colombo indian cricket legend sachin tendulkar pitched for a nutrientrich diet and quality education for children during his school visits in sri lanka where he also teamed up with people impacted by the covid19 pandemic and the countrys worst economic crisisaddressing an event the iconic cricketer in his role as unicefs goodwill ambassador said children are the future if we support them today they will make us proud tomorrowtendulkar said he was sorry to know that many households in sri lanka cant afford to give quality and the quantity of food required by childrenmany children suffer from stunting he said at an event hosted by uniceftendulkar 50 was appointed unicef ambassador for south asia in 2013 to advocate good hygiene and sanitation across the regionwhen i played school matches the tendency was if i was batting at lunchtime not to have anything to eat i would have a couple of soft drinks and a bat he saidtendulkar said he had to prepare differently when the playing standards got better this preparation was something i unknowingly ignored he saidthe cricketer later learned that not having a proper lunch impacted his view i got out after lunch at an important match and the first thing i wanted to do was to eat he said calling it a big lesson in nutritionchildren require a nutrientrich diet and quality education to reach their full potential by investing in their education and nutrition we are not only investing in their future but also every countrys future said tendulkarpointing out that measures have been taken in india to tackle child malnutrition tendulkar said something unique has started in india which is local therapeutic foods readytoeat packagesthrough his role as a unicef regional goodwill ambassador tendulkar has been committed to promoting child rights protection and development across the south asian regionchildren are the best teachers they help us see the wisdom in the simplest of things in this school situated in a serene sri lankan village we observed compassion towards all beings tendulkar posted on the social media platform x formerly known as twitterall children take a few portions of food from their plates and keep it on a common plate which is then served to birds such a beautiful thought on sharing being grateful for our blessings and compassion something all of us can emulate he saidon monday he visited the unicef programmes in the rural sabaragamuwa province and met with children and parents impacted by the covidpandemic and the 2022 economic crisistendulkar also visited a preschool supported by unicefs midday school meal programme and served children foodevery child should have the right to education it is the foundation for every child tendulkar stressedwhen you spend time with children you learn a lot of things tendulkar said recalling his days as a student and a cricketer he also urged sri lankan children to play sportstendulkar recalled warm memories associated with sri lanka during his earlier visits both as a cricketer and as part of his