Bel Egypt Partners with Egyptian Food Bank for School Feeding Program

Bel Egypt, a global leader in processed cheese production, has announced a strategic partnership with the Egyptian Food Bank under the initiative “Hand in Hand for Nutrition is a Right for All.” This initiative, sponsored by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, aims to support the school nutrition program by providing La Vache Qui Rit cheese  for the preparation of 250,000 delicious and nutritious meals rich in protein, iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamins D and A, contributing to the healthy growth and development of children.

The agreement was signed by Hani Aram, Regional Director of Bel Egypt and North East Africa, and Mohsen Sarhan, CEO of the Egyptian Food Bank, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Education and Technical Education, members from both organizations, and representatives from the press and media.

This agreement marks the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership between Bel Egypt and the Egyptian Food Bank, reflecting the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. The partnership aims to create a positive and sustainable impact on children’s health and future by contributing to the school nutrition program and providing healthy, balanced meals. This initiative supports the government’s efforts and the contributions of civil society in school nutrition, aligning with the second Sustainable Development Goal: to end hunger and improve nutrition for children in Egypt. The partnership exemplifies the active role of the private sector in supporting the community and achieving sustainable development goals.

During the signing event, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar emphasized the Egyptian government’s commitment to improving nutrition in schools, believing that public health starts with school children, who represent the promising future of society. He expressed gratitude to Bel Egypt and the Egyptian Food Bank for their outstanding efforts, hoping that this partnership would lead to further fruitful collaborations in the future.

The Minister continued by underscoring the close cooperation between the Ministries of Health and Population and Education to support such initiatives that contribute to building a healthy and strong generation capable of working efficiently in the future. He expressed his eagerness to strengthen partnerships with various entities to achieve shared goals in improving community health.

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar highlighted the importance of this initiative as a significant step towards enhancing healthy nutrition for children in schools, aligning with political directives to improve public health and combat nutrition-related diseases among students, such as obesity, anemia, and stunting, while also addressing school dropout rates. He added that presidential initiatives targeting malnutrition are effectively combating obesity, anemia, and stunting among schoolchildren and achieving notable successes.

In closing, the Minister expressed his appreciation for Bel Egypt’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, urging all companies in Egypt’s food industry to adopt this approach in supporting community service and collaborating to improve school nutrition standards, affirming that Egypt has a strong foundation in this area.

For his part, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, expressed his happiness at attending the signing of this agreement, extending sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar for his dedicated efforts to enhance the health system, focus on citizens’ health, and work on increasing the efficiency of human resources, wishing him continued success.

Hani Aram, Regional Director of Bel Egypt and North East Africa, expressed his delight at signing the agreement with the Egyptian Food Bank, stating: “At Bel Egypt, we believe that children’s health is the foundation for building a strong and sustainable future for our community. Therefore, we are committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to providing balanced and nutritious meals for children, especially in schools. As part of this initiative with the Egyptian Food Bank, we are helping support the school nutrition program by providing La Vache Qui Rit cheese for the preparation of 250,000 delicious and nutritious meals, thus enhancing children’s health.”

Aram added: “Our collaboration with the Egyptian Food Bank in this initiative represents an important step towards achieving our vision of building a healthy generation capable of creativity and innovation. We will continue to work to provide the necessary support to children, whether through offering our nutrient-rich products that support healthy growth or by participating in programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of future generations.”

Mohsen Sarhan, CEO of the Egyptian Food Bank, expressed his happiness with the collaboration with Bel Egypt in this initiative. He stated, “Our partnership with Bel Egypt represents a positive model of cooperation with the private sector, and we express our deep appreciation for the company’s active role in providing comprehensive meals to support children’s growth in Egypt, thereby enhancing their health and learning capabilities.”

Sarhan added, “We believe that this agreement is not merely a step towards improving children’s quality of life but also an investment in Egypt’s future by building a generation that enjoys health and the ability to innovate. We look forward to continuing this fruitful cooperation and working together to achieve more accomplishments that contribute to our shared vision for a better and more sustainable society.”

It is worth noting that La Vache Qui Rit cheese is an ideal choice for children, containing essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, and vitamins D and A, which play a vital role in boosting immunity, preventing anemia, and supporting healthy bone and dental growth.