The second day of the CIS International School Feeding Forum in Dushanbe centered on workshops and panel discussions, with participants exploring how education, healthcare, and families can work together to support children’s health and well-being.
Throughout the day, delegates shared their countries’ strategies for organizing school meals, promoting healthy habits, and involving parents in shaping a healthier future generation.
One of the key sessions, “Results and Future of School Meal Programs,” focused on how to effectively upgrade school canteens. Ministry representatives, regional officials, international experts, and school catering operators exchanged practical insights.
Sergei Uglov, Vice President of the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), presented a step-by-step approach to modernizing school canteens, beginning with a detailed assessment of each school's facilities and equipment, followed by tailored improvement plans.
Alena Martynenko, Head of St. Petersburg's Social Nutrition Department, emphasized the advantages of a centralized model, noting that it ensures stringent quality control and makes the entire school meal system transparent and easy to monitor.
The sharing of regional experiences continued with a presentation by Elena Arfenova, Deputy Head of the Volgograd Education Department, who discussed the city’s transition of all 322 schools to outsourced catering, a major project that has already delivered positive results.
Aida Aftandilova, School Feeding Programme Specialist at the UN World Food Programme in Kyrgyzstan, contributed real-world case studies illustrating how to build effective supply chains, run operations efficiently, and implement sustainable practices.
Satenik Mkrtchyan, Director of Armenia's School Feeding and Child Welfare Agency, outlined Armenia’s structured approach to nutritional science and diet planning for schools.
Another session focused on the link between school meals and public health. Doctors, researchers, and representatives of health ministries presented new findings and offered guidance on building balanced menus for children. A key topic was early immune support, including the long-term health benefits of breastfeeding.
Tatiana Butskaya, First Deputy Chairwoman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Family, Maternity, and Childhood, highlighted data showing that young children tend to be healthier than older students. One reason, she said, is that parents often pay less attention to the diets of school-aged children as they grow more independent.
During the “Parents and Social Protection” session, speakers agreed that parental engagement and home eating habits play a decisive role in the success of school feeding programs. Participants also stressed the importance of clear rules regulating parental contributions, transparent reporting, and ensuring proper oversight to strengthen public trust.
Across multiple sessions, experts repeatedly underscored the need for a systemic approach, integrating lessons on healthy eating into school curricula, training school leaders in modern food service management, and regularly educating parents. These efforts, they noted, help children develop lasting healthy habits and enhance the skills of everyone involved in school feeding.
Some schools showcased initiatives such as school gardens and the use of local produce, which enrich menus and help reduce costs. Youth-led projects also demonstrated that children themselves are ready to promote healthy eating among their peers.
In conclusion, participants noted that the forum’s expert discussions helped clarify priorities for improving school meal programs across the CIS. The outcomes reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation and the sharing of best practices to support healthier, stronger future generations.
Throughout the day, delegates shared their countries’ strategies for organizing school meals, promoting healthy habits, and involving parents in shaping a healthier future generation.
One of the key sessions, “Results and Future of School Meal Programs,” focused on how to effectively upgrade school canteens. Ministry representatives, regional officials, international experts, and school catering operators exchanged practical insights.
Sergei Uglov, Vice President of the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), presented a step-by-step approach to modernizing school canteens, beginning with a detailed assessment of each school's facilities and equipment, followed by tailored improvement plans.
Alena Martynenko, Head of St. Petersburg's Social Nutrition Department, emphasized the advantages of a centralized model, noting that it ensures stringent quality control and makes the entire school meal system transparent and easy to monitor.
The sharing of regional experiences continued with a presentation by Elena Arfenova, Deputy Head of the Volgograd Education Department, who discussed the city’s transition of all 322 schools to outsourced catering, a major project that has already delivered positive results.
Aida Aftandilova, School Feeding Programme Specialist at the UN World Food Programme in Kyrgyzstan, contributed real-world case studies illustrating how to build effective supply chains, run operations efficiently, and implement sustainable practices.
Satenik Mkrtchyan, Director of Armenia's School Feeding and Child Welfare Agency, outlined Armenia’s structured approach to nutritional science and diet planning for schools.
Another session focused on the link between school meals and public health. Doctors, researchers, and representatives of health ministries presented new findings and offered guidance on building balanced menus for children. A key topic was early immune support, including the long-term health benefits of breastfeeding.
Tatiana Butskaya, First Deputy Chairwoman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Family, Maternity, and Childhood, highlighted data showing that young children tend to be healthier than older students. One reason, she said, is that parents often pay less attention to the diets of school-aged children as they grow more independent.
During the “Parents and Social Protection” session, speakers agreed that parental engagement and home eating habits play a decisive role in the success of school feeding programs. Participants also stressed the importance of clear rules regulating parental contributions, transparent reporting, and ensuring proper oversight to strengthen public trust.
Across multiple sessions, experts repeatedly underscored the need for a systemic approach, integrating lessons on healthy eating into school curricula, training school leaders in modern food service management, and regularly educating parents. These efforts, they noted, help children develop lasting healthy habits and enhance the skills of everyone involved in school feeding.
Some schools showcased initiatives such as school gardens and the use of local produce, which enrich menus and help reduce costs. Youth-led projects also demonstrated that children themselves are ready to promote healthy eating among their peers.
In conclusion, participants noted that the forum’s expert discussions helped clarify priorities for improving school meal programs across the CIS. The outcomes reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation and the sharing of best practices to support healthier, stronger future generations.