MORE than 3,600 eggs were distributed to learners and teachers at Ardno Primary School on Friday as poultry producer Irvine’s marked World Egg Day with an initiative aimed at promoting child nutrition and encouraging healthy eating habits.
Each learner received six eggs to take home, extending the benefits of the donation beyond the classroom to families in the surrounding community.
The initiative formed part of the 30th anniversary of World Egg Day, celebrated this year under the theme “Protein that Powers and Protects”, which highlights the role of eggs in supporting growth, health and nutrition.
Irvine’s commercial executive Joyce Machigere said the celebration was an opportunity to help children understand the importance of nutritious food while encouraging them to share that knowledge with their families.
“Eggs are also one of the most affordable and easy-to-prepare sources of quality protein we have. A family does not need a fancy kitchen or a long recipe to make a nutritious meal,” she said.
“That is why eggs belong on every table in Zimbabwe, whether it is breakfast, lunch, or supper.”
The donation comes as schools and communities continue to recognise the importance of nutrition in children’s physical development and learning.
Eggs provide high-quality protein and essential nutrients, including choline, vitamin B12, iron and iodine, which support normal growth, brain development and nervous system function.
Machigere encouraged the learners to become ambassadors for good nutrition by sharing what they had learnt with their families.
“Today I want you to be Egg Ambassadors. When you get home, tell your parents, your brothers and sisters, and even your neighbours that eggs are protein that powers and protects,” she said.
The schoolchildren were also given an opportunity to participate in the celebrations through poems and speeches highlighting the nutritional value of eggs.
School head Mr Mambodza addressed the gathering, while Irvine’s quality assurance executive Lois Ngonyamo delivered a food safety message.
The programme also featured breakfast and entertainment, bringing learners, teachers and company representatives together.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Machigere, Irvine’s managing executive director Godfrey Gwainda said the donation reflected the company’s commitment to improving access to nutritious food.
“Today, as we hand over ten boxes of eggs to Ardno Primary School, and every learner walks away with half a dozen eggs of their own, we are not just giving food. We are giving health, energy, and a commitment to the well-being of our community,” he said.
“We hope these eggs will nourish the minds and bodies of our learners, powering their growth, their learning, and their bright futures.”
Gwainda said Irvine’s had grown from a small poultry operation established by Bill Irvine and his wife in 1957 into a major supplier of poultry products.
He said the company now produces more than 18 million dozen eggs annually, with affordable protein remaining central to its operations.
“Our purpose has stayed the same: to bring affordable, quality protein to every Zimbabwean family,” he said.
The Ardno Primary School initiative demonstrated how businesses can use international commemorations to support communities while raising awareness of everyday nutritional needs.
