Ayam Brand™ Community Care Campaign 2023 Empowers 1,000 Children for a Better Future

Kuala Lumpur, 22 November, 2023 - It is estimated that up to 5.6 million school-going children in Malaysia face the double burden of malnutrition. The double burden of malnutrition is defined as the coexistence of both undernutrition and overnutrition in the same population across the life course. In short, malnourished children run the risk of becoming obese adults.

Worryingly, vision issues are also on the rise among Malaysian children with myopia prevalence among children at age seven at 9.8%, rising to 34.4% at the age of 15. While some eye problems are inevitable for various reasons, others can be attributed to a lack of proper care. 

To assist with these issues, Ayam Brand™, the 131-year old household name famed for its wide range of quality, preservative-free, no added MSG, healthy, and convenient canned food, is back with its annual Community Care Campaign 2023. Themed #AyamBersamaMu with the concept of ‘Tambah Sihat Bersama Ayam Brand™’, it will reach out to more than 1,000 children from 25 non-governmental organisations across seven states to provide a two-months supply or approximately 35, 028 healthy meals. 

Going beyond the contribution of its products, Ayam Brand™ in collaboration with KPJ Healthcare Group will be running nutrition workshops to educate these children on healthier dietary choices following the 3S (Suku-suku Separuh) Malaysian Healthy Plate concept. To address vision issues among these children Ayam Brand is working with Focus Point Vision Care Group Sdn. Bhd. to provide free eye health screening, and prescription glasses to children who require from these homes. 

Each participating home products that are high in protein, calcium, Omega-3 and fibre including Ayam Brand™ Tuna Mayonnaise, Ayam Brand™ Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce and Ayam Brand™ Soya Flakes Spread. 

“The risk of double malnutrition, and myopia among Malaysian children requires action from all parties who can assist including organisations such as Ayam Brand. This is why we stepped up to help. Ideally all children should have good nutrition from birth. Ayam Brand™ has a long history of contributing our healthy and nutritious products to communities, and we are continuing in that commitment. However, we believe that while providing our products is an immediate solution, over the long term, educating children on making healthier food choices is the key. Our fish products are high in protein, calcium, Omega-3, DHA among other vitamins and minerals that children need for good health, including eye health,” says Ms Teoh Wei Ling, A. Clouet (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.'s Marketing Manager.

Studies conducted by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) found that Ayam Brand™ Sardines in Tomato Sauce was shown to have 7.1X more Omega-3 compared to home-cooked locally caught fresh sardines and Ayam Brand™ Mackerel in Tomato Sauce contains a whopping 7.6X more Omega-3 compared to an equivalent serving of home-cooked locally caught mackerel. 

Ms Teoh Wei Ling also adds that "the Ayam Brand Community Care campaign which is now in its 16th year has contributed more than 2.1 million healthy meals for charity, providing nutritious food to more than 27,293 people from 610 charity homes and NGOs”.

In Klang Valley, a total of 398 children from Persatuan Rahoma Darul Fakir Malaysia, Rumah Charis, Yayasan Chow Kit, Trinity Community Children Home Society, Rumah Kasih Harmoni Paya Jaras, Persatuan Rumah Kanak-Kanak Ini Di Sayangi (K.I.D.S), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Mary, Rumah Kebajikan Dan Anak Yatim dan Saudara Baru An-Najjah and Pusat Jagaan Juara Jaya participated in the Tambah Sihat Bersama Ayam Brand #AyamBersamaMu workshop that was held at Menara KPJ Kuala Lumpur.  

Children learned about making healthier dietary choices through an informative and engaging session with Pn Nabihah Hannan Razaleigh, KPJ Tawakkal Kuala Lumpur Specialist Hospital’s dietician on the Malaysian Healthy Plate, with an introduction to the importance of Omega-3 for their eye health. Next, each child put their new knowledge into practice by preparing themselves a healthy snack following the Suku-suku Separuh concept, guided by the KPJ and Ayam Brand team. 

"Proper nutrition is important for children's overall well-being, especially the consumption of protein for growth and development. One of those good protein sources is from fatty fish like tuna, saba, sardine, and mackerel, with good sources of Omega-3, which is vital for children's brain development and eye health. Since our body cannot produce Omega-3 on its own, we need to obtain it from the foods we eat. One should consider to consume at least 2 servings of fatty fish weekly." says Pn Nabihah Hannan Razaleigh.

