Fan Milk PLC, Ghana’s leading dairy and beverage company, has launched the 2024 edition of the ‘FanMilk School Caravan’ to educate over 100,000 students on proper waste disposal and environmental sustainability.

Previously known as the ‘FanChoco Caravan,’ this year’s programme also aims to collect over 3 million ice cream wrappers for recycling from 100 schools to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

Launched in 2018 in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES), this initiative affirms FanMilk’s commitment to promoting proper waste disposal and environmental sustainability among school children.

At the launch, Mr. Lionel Parent, Managing Director of FanMilk Ghana, highlighted the program’s importance. He said: "At FanMilk, we firmly believe that the health of people and the planet are interconnected. The School Caravan is an investment in our Danone Impact Journey of ‘Thriving with our People and Communities’ while emphasizing the importance of environmental management and sanitation.”

He announced that the participating schools in Accra and Kumasi will receive litter bins to support waste segregation at the source. Through the programme’s ‘Wrapper Collection Challenge,’ students will also have the opportunity to win branded FanMilk souvenirs and tablets, whilst the top three schools will receive cash prizes to fund projects of their choice.

Rev. Emmanuel Addo, the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator, commended FanMilk Ghana for its continuous investment in communities, indicating that the program is vital, as it aligns with the broader national goal of providing comprehensive health and sanitation education in schools.

For his part, William Kwame Amankra Appiah, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, said: “This program not only promotes proper waste disposal but also instils in our students a sense of responsibility towards the environment. It is a commendable effort by FanMilk, and we are excited to see its continued success since 2018.”

The Kokofu Dwantoahemaa, Nana Ahwenie-Bodom, who was also in attendance, encouraged students to actively participate in the ‘Wrapper Collection Challenge’ to prevent the spread of diseases within the community. “We owe it to future generations to protect our environment. I am excited that the caravan has stopped in Kumasi this year. I look forward to engaging with the coordinators to explore areas where I can support to ensure we reach all schools within this community,” she said.

Since its inception, the ‘FanMilk School Caravan’ has engaged over 300,000 students and collected over 4 million ice cream wrappers within the Greater Accra Region through the ‘Wrapper Collection Challenge.’