On June 15, the Boarding School in the village of Zhany-Zhol, Chui province, officially opened an Innovative School Meals Center established with the support of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), the CIS Base Organization for School Feeding, as part of the National School Feeding Programme. The center combines several interconnected components: a training and production bakery, solar power panels, and a school garden featuring a greenhouse.
The opening ceremony brought together a diverse group of participants, highlighting the importance of the event. Guests included Lyra Samykbaeva, Deputy Minister of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic; Ivan Prokopenko, Adviser to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation; Kojiro Nakai, WFP Country Director in the Kyrgyz Republic; Vladimir Chernigov, President of SIFI; and Elena Bolotnikova, Director for International Cooperation at SIFI. Representatives of government institutions, partner organizations, the school administration, teachers, local community members, schoolchildren, and journalists also attended.
One of the center’s key components is the training and production bakery, where high school students will be able to receive vocational training in baking and pastry production, gaining both theoretical knowledge and practical experience with modern equipment while developing skills that can support future employment opportunities after graduation.
The center’s other elements are equally connected to everyday school life. The solar panels will help reduce electricity costs while providing greater protection against power fluctuations and outages through the use of renewable energy. The school garden and greenhouse will serve as a hands-on learning environment where children can explore the basics of agriculture in practice. Produce grown on-site will also help diversify school meals by providing additional sources of vitamins and minerals.
During the ceremony, guests had the opportunity to see how these different components work together as a single system. They toured the school, watched student performances, and took part in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Following a presentation of the bakery, students demonstrated the process of baking fresh bread and rolls.
Speaking about the project, WFP Country Director in the Kyrgyz Republic Kojiro Nakai described it as “an example of a sustainable model in which school meals become part of a comprehensive system of support for children.” Such an approach contributes not only to the quality of school meals but also to learning opportunities, practical skills development, and the long-term resilience of the school.
The project is particularly valuable for the boarding school’s students. The institution is home to 160 children from Grades 1 to 11, including orphans and children without parental care. The center provides them with hands-on learning opportunities that foster responsibility and a practical understanding of work processes. This helps them make more informed choices regarding their future education and career paths.
All this reflects the significance of the initiative. It demonstrates how cooperation between government institutions, international partners, experts, and schools can deliver tangible benefits for children.
The opening concluded in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Following the presentations, performances, and a group photograph, guests were invited to an ethnic-style reception featuring baked products prepared in the school’s new bakery.