Beaconhouse Gulshan Campus

Beaconhouse Gulshan Campus, an independent international school in Karachi, Pakistan, has initiated a groundbreaking food safety awareness programme that is transforming the way its students and community view their daily diet, leading to healthier eating practices and a brighter future. Having identified physical, chemical, and biological contaminations in daily food items, including mishandling and improper food processing, the school is spreading its findings through its Health, Wellness and Food Borne Disease awareness programme.

Research shows that there are more than 150 million illnesses in South-East Asia due to foodborne diseases, resulting in approximately 175,000 deaths per year. Beaconhouse Gulshan Campus analysed that these statistics are reflected in the school’s attendance records which show consistent student absences due to gastrointestinal issues. However, there were several challenges in implementing the awareness programme, including the high rate of illiteracy and unawareness about health and hygiene in the general population. The community was also unprepared to bring about any change in their lifestyle.

To overcome these challenges, the school focused on educating its students, parents, and community members on food safety. As a first step, the school researched facts about foodborne diseases in South-East Asia and searched for different sources of food contamination. The school then encouraged its students to present projects on food safety through different mediums, like poster making, role plays, videos, and animations. The school also organised panel discussions with medical professionals to gain insight into the prevalence of food-related illnesses and arranged video conferences with health workers from local and international hospitals to see the real picture of patient load due to food borne diseases.

The school's food safety club has played an active role in educating people about all possible ways of food contamination. They have shared their findings and concerns with the community by being active on social media. Their efforts first brought about change in the school canteen, which now follows food safety measures. Club members regularly visit markets to interview shopkeepers and buyers and provide on-the-spot education.

As a result of the school's Health, Wellness and Food Borne Disease awareness programme, more than 420 students’ families – or roughly 60% of its school community population – now receive food safety awareness sessions twice a term, delivered by well-known educators, nutritionists, and medical professionals.

If Beaconhouse Gulshan Campus wins the World's Best School Prize for Supporting Healthy Lives, it intends to expand its Health, Wellness and Food Borne Disease awareness programme to other schools and the wider world. The school aims to create a ripple effect in the community, leading to safer food practices and healthier lives.