More than 35,000 students from B40 families in 700 primary schools across the country have begun receiving breakfast sets under Projek Kantin MILO, a nutrition assistance programme initiated by MILO in partnership with the Ministry of Education Malaysia.
Projek Kantin MILO provides students in need wholesome breakfast meals paired with nutritious MILO UHT drinks – totaling more than 1 million sets – over a period of 20 schooling days for free. The meals are prepared by canteen school operators of the respective schools who are also subsidised under this programme.
Set up in response to the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools and communities, Projek Kantin MILO is part of Nestlé Malaysia’s wider effort to offer relief and nourishment to the nation during these unprecedented times.
According to Dato’ Adnan Pawanteh, Executive Director, Group Corporate Affairs, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, “As the nation steadily rebuilds itself, our purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future is now more important than ever.”
He added, “The approach we have taken for Projek Kantin MILO is unique. Not only does it provide nutritious breakfast to students, the monetary subsidies go towards helping canteen operators who are directly affected by COVID-19 due to extended periods of school closures in sustaining their businesses and livelihoods, so that they may continue serving the school children.”
Distribution of the free breakfast sets began late last year and continued well into the new school session this year as students returned to face-to-face learning beginning 1st March.
Ng Su Yen, Business Executive Officer, MILO Business Unit, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad said, “Projek Kantin MILO highlights healthy breakfast habits as a critical component of maintaining good nutrition, particularly now when there are families struggling to provide basic necessities including food”.
“As children return back to school, we continue to spread awareness of breakfast as the most important meal of the day in providing nutrition and energy to start their day right and help them achieve their best potential every day. We hope our contribution through Projek Kantin MILO will relieve some of the burden that the families of our beneficiaries have had to bear as they persevere through these tough times and bounce back stronger,” she remarked.
Contribution through Projek Kantin MILO is worth a total of RM3 million. A mock cheque presentation was held to commemorate the partnership with the Ministry of Education Malaysia.
Dato’ Haji Adzman bin Talib, Deputy Director-General (School Operation Sector), Ministry of Education Malaysia commanded both Nestlé and MILO for contributing to the nation’s concerted effort to rebound from COVID-19 and nourish schools in an impactful way.
“Nutrition among school-goers sits at the core of our COVID-19 recovery efforts, and Projek Kantin MILO seamlessly complements our own longstanding initiative through the Supplemental Food Plan (Rancangan Makanan Tambahan) for deserving children. Subsidies provided to the canteen operators also go a long way towards improving the quality and safety of food served to our children, particularly at this critical juncture as we are strengthening measures to reopen our schools safely,” she added.
MILO UHT drinks that come with the free breakfast meals are made from the goodness of malt barley, milk and cocoa, with a nourishing blend of essential vitamins and minerals to help release the energy from food.
