School meals in the spotlight: Kyrgyzstan wraps up journalist competition

2024-11-19 12:59 Kyrgyzstan

School meals are more than lunch — they’re a vital source of energy, paving the way for children’s success. While the availability of school meals is crucial, their quality is equally important — not just tea and a bun, but a wholesome, hot meal to fuel active learning and academic progress. Thanks to Kyrgyzstan's National School Feeding Programme, 600,000 schoolchildren receive healthy and balanced meals every day. Having been implemented for over a decade, the Programme now offers much to celebrate, share, and improve. This is a story worth telling.

Who is best suited to bring this narrative to life? Journalists and bloggers — dedicated professionals capable of reaching both hearts and minds. They are uniquely positioned to highlight school meals-related issues, initiating a public dialogue that can drive improvements in the existing school feeding system.

To encourage such engagement, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, in partnership with SIFI, launched the first-ever journalist competition, eventually titled School Meals: Caring for the Future, in June 2024. The competition welcomed journalists from print media, online platforms, television, and bloggers with audiences exceeding 10,000 followers.

During several months, participants authored articles, photo reports, and video stories exploring the challenges and achievements in school feeding. They shared stories of children and parents while offering ideas to improve the quality of school meals. The competition jury was impressed by the vast number of exceptional entries, showcasing a strong interest in the topic. Like skilled artisans polishing a precious gem, journalists and bloggers shed light on various aspects of school feeding, including:

Implementation of the National School Feeding Programme and its optimization in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme in Kyrgyzstan
Financial aspects of the Programme
Modernization of school canteen infrastructure
Support for local agricultural producers
Public and parental control
Staffing challenges in school feeding
Development of healthy eating habits at school and home

On November 13, an awards ceremony took place at the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic. Minister Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva warmly presented the well-deserved awards, while SIFI President Vladimir Chernigov thanked all participants and congratulated the winners.

"Child nutrition touches every level of our lives—personal, family, national, and even global. Every meal on a child’s plate reflects the values and complexities of today’s turbulent world. While much separates us, we need islands of consensus. Let us discover, preserve, and highlight what unites us," he said.

The competition’s winners stood out with their impactful articles, reports, and videos, sparking public attention and inspiring solutions for a brighter future for children:

Television: Aida Amatbekova (Mir TV channel)
Print and Online Media: Kut Bilim Media Center
Blogging: Umidakhon Nuritdinova
Radio: Taalagul Chabdarova (Birinchi Radio)

This competition was more than a chance to win—it was an opportunity to draw public attention to an important issue, join efforts, and work toward providing better school meals. We are excited to extend our congratulations to the winners! Your dedication to improving children’s lives is truly inspiring. Let your work spark meaningful change, and your voices lead the way to positive improvements in school feeding. We wish you continued creative success and unwavering enthusiasm!