Nedbank has initiated a new Schools Healthy Lifestyle Programme aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of young South Africans in the communities we serve.
Offered in partnership with Colgate, Futurelife and ICRDGROUP foundation and Kwa-Zulu Natal Departments of Education and Health the Nedbank Schools Healthy Lifestyle Programme was launched at a ceremony at Saphinda Primary School.
With funding of R500 000 from Nedbank, the programme – which is initially being piloted at selected schools in KZN and Limpopo – seeks to encourage and enable the country’s young people to lead healthier lifestyles, particularly within their school environment, but also at home.
The programme takes a holistic approach, covering physical, nutrition, dental and mental health components and, in addition to direct health and wellness interventions with learners, it includes ongoing guidance for school and educators as well as curriculum-aligned lesson plans and tools that teachers can include in their regular teaching programmes.
Speaking at the launch, Lindiwe Temba, Executive Head of Corporate Social Investment at Nedbank expressed the bank’s hope that the programme would signal the beginning of a paradigm shift amongst our communities, where economic challenges so often still negatively impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of young people.
‘One of the most unfortunate consequences of South Africa’s legacy of socio-economic imbalances is that vast numbers of our country’s children are still being raised in circumstances where little emphasis is placed on healthy lifestyle choices, Temba explained, ‘but it is Nedbank’s hope that this Healthy Living Programme will be a catalysts to change this scenario over time by raising awareness of the vital need for our nation’s young people to be given every opportunity to grow up physically healthy and mentally strong. Given that our young ones spend a significant amount of time within the school environment, it is our hope that such an intervention will create the necessary awareness and impact for the children to practice these healthy habits at home and into their adult lives.
As co-sponsors, Futurelife & Futurelife Foundation will provide nutritional education to learners and will also provide healthy meals to approximately 800 learners through its range of highly nutritious Smart Foods.
The dental component of the programme will be sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive, which will deliver dental care awareness to Grade 1 to 4 learners at participating School through its Palmolive Bright Smiles, Bright Future programme.
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