How to make school meals healthy and eco-friendly? Experience of school principals from Toktogul
On August 25, 2026, a practical seminar titled "Organization of Healthy Nutrition in Schools" was held at the K. Chokoev School in Kotormo village. The event was organized by Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic as part of the "Green Schools for Healthy Nutrition" project.
School principals from Uch-Terek and Bel-Aldy rural areas gathered to study successful experiences in establishing school-adjacent farming: from growing apples, vegetables, and even bananas and lemons, to harvesting twice a season and building a specialized cellar for food storage.
Interview with a seminar participant:
Sharipova Jazgul Uchbaevna, Principal of the Mukash Zhamgyrkanov School, shared her impressions of the visit and plans for developing her school ground:
"Today we took part in the seminar and were greatly impressed. Our school has previously attempted to implement the Garden project for planting an apple orchard: we prepared suitable plots, submitted soil analysis results, and filed all necessary documents on time. This seminar inspired us once again! We will make every effort to establish our own apple orchard and a fully functioning school farm, and we also greatly count on your support in implementing this initiative."
School-adjacent farming is an effective and accessible tool that helps provide children with fresh produce, enrich daily hot meals, and strengthen the health of the younger generation!
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As part of the International Children’s Day celebrations, the Community Development Project team of Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic in Bolot Mambetov Aiyl Aimak (Ton District, Issyk-Kul Region) organized festive events for children in all seven villages within the project area.
A vibrant entertainment program was prepared for the young participants, featuring animators and costumed characters. Children took part in games, contests, and mini quizzes, enjoyed musical performances and a bubble show, while the most active participants received toys and memorable prizes.
During the event, a brief awareness session was conducted on child safety, children’s rights, and the importance of seeking assistance from responsible adults in difficult situations.
Together with members of the Community Development Committees, more than 700 sweet gift packages were distributed to children, becoming one of the most anticipated moments of the celebration.
The event brought joy and positive emotions to the children and highlighted the importance of creating a safe, supportive, and child-friendly environment for every child.
On June 4, Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic handed over more than 7,000 pieces of new children's clothing to the Department of Social Protection under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The official handover ceremony was attended by Dina Turmanbekovna Anarbaeva, Director of the Department of Social Protection under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic; Cho Sunhyung, Country Director of Good Neighbors International in the Kyrgyz Republic; Chinarkul Aidarbekovna Tumenbaeva, Director of the “Kelechek” Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic; as well as staff members of the institution.
The humanitarian aid was delivered from the Republic of Korea and will soon be distributed among residential social care institutions throughout the country. We sincerely thank Ms. Dina Turmanbekovna Anarbaeva, Director of the Department of Social Protection under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, for her cooperation and joint efforts for the benefit of children in Kyrgyzstan.
For us, it is especially important that every item provided represents not only clothing, but also care, attention, and support for a child.
Good Neighbors continues to work toward creating a better future for children and families in Kyrgyzstan by joining efforts with government institutions and partners.
On June 2, 2026, an official ceremony was held in Bishkek to launch the second phase of the Comprehensive