Speciality ingredients supplier Cornelius has backed UK charity The Sparkle Foundation to provide children with an education, nutrition and medical support across 17 rural villages in Malawi, Africa.

Known as Sparkle Malawi, the initiative aims to empower children with an improved lifestyle through small-scale sustainable projects.

Cornelius has taken the first step towards supporting the organisation with an initial charitable contribution and is planning a number of fundraising activities for the charity. The company also has plans to visit Malawi to work directly on a project in the coming years.

Dr Neville Prior, chairman of Cornelius, described The Sparkle Foundation as an amazing charity and its dedication to the most disadvantaged in the world as remarkable.

“It’s important for Cornelius that we are committed to charitable work alongside our day-to-day business activity,” Prior said. “I am proud Cornelius will be working closely with their project Sparkle Malawi and I hope our support will give a real boost to the excellent work they do.”

Sarah Brook, founder of The Sparkle Foundation, said that the company was delighted to be partnering with Cornelius on its projects in Malawi.

“We are working towards creating brighter futures for vulnerable people and this partnership, among others, will help us achieve that goal,” Brook said. “We are grateful for all the support we receive, recognising that the good we do is only achievable thanks to the support of our partners.”