The children also participated in memory matching and ball toss games, which allowed them to practise their visual recall and hand-eye coordination as a way to reinforce what they had learned at the workshop. Members of the winning team each received a medal, while all participants received gift bags. 

The team from Focus Point was onsite to provide eye health checks to all children. Those who require will receive their prescription spectacles soon after. 

Representatives from the charity homes expressed their gratitude for Ayam Brand's continued support, and for the transformative impact it will have on the lives of the children.

“We always look forward to the Ayam Brand Community Care campaign. Ayam Brand products are delicious, nutritious, and a nice change from our usual meals and we are grateful for this support. We also look forward to the program itself because it is fun, educational, informative and fires up the children’s interest and passion for being healthy and eating well. The addition of prescription spectacles is very welcome, as some of the kids have myopia but glass are expensive. This contribution will help them see a better future!,” says En Jamaluddin Bin Wahab, Rumah Kasih Harmoni Paya Jaras’s Supervisor.

To find out more about the #AyamBersamaMu community care campaign, visit https://www.ayambrand.com.my or https://www.facebook.com/ayambrandmalaysia.

GUARDIAN HOLDS HYGIENE WORKSHOP AND DONATES BATH CARE PRODUCTS TO SCHOOL CHILDREN - Part of Guardian’s ‘Together, Keeping Kids Clean And Healthy’ Community Service Campaign

About 200 Year 2 and Special Needs students of Sek Kebangsaan Shah Alam recently enjoyed an interactive Guardian Hygiene Workshop organised by Guardian Malaysia as part of its nationwide community service programme, “Together, Keeping Kids Clean and Healthy” aimed at helping children from low income families stay clean and, consequently, healthy. 

Soren Lauridsen, Chief Executive Officer, Health and Beauty, South East Asia, Guardian Health and Beauty Sdn Bhd said;

“It gives us great joy and pride when we see the happy faces of these children learning about good hygiene practices at our Hygiene Workshop. At Guardian, we believe that everyone deserves to feel clean and healthy. It is a basic human right. It should not be a luxury or privilege, especially for children. Children from low income families are especially vulnerable because these families do not have the resources, especially post Covid-19, to be able to buy hygiene products when their priority is to buy food to feed their children.”

“Which is why Guardian’s ‘Together, Keeping Kids Clean And Healthy’ Campaign has been launched to aim to provide 20 million baths to underprivileged children not only in Malaysia but in other South East Asian countries, namely, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam. This is a Guardian region wide Corporate Social Responsibility campaign.”

Apart from the Hygiene Workshop, the children at the school also received complimentary Guardian bath care products. A total of 820 bottles of bath care and hand wash products were donated to the children of the school.

In addition, Guardian volunteers also painted a colourful mural featuring the Guardiancares Bear at the school depicting the importance of hygiene and bathing.

Headmistress of SK Shah Alam, Pn Hamidah Bt Shamsudin also expressed her gratitude for Guardian’s contribution.

“We are very grateful for this timely donation and Guardian’s campaign to keep our children clean and healthy. We also appreciate their effort to spruce up our school by painting such a colourful mural. The school children really are inspired by it,” Pn Hamidah said.

Also present was Dato’ Lawrence Low, Founding Chairman, MyPerintis & School of Life Malaysia, Guardian’s NGO partner in this programme. 

Soren added;“Additionally, for every one litre of Guardian bath care product sold in Malaysia, 15 sen will be donated to buying bath care products for these underprivileged children. So we hope our customers will support our community service effort by buying Guardian bath care products.”

In addition, the Guardiancares Bear will be on sale at RM30 only, at all Guardian stores throughout Malaysia and through Guardian’s online store and the Guardian mobile app. All proceeds from the sale of Guardiancares Bears will go to the #guardiancares fund to support the bath care needs of underprivileged children in Malaysia.

3 Ways to Socialize a Child Outside of the Home

For many families, a toddler's social skills develop naturally through attending daycare and through socializing with siblings. However, this is not the case for every family. In single-child homes where a parent is responsible for their care at all times, children need a different way to build social skills. This can be a challenge for stay-at-home mothers and fathers, especially if they don't have friends with children of a similar age.

