30,000 students to take part in Anchor Achievers art competition

Anchor announced the launch of the Anchor Achievers art competition in the Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces at an event held recently in Galle. The competition, run in the Western and Central provinces in 2012, will this year see Anchor encourage 30,000 students to unlock their creative potential.

Leon Clement, Managing Director, Fonterra Brands Lanka, said: “Anchor is committed to inspiring and supporting children’s development and growth, we believe that this initiative will assist in these children’s long term creative development.

“Last year the program touched over 50,000 students and parents in the Western and Central provinces and we are excited to be able to build on this in 2013. Our Anchor team will be visiting over 50 selected schools from across the two provinces and encouraging them to submit a drawing, painting or other piece of art, based on their aspirations and achievements.”

Anchor will be conducting the program at the selected schools and the team will be spending a week in each school, facilitating the art competition and giving out free cups of Anchor milk.

In addition, the program will focus on making learning fun, with the teams also running exciting games and activities designed to motivate and encourage achievement and educate children, and their families about good nutrition.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Member of Parliament for the Galle District, said: “Over the years Fonterra and Anchor have engaged in a number of community development initiatives in the Galle and Akmeemana areas such as helping develop infrastructure in schools and organising nutrition education sessions for parents and children. It is important for children to go beyond their day-to-day school curriculum and engage in activities that help develop their creative skills. Therefore, we are grateful that Anchor has come forward to organise an initiative of this nature that encourages students to express their creativity.”

“It is essential that parents recognise the need to provide children with a healthy diet, instead of giving into children’s attraction to unhealthy food. Nutritionally rich food such as milk is an important part of a child’s daily diet and it is important that parents are reminded of this,” he added.

Anchor will reward exceptional students who have shown achievement in any activity with gifts and certificates, and all schools participating in the competition will be given sports equipment, musical instruments and reading materials, depending on their respective requirements.

Clement concluded: “We are delighted to be able to encourage students to dream big and achieve more. We believe we can touch the lives of over 70,000 including students and parents through this venture and we are excited about the positive impact it will have.”