Children and residents from 5 charity homes took part in the Ayam Brand Junior Chef cooking competition held at The Coffee Factory in Kuching on April 25. The charity homes – The Green Ribbon Association, The Salvation Army Boys’ Home, Rumah Anak Yatim Taman Seri Puteri Kuching, Dyslexia Association of Sarawak and Sarawak Cheshire Home – also received two months supply of products from Ayam Brand during the event.
Ayam Brand representative, Stanley Wang said: “We decided to bring back the cooking competition again this year as it is an ideal platform to foster the ties and camaraderie between team members among charity homes, in addition to instilling healthy eating habits. The cooking competition also encourages independent skills and self-confidence.”
The competition required teams of two children to prepare, plate and serve a family-favourite dish using Ayam Brand products.
Rumah Anak Yatim Taman Seri Puteri Kuching came out champion, with Sarawak Cheshire Home and Dyslexia Association of Sarawak in second and third place respectively. The teams received their prizes from Wang.
The event was held in conjunction with Ayam Brand’s celebration of its 125th anniversary.
Famed for its wide range of healthy and convenient, preservative-free canned products, Ayam Brand is celebrating its anniversary with a nationwide initiative themed, ‘We Care, We Are Family’. The anniversary celebration coincides with the 10th consecutive Ayam Brand Charity Campaign. This year’s charity campaign will reach 60 charity homes in 11 locations across Malaysia and Brunei, providing 324,000 healthy meals for charity.
In addition to the much-needed contribution of its food products, the annual corporate social responsibility programme also introduces new activities every year to keep children engaged, educated and involved to cultivate healthy eating habits and creativity. Among the past activities for children include cooking demonstrations, cooking competitions, cooking workshops and art competitions.
Sixty charity homes – 57 from across Malaysia and 3 from Brunei Darussalam received Ayam Brand tuna, mackerel, kernel corn, processed peas, sardines and baked beans sufficient for daily meals for all residents for two months. Close to 1,800 children, disabled and old folks will benefit from this sustained aid.
In the past ten years the Ayam Brand Charity Campaign has benefitted close to 18,000 people from 422 charity organisations - providing them with 1,080,000 healthy meals!
The campaign is in-line with the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s efforts to fight obesity by educating and encouraging children to make informed food choices.
Ayam Brand emphasises the contribution of its sardines, mackerel and tuna products as many charity homes lack regular access to a good source of Omega-3, which is an essential fatty acid that our body cannot produce. Omega-3 may help to prevent coronary heart disease, promote healthy nerve activity, improve vitamin absorption, maintain a healthy immune system and promote cell development. Omega 3 is also important in the development of vision and brain among children.
According to Wang, the brand is delighted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its charity campaign, which also coincides with the brand’s 125th anniversary.
“Ayam Brand is proud that our annual charity campaign has reached close to 18,000 people since its inception a decade ago. We’re delighted to provide those in need with healthy, nutritious food that is convenient and easy to prepare. Through the product contribution and engaging activities conducted at each regional launch, we believe this charity campaign is a good platform to inculcate good lifelong eating habits among the children, in a memorable and fun manner.
“After 125 years, Ayam Brand understands fully that its family of users want ready-to-eat convenient, quick and easy meals, and superior taste; without added preservatives or added MSG. Being a part of Malaysian families, we care about the general well-being of our fellow Malaysians. We hope this healthy culinary heritage can be carried to the younger generation through this charity campaign as reflected in our theme ‘We Care, We Are Family’ ” added Wang.
Due to current economic conditions charity homes have been facing shortages as donations from corporations and individuals have fallen. Ayam Brand’s continued support is timely.
Lilian Heng, Welfare Assistant from Rumah Anak Yatim Taman Seri Puteri Kuching, who spoke on behalf of the recipient homes in Sarawak said: “Donations and contributions are less than last year’s, thus making Ayam Brand’s contribution a lifesaver for us. We appreciate the contribution from Ayam Brand as it extended the variety of the residents’ regular diet, and was fast and convenient to prepare. The children enjoy Ayam Brand products, such as the tuna, as much as we do as it is something different from our usual diet and because it is healthy and convenient. They have enjoyed this cooking competition tremendously.”
