Nestlé For Healthier Kids: Over 900 Students Unite for Their Health
After a week filled with discoveries, learning, and experiences in nature, the third edition of the Quest for Happier & Healthier Kids, organized by Nestlé Mauritius, concluded on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Casela Nature Parks, marking a significant step forward in the collective commitment to the well-being of Mauritian children.
This program, organized by Nestlé Mauritius in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE), and Casela Nature Parks, continues the Nestlé for Healthier Kids initiative, which aims to guide younger generations towards healthier, more active, and responsible lifestyles.
During the past seven days, 909 Grade 4 students participated in a series of educational and fun activities centered around three essential pillars: nutrition, physical activity, and environmental sustainability.
Since its launch, the Quest for Happier & Healthier Kids has already raised awareness among over 3,000 students across the island, showcasing the growing impact of this initiative and the strength of the partnership between educational stakeholders and the private sector.
A Success Driven by Collective Commitment
The official closing ceremony, attended by teams from Nestlé Mauritius, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, the MIE, and Casela, was an opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing involvement of institutional and educational partners that contribute to the program's success year after year.
"Watching the Quest for Happier & Healthier Kids evolve over the editions is a true source of inspiration for us all," emphasizes Tafadzwa Mupfurutsa, Country Manager of Nestlé Mauritius. "This initiative perfectly illustrates what we can achieve when the public and private sectors work together towards a common goal: guiding Mauritian children towards healthier, more active lives, while being aware of their role in building a sustainable future."
He also recalls that his very first official activity upon joining Nestlé Mauritius last year was indeed the second edition of the Quest: "It is with special emotion that I see this third edition conclude so successfully today. It reflects the quality of commitment from all our partners and reinforces our desire at Nestlé to continue this type of collaboration in service of Mauritian families and future generations."
This experiential approach complements the actions undertaken within the Nestlé for Healthier Kids Program, which has been developed in Mauritius for over a decade in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Mauritius Institute of Education.
"Promoting the health and well-being of learners is a core priority for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources. Through initiatives like the Quest for Happier & Healthier Kids, students are encouraged from a young age to develop healthy, active, and responsible lifestyle habits in a positive and engaging educational environment. This type of initiative reinforces efforts made in schools to enhance the physical, emotional, and social well-being of children while raising awareness among younger generations about the importance of a balanced and sustainable lifestyle," emphasizes Dr. N. Reetoo, Director of Health and Well-being at the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.
Through thematic treasure hunts, educational workshops, and outdoor activities, students concretely discovered the close ties between their personal health and the health of their environment.
"At MIE, we deeply believe in the transformative power of holistic education. The Quest activity, held in the exceptional natural setting of Casela Nature Parks, perfectly illustrates how learning can extend beyond the classroom and integrate into authentic and rich environments that foster curiosity, responsibility, and well-being," supports Mrs. Mila Devi Sewruttun-Dosieah, director of the Mauritius Institute of Education. "This initiative also demonstrates MIE’s shared commitment to equitable and inclusive health education in schools," she added.
The program also incorporates the principles of Nestlé's RE Program: Rethink, Reduce, Repurpose, which encourages young people to adopt simple yet essential actions to reduce their environmental impact.
For Thierry Arékion, General Manager of Casela Park, "At Casela, we believe that nature is the best teacher. By transforming our park into an open-air classroom, we allow these 909 children to concretely discover the importance of protecting life, whether it concerns their own health or that of our environment. This partnership with Nestlé enables us to inspire younger generations to become more conscious and respectful citizens of the world around them."
Beyond the activities offered, the Quest for Happier & Healthier Kids embodies a shared vision: that of a generation of children who are more informed, responsible, and committed to their health and that of their planet.
Through this third edition, Nestlé Mauritius and its partners reaffirm their commitment to continue this collective dynamic to contribute together to building a healthier, happier, and more sustainable future for Mauritian children.
The Nestlé Quest for Happier & Healthier Kids is an adventure that grows each year... and each child becomes an ambassador.
Launched in 2016 in Mauritius, the Nestlé For Healthier Kids program brings together all efforts to support parents, caregivers, and teachers in raising healthier children while inspiring the children themselves. Through its numerous campaigns and initiatives, Nestlé raises awareness of the need to ensure that children receive the necessary nutrients to grow and develop properly, sharing knowledge about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, thus enabling young people to adopt such habits into adulthood.
In Mauritius, the main partners of the Nestlé For Healthier Kids program are the Ministry of Education and Human Resources (MoEHR), the Diocesan Education Service (SEDEC), and the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE), which is the implementing partner. The Healthier Kids Program (Mauritius) was designed as an extracurricular program aimed at enhancing the holistic curriculum at the primary level, notably through subjects such as Health and Physical Education (HPE), The Arts, and Values and Citizenship Education (VACE) for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th years of primary schooling.