Attending Mommy & Me Events

Mommy & me events are very popular among stay at home mothers. These events range from dance and Yoga classes to fun trips and workshops. While the focus is on involving children in positive, healthy activities with their parents, it also gives toddlers a chance to communicate with other children their age. There are also a wide variety of programs for stay at home fathers, too!

Enrolling in Preschool

Enrolling toddlers in preschool is a great way to prepare them for Kindergarten. Children must learn how to socialize and conduct themselves properly among other students before attending school so that they can focus on learning. A Redmond preschool will help to achieve positive behavioral interactions among toddlers, ensuring that each child learns how to have fun, make friends, and learn exciting new things.

Regular Trips to the Park

The local park is a wonderful place for parents and toddlers to make new friends. As the children meet one another and play, parents can begin to identify their toddlers' strongest relationships. The friends' parents can then be met, opening the opportunity for other play dates in the future. The park is a healthy place to get daily exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and soak up the sunshine, as well!
As children approach schooling age, it becomes vital that they learn how to correctly interact with their peers. Even when children don't have siblings or attend daycare, there are still many ways to offer socialization to them in a safe, healthy, and fun way.

Seeing the World with Tiny Tots in Tow

There are few countries where traveling with children can prove to be an enjoyable and memorable trip, and Vietnam is one of them 

Traveling with young children may not be easy, but it certainly does not have to be intimidating. One of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has no shortage of sights and activities that will entertain even the most discerning of travellers, including the young ones.

Apart from the vibrant cities of Ho Chi Minh (south) and Hanoi (north), which are great starting points for any Vietnamese family adventure, there are several other destinations that could make your holiday an extremely memorable one.

Families can head to one of Vietnam’s beach resorts in Hoi An or Danang, which have plenty to offer in terms of beautiful beaches, fabulous restaurants and lots of fun activities for children. Some of the best beach resorts in the country are located in Danang, although the Cua Dai beach close to Hoi An is also a popular vacation spot. There are also plenty of other beaches in Vietnam’s central and south coasts worth exploring.

Hoi An also offers some unique sightseeing opportunities. Centuries-old Buddhist pagodas, temples, quaint museums and colonial shophouses line the streets of this ancient town. One of
the best ways for you to soak in the rich culture and heritage as a family is by cycling through the streets of Hoi An.

For the more adventurous families, there are spectacular mountains and jungle treks from the peaceful hill station of Dalat in the south, to the beguiling valley of Sa Pa in the northern highlands. The mountainous countryside of Sa Pa – close to the border with Yunan province in China – offers charming trekking trails for some amazing hikes; rice terraces and waterfalls; and is home to several ethnic minority tribes.

Cap off the Vietnamese holiday in the modern and bustling metropolitan of Ho Chi Minh City. Among the not-to-be-missed attractions is the Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park in District 1. The Buddhist-themed attraction is fitted with colourful statues of mythical creatures as well as edifices and shrines of Buddha amidst waterslides, rollercoaster rides, a 4D theatre and aquarium!

(Image source: http://www.vietnam-guide.com/ho-chi-minh-city/attractions/suoi-tien-cultural-amusement-park.htm)

Of course, as in any foreign city, a sampling of local street food and visit to the local markets are a must. Kids generally enjoy Vietnamese cuisine as they are flavourful and rarely spicy. From a warm bowl of traditional Vietnamese pho (noodle soup) and banh mi (Vietnamese sandwish) to steamed Banh bao (steamed pork buns) and Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe), there are plenty of kid-friendly foods in Vietnam.

Browse along the family-run shops and stalls lining the sidewalks of the city, for a truly authentic experience. Alternatively, visiting the Ben Thanh Market will also give you a taste of the energy and flavor of Ho Chi Minh to complete your memorable holiday experience.

With the school holidays coming up in June and August, planning your next family holiday is now made easier as Vietjet, the fast-growing Vietnamese airline, is currently offering irresistible promotions on its domestic and international network as part of its summer 2018 promotion.

From 9 – 11 May 2018, two million promotional tickets from as low as USD0 will be up for grabs during the golden window of 1pm to 3pm daily. The promotion is applicable on Vietjet’s domestic and international routes to South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia within the travel period of 20 August to 31 December 2018 (excluding national holidays).

