THE Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi), through its Dolores Aboitiz Children's Fund, launched Wednesday, July 6, its public fundraising campaign "A Chance to Grow," in partnership with Cebu City Nutrition Network (CCNN) and Cebu City Nutrition Council (CCNC).
"A Chance to Grow" aims to provide malnourished children a chance to grow by supporting a supplemental feeding of 600 children aged 0 to five years old in Cebu City.
It also aims to build a foundation for a healthy and productive life for the children.
According to the Operation Timbang Plus 2022 Report of the Cebu City Nutrition Council, Cebu City has 2,888 children that are considered malnourished.
“Proper nutrition is vital for the growth and development of a child. However, due to poverty, children living in this situation tend to have less access to healthy food, opportunities, and success later in life,” said Rafi in a press statement.
Ronald Diola, chairman of CCNC, stressed Wednesday, July 6, the importance of bringing collective efforts toward the campaign to open up opportunities for the less privileged children in Cebu City.
"It is very important that everybody should come together for our children because the progress or the success of a city can be measured by how we treat our most vulnerable, our weakest member of society, which is our children. Love is the key. The care we give to our children, it drives us in our family and that should be our driving force," he said.
In a press release, Jenny Lea Menchavez, junior executive director of Rafi DACF, said that the first five years of a child's life are the most critical for their overall development.
"We want to provide our children in Cebu the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life. We cannot do this alone, but with the help if the community, we can combat malnutrition and provide safe spaces of learning and growth for our children," she said.
In response to the growing issue of malnutrition, the campaign aims to raise P1,000,000 to support the supplemental feeding of children aged 0 to five years old.
Donors and supporters may donate to Rafi.
Donation packages are P250 (six meals for one child, for one week), P1,000 (24 meals for one child, for one month), and P4,950 (120 meals for one child, for three months).
Rafi also unveiled during the launching Wednesday, July 6, the official logo of the campaign. (Irish Delima and Ryan Megabon, CNU interns)