets from it has played a big role in his success.

“When I first started playing rugby with the All Blacks, I sat down with the team’s nutritionist to talk about what foods I need to keep my body in top shape. Milk and dairy was on the top of the list.

“That’s why I drink Anchor milk everyday at home in New Zealand – the dairy nutrition I get from it has played a big role in helping me succeed on the rugby field.

“It’s great to see Fonterra and Anchor providing dairy nutrition to the people of Sri Lanka and helping to deliver nutrition and education to students across the country through this Anchor initiative and the numerous other programs they run in the community,” he said.