CIS Council for Cooperation in Education shares key meeting outcomes

2024-11-12 17:35 Kyrgyzstan

Every child is like a star just beginning to shine, and proper nutrition is the fuel that helps them grow. Healthy eating is essential not only for growth and development but also for unlocking the potential of future generations. Recognizing this, school feeding has become a top priority across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI) recently named the primary organization to lead school feeding efforts for Commonwealth countries.

On November 12, the CIS Council for Cooperation in Education convened in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, bringing together Education Ministers, representatives from different ministries, and top education experts.

One of the Council’s key points on the agenda was to designate SIFI as the CIS’s lead organization for school feeding, a role that underscores deep trust built through SIFI's years of international work in this field. Now, the designation is awaiting approval from the Council of CIS Foreign Ministers in early 2025. The Institute’s approach goes beyond standard solutions, adapting school feeding programs to the unique cultural, climate, and nutritional needs of each country.

“The idea of a central organization for school feeding emerged at the International Forum on School Feeding for CIS countries held in Bishkek in the fall of 2023. This core organization will unite the knowledge and experience of these nations, forming a platform for developing and implementing innovative programs across the CIS,” SIFI President Vladimir Chernigov said.

As the CIS’s lead organization, SIFI will support school feeding initiatives at every level through:

Unified Standards: SIFI is developing standards and guidelines to bring high-quality nutrition to schools across the CIS, including balanced menus that meet children’s nutritional needs.
Hands-On Support: The Institute provides guidance on menu development and recipes that honor national traditions and preferences, creating healthy, appealing meals that kids will enjoy.
Training Specialists: SIFI organizes training for cooks and other food service workers, developing programs to build expertise in the field. These investments in skills are key to ensuring the provision of high-quality school meals.
Sharing Best Practices: SIFI facilitates the exchange of ideas through forums, round table discussions, and seminars for experts, enabling countries to adopt and learn from successful school feeding models.
Involving Parents: SIFI also works with schools to promote healthy eating within families, running initiatives that raise awareness about nutritious diets among parents.

Beyond offering expertise, SIFI promises to become a center of knowledge, uniting specialists and researchers with the goal of overcoming school feeding challenges. Already at the forefront of projects that encourage healthy eating at school and at home, SIFI will be provided with an excellent opportunity to expand its impact, helping ensure every child has access to the nutrition they need to thrive.