School gardens: providing healthy nutrition for children
On August 25, 2026, Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic organized a practical experience-sharing workshop on "Organization of Healthy Nutrition in Schools" at K. Chokoev School in Kotormo village under the "Green Schools for Healthy Nutrition" project. School principals from the Uch-Terek and Bel-Aldy areas participated in the event.
The primary goal of the workshop was to demonstrate how the effective use of school grounds allows for growing fresh fruits and vegetables for the school cafeteria, thereby enriching students' daily diets with nutritious hot meals. 🍲🍛
During the field visit, the team of K. Chokoev School shared their unique experience:
- Crop diversity: apples, cucumbers, potatoes, strawberries, as well as lemons and bananas are successfully grown on the school grounds.
- High yield: the school harvests crops twice per season.
- Reliable storage: participants were shown a self-constructed basement storage facility that keeps the produce fresh throughout the entire school year.
Participants showed great interest in the practical details, discussing irrigation, crop cultivation, food storage, and adapting these approaches in their own schools. In addition, the school leaders addressed key challenges of mountainous regions, particularly the short agricultural season and limited access to irrigation water.
The workshop served as clear proof that school-based farming is an accessible and effective tool for enhancing hot meal programs and improving children's health. 💚
On May 21, 2026, a meeting was held between the Director of , Cho Sunheng, and the Rector of , Nurzat Ermekovna Totubaeva.
During the meeting, the parties discussed further cooperation, promising areas of joint activities, and the implementation of projects in the fields of agriculture, education, and local community development. Special attention was given to the introduction of innovative agricultural technologies, the development of research activities, and the improvement of farmers’ qualifications.
As a result of the meeting, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between and . The memorandum aims to strengthen partnership in the implementation of modern agricultural technologies, cultivation of agricultural crops, including through the IN VITRO scientific and production laboratory, as well as the realization of joint research and educational initiatives.
Following the signing ceremony, representatives of were given a tour of the IN VITRO scientific and production laboratory. During the tour, the laboratory’s achievements were presented, including the cultivation of virus-free potatoes and other agricultural products using modern biotechnologies.
It is worth noting that this year , together with the university, is implementing a pilot project on growing virus-free seedlings in the village of in the .
The parties expressed confidence that this cooperation will contribute to the implementation of sustainable and effective projects aimed at the development of agriculture and the support of farmers in .
The branch of the international humanitarian organization Good Neighbors International (GNI) in the Kyrgyz Republic invites qualified candidates to apply for the following vacancies:
Open positions:
- Program Officer – Bishkek
- Accountant – Bishkek
- Community Development Project (CDP) Officer – Bel-Aldy, Toktogul district
- Community Development Project (CDP) Officer – Zhapalak / Osh city
Good Neighbors International has been operating in Kyrgyzstan since 2014, implementing community development projects in Chui, Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Issyk-Kul regions.
📩 Interested candidates are required to submit their application (CV, Application Form for Employment at Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic, as well as additional documents such as recommendation letters, certificates, etc.) in English via email: gnkgz@goodneighbors.kg
Application deadline: May 10, 2026
More detailed information is available at: https://employment.kg/
For 35 years, Good Neighbors International has been actively working to combat poverty, placing the protection of the rights and dignity of people affected by poverty, disasters, and social vulnerability at the core of its mission.
Over the years, Good Neighbors has implemented projects around the world, supporting children, families, and communities, and contributing to sustainable development and improved quality of life.
We sincerely thank all our partners, donors, and communities for their trust, support, and collaboration.
Together, we continue to build a world where every person lives with dignity and hope for a better future.