On June 1, Khorog Central Park was filled with children’s laughter, lively music, and a festive atmosphere. Children sang, played games, took part in competitions, and enthusiastically proved that healthy food is anything but boring.
This is how Khorog marked International Children’s Day. Around 500 people attended the celebration, including children, parents, teachers, members of the local community, and invited guests.
For many families, the day was more than just entertainment in the park. It was a reminder of something fundamental: children need attention, safety, joy, and opportunities to develop and grow in good health.
The event was organized by the Khorog Field Office of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in cooperation with SIFI and the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). The Deputy Chairperson of GBAO, Muslima Afzalshoeva, also attended the event. She congratulated the children and presented special prizes to those who excelled in the competitions.
Developing healthy habits through play
Children usually find it difficult to listen to long explanations about healthy eating. However, everything changes when learning is turned into play.
During the celebration, children took part in the Fruit Challenge, themed games, and the Apple Crunch campaign. They answered questions, competed, laughed, supported one another, and at the same time learned why fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods are essential for growth, energy, and overall well-being.
Such activities are especially effective for younger schoolchildren. They do not simply hear “eat healthy food” instructions; they participate, experience, and learn through movement and emotion. Later, they carry this experience home into conversations with parents and friends and into their daily habits.
Gaining better understanding of healthy food
For children at School No. 9 in Khorog, the topic of healthy nutrition is already familiar. The school participates in the National School Feeding Programme, and children receive a daily hot meal.
Teacher Jamila Abdurakhimova says this is gradually changing children’s attitudes toward food:
“Thanks to the School Feeding Programme, our students receive nutritious and healthy meals every day. Over time, they have come to understand why it is important and increasingly choose healthy food instead of unhealthy snacks.
When we learned that this year’s Children’s Day celebration would focus on healthy nutrition, our students were eager to take part. They especially enjoyed preparing for the Apple Crunch campaign.
The children drew colourful pictures of fruits, proudly presented them at the event, sang songs, and talked about the benefits of healthy eating. For them, it was not just a fun activity, but also an opportunity to reflect on their habits once again.
After the event, many students said they would like to organize a similar campaign at our school so that more children can learn about healthy lifestyles.”
According to the teacher, it was especially valuable to see how confidently and enthusiastically the children participated. For them, the day was both an entertainment and a meaningful lesson that stays in memory far longer than a regular classroom session.
“I learned why eating fruit is important”
Fourth-grade student of School No. 9 in Khorog, Angelina Muborakalieva, shared her impressions:
“My favourite activity was the Apple Crunch campaign. I learned a lot about why it is important to eat fruits and other healthy foods. The celebration was fun, interesting, and educational. I was happy to take part with my friends, and I hope such events will be organized more often.”
Celebration worth repeating
The main outcome of such events is not only smiles and photographs. What truly matters is that children take away a simple idea: taking care of your health is a daily choice, and healthy food can be tasty, colourful, and engaging.
When children learn this through games, songs, competitions, and shared celebration, the message stays with them for a long time. In this way, a single day in the park can become the beginning of small but meaningful changes — at school, at home, and in the habits of entire families.