Health and creativity celebration: Yerevan hosts Healthy Lifestyle Ambassador 2024 competition awards ceremony

2024-07-18 18:00 Armenia

On the sunny day of July 18, the Children's Park in Yerevan hosted a special event for both children and adults—the awards ceremony for the winners of the Healthy Lifestyle Ambassador 2024 competition that was launched by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, the UN World Food Programme, the School Feeding and Child Welfare Agency, and SIFI earlier this spring. The event was held as an open-air exhibition, where students from grades 5-8 from across Armenia showcased their work and achievements in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

The selection committee chose the top five teams and their creative works in each of the competition’s four categories: a “Healthy Lifestyle” game, "Tasty and Healthy: My Favorite Healthy Recipe" culinary project, "Discovering the World of Healthy Lifestyle" research, and "My Healthy Community" social project.

In her opening remarks, Satenik Mkrtchyan, the director of the School Feeding and Child Welfare Agency, warmly addressed the young participants: "Your projects were filled with love, enthusiasm, and hard work. We, the organizers, learned so much from you. This would not have been possible without the guidance of your teachers, whom we also want to thank for their enormous contribution to this project."

The organizers ensured the ceremony was particularly vibrant and memorable. Twenty teams presented their projects on special stands, sharing the stories behind their ideas and how they brought them to life. The event featured culinary masterclasses, where attendees could taste healthy dishes and learn how to prepare them. There was also an interactive play area with games developed by the participants themselves.

The Healthy Food Zone, which offered a variety of healthy snacks, was especially popular. Additionally, participants actively exchanged knowledge and experiences during training sessions, fostering the development of new skills and strengthening friendships.

Maria Muradyan, Programme Policy Officer at UN WFP Armenia, addressed the young healthy lifestyle ambassadors, saying, "We were able to bring this project to life thanks to you. Why do we call you ambassadors of a healthy lifestyle? Our research shows that children often influence family food choices. So today, we encourage you to guide your families, communities, and schools towards healthy eating and living."

Deputy Minister of Health Artak Jumayan added, "I hope your commitment to a healthy lifestyle extends beyond events and becomes a part of your daily life. Be active, play sports, choose healthy foods, and spend less time with gadgets and more on learning. You are ambassadors of a healthy lifestyle, and your mission is to spread these values to your families and communities."

The Healthy Lifestyle Ambassador 2024 competition, organized for the first time by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, the UN World Food Programme, the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute, and the School Feeding and Child Welfare Agency, aims to encourage schoolchildren to adopt healthy eating and living habits. It helps them develop relevant skills, integrate acquired knowledge into their daily lives, and cultivate leadership qualities to promote healthy lifestyle values among their peers and communities.

This unforgettable day brought participants and guests a wealth of emotions, new knowledge, and inspiration for further steps toward a healthy and active lifestyle.