On May 23, 2025, the city of Khorog hosted a major event for schools in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). Here are some highlights.
What will the children eat tomorrow?
From May 19 to 22, members of the Interdepartmental Coordination Council on School Feeding visited schools in the Rushan, Shugnan, and Ishkashim districts intending to see first-hand how the school feeding system functions on the ground. Then, on May 23, a final meeting was held at the Moyonsho Nazarshoev Khorog State University, with representatives from ministries, agencies, and local authorities in attendance.
The meeting was opened by GBAO Deputy Governor Muslima Afzalsho, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan Badriddin Muzaffarzoda, and Sherali Rakhmatulloev from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population. In their speeches, the officials emphasized that school feeding in this mountainous region serves as a solid foundation for children’s health and academic success.
They are undoubtedly right: in GBAO, where schools are often located in remote mountain areas, a school meal is more than just nutrition — it ensures that children can learn without being distracted by hunger.
Numbers that impress
Do you know how many tons of food the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has already delivered to schools in GBAO? The answer is 119,318 tons of flour, fortified oil, and chickpeas. That’s enough to feed 6,200 students in 137 schools across the region.
On top of that, the Government of Tajikistan has allocated over 18 million somoni to implement the National School Feeding Development Programme in 2025. Of that, 342,800 somoni are earmarked for eight pilot schools in GBAO.
21st-century canteens
“We used to have just an old stove and a couple of pots,” recalls a smiling cook from Khorog. Today, 55 school canteens across the country — including 13 in GBAO — are equipped with modern appliances. Kitchens now boast new stoves, refrigerators, and cookware, thanks to the joint efforts of WFP, the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), and local authorities. In addition, staff have undergone training: school cooks now know how to preserve vitamins in vegetables and calculate proper portion sizes.
But that’s not all! At three schools in GBAO — No. 39 (Roshtqala), No. 12 (Vanj), and No. 2 (Ishkashim) — children are doing more than just sitting at desks. They’re feeding animals, harvesting honey, and growing vegetables in greenhouses — learning how to care for nature and create healthy meals with their own hands! These schools have launched projects in animal husbandry, beekeeping, and greenhouse farming.
Financial issues
Finances are always a key concern. How are budget funds being spent? Officials from the Ministry of Finance explain that every somoni is tracked through electronic systems. GBAO schools were also the first to launch a transfer project for food procurement.
Alternative funding sources — for example, the use of school land — were also discussed. Why buy potatoes when you can grow them? “We planted vegetables with the kids,” says a teacher from the Rushan district. “Now part of the harvest goes to the canteen while the surplus is sold, thus ensuring that the money goes back into the school budget.”
Parents can rest easy
The meeting also addressed some pressing concerns — for example, compliance with sanitation standards.
“Who checks the quality of the meals?” one participant asked. A representative of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service responded that all suppliers undergo strict inspections, and schools regularly take food samples for testing.
Another important point was cultural preferences. School menus are tailored to local traditions — more grains and vegetables, and fewer processed foods.
This is just the beginning
The meeting concluded with remarks from Deputy Minister of Education Badriddin Muzaffarzoda: “By 2027, we aim to ensure that all schools in GBAO are not only provided with quality meals but are also armed with knowledge about healthy lifestyles.”
Going forward, partners plan to:
As the meeting participants noted, these initiatives are not merely boxes to tick in a report. They are changing children’s attitudes toward food, the land, and the value of labor. In other words, the investment in their future is already becoming tangible today.
What will the children eat tomorrow?
From May 19 to 22, members of the Interdepartmental Coordination Council on School Feeding visited schools in the Rushan, Shugnan, and Ishkashim districts intending to see first-hand how the school feeding system functions on the ground. Then, on May 23, a final meeting was held at the Moyonsho Nazarshoev Khorog State University, with representatives from ministries, agencies, and local authorities in attendance.
The meeting was opened by GBAO Deputy Governor Muslima Afzalsho, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan Badriddin Muzaffarzoda, and Sherali Rakhmatulloev from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population. In their speeches, the officials emphasized that school feeding in this mountainous region serves as a solid foundation for children’s health and academic success.
They are undoubtedly right: in GBAO, where schools are often located in remote mountain areas, a school meal is more than just nutrition — it ensures that children can learn without being distracted by hunger.
Numbers that impress
Do you know how many tons of food the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has already delivered to schools in GBAO? The answer is 119,318 tons of flour, fortified oil, and chickpeas. That’s enough to feed 6,200 students in 137 schools across the region.
On top of that, the Government of Tajikistan has allocated over 18 million somoni to implement the National School Feeding Development Programme in 2025. Of that, 342,800 somoni are earmarked for eight pilot schools in GBAO.
21st-century canteens
“We used to have just an old stove and a couple of pots,” recalls a smiling cook from Khorog. Today, 55 school canteens across the country — including 13 in GBAO — are equipped with modern appliances. Kitchens now boast new stoves, refrigerators, and cookware, thanks to the joint efforts of WFP, the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), and local authorities. In addition, staff have undergone training: school cooks now know how to preserve vitamins in vegetables and calculate proper portion sizes.
But that’s not all! At three schools in GBAO — No. 39 (Roshtqala), No. 12 (Vanj), and No. 2 (Ishkashim) — children are doing more than just sitting at desks. They’re feeding animals, harvesting honey, and growing vegetables in greenhouses — learning how to care for nature and create healthy meals with their own hands! These schools have launched projects in animal husbandry, beekeeping, and greenhouse farming.
Financial issues
Finances are always a key concern. How are budget funds being spent? Officials from the Ministry of Finance explain that every somoni is tracked through electronic systems. GBAO schools were also the first to launch a transfer project for food procurement.
Alternative funding sources — for example, the use of school land — were also discussed. Why buy potatoes when you can grow them? “We planted vegetables with the kids,” says a teacher from the Rushan district. “Now part of the harvest goes to the canteen while the surplus is sold, thus ensuring that the money goes back into the school budget.”
Parents can rest easy
The meeting also addressed some pressing concerns — for example, compliance with sanitation standards.
“Who checks the quality of the meals?” one participant asked. A representative of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service responded that all suppliers undergo strict inspections, and schools regularly take food samples for testing.
Another important point was cultural preferences. School menus are tailored to local traditions — more grains and vegetables, and fewer processed foods.
This is just the beginning
The meeting concluded with remarks from Deputy Minister of Education Badriddin Muzaffarzoda: “By 2027, we aim to ensure that all schools in GBAO are not only provided with quality meals but are also armed with knowledge about healthy lifestyles.”
Going forward, partners plan to:
- Renovate more school canteens
- Expand school-based farming projects
- Introduce educational programs on nutrition and healthy living for both students and parents
As the meeting participants noted, these initiatives are not merely boxes to tick in a report. They are changing children’s attitudes toward food, the land, and the value of labor. In other words, the investment in their future is already becoming tangible today.