The promotional air tickets are available for booking at www.vietjetair.com
(also compatible with smartphones at https://m.vietjetair.com) or at www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam (just click the “Booking” tab) or
via the 24/7 call centre at (+603) 2730 9887.

Helpful Tips for Moving Long Distances

Most people would agree that it is a lot easier to move from just one side of the city to the other. If you forget something, all you have to do is turn around. You can clean the new house, move everything in, and then go back and clean the other house. Long-distance moving can be a little bit more challenging. The following tips can help.

Many have found that hiring professionals is definitely the way to go when it comes to moving from one state to another or across the country. If a person lives on the East Coast, they could hire long distance movers NJ to help them move to the West Coast. When this happens, the movers are going to do the bulk of the work. They will be the ones responsible for making sure that your possessions are packed, well taken care of, moved, and then unpacked. They carry insurance, so if something happens along the way, you do not have to worry.

Organization is key when it comes to moving to a different city. You want to plan ahead so that you can stay organized during the entire process. It is a good idea to make to do list and to mark boxes so that you know what is inside. Take some time to think about the best plan as far as how to pack, when to get a moving truck, when to start the journey, and other the decisions that need to be made. If you look at the pros and cons of each option, you are setting yourself up for the best move possible.

If you have children, you want to pay special attention to their needs to as the move is going on. There are a lot of things that you can do to reassure your children so that they are happy and excited as the move progresses. Parents do not need the stress of unhappy or stressed-out children in addition to the stress that usually accompanies a move. If parents assure their children and plan ahead, they can make sure that their children are confident.

LEGOLAND® BRINGS JOY TO THE KIDS IN HOSPITAL SULTAN ISMAIL JOHOR

The LEGOLAND^® Malaysia Resort Police costume character joining the kids in the ward in a sing and dance activity.

 LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort and LEGO® Malaysia teamed up to bring its awesome brand of fun and play to children in the pediatric ward in Hospital Sultan Ismail, Johor. The kids of the palliative care unit at the pediatric ward – a special unit for kids suffering from serious illnesses – were treated to awesome, fun-filled LEGO® activities that were meant to stimulate their imaginations through play. These kids, who are not allowed to go home during the holiday seasons, received the ultimate holiday treat, as they were treated to building and colouring activities, singing and dancing performances and a special appearance by LEGO® Police costume character. 

Starting the visit with the LEGO® building activity, the children were challenged to a speed building activity where they were all given a LEGO® Christmas Set. The first five kids whom completed the activity won LEGO® sets and LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort merchandise. Following the building activity, the children got to express their imagination through the colouring activity. Aside from the building and colouring activities, the children had fun decorating their very own jelly based on their creativity using healthy fruits. Both LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort and LEGO® Malaysia worked hand-in-hand to sponsor various LEGO® sets and LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort merchandise for the kids’ play area for them to continue building their imagination. The day was ended with various goodies, sponsored by LEGO® Malaysia and LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort, were handed to all the children to enjoy.

Casper Bonavent, Director of Operations, LEGOLAND^® Malaysia Resort (left) sharing a light moment with a young boy in the ward while gifting him a LEGO^® gift set.

  “At LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort, we believe deeply that every kid deserves the right to play, and grow through play. This holiday season we wanted the children to have a great time and fully explore their imaginations through play even though they are unable to spend the holidays at home. We wanted them to forget their illness and just be kids once again, with no worries about treatment and pain. We felt compelled to bring the fun to them,” said Young Pil-Kim, General Manager (Interim) at LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort.

“We’re proud to have done this with like-minded partners in LEGO® Malaysia. Some say there is kind of a healing quality in laughter. Beyond the smiles and laughter that the kids experienced here today, it is our sincere hope that the awesome fun and games today brings them closer to their family and their imaginations. They could not visit us in LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort so we brought LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort to them. It is after all the Merlin Magic Wand’s spirit,” Young concluded.

 More photos can be seen at my Facebook Fan page album, click on the link to view.

Dr. Mahendra Raj, Director of Health and Safety, LEGOLAND^® Malaysia Resort (4^th from right) and Casper Bonavent, Director of Operations, LEGOLAND^® Malaysia Resort (5^th from right) capturing a moment with the Model Citizens and 30 kids from the pediatric ward of Hospital Sultan Ismail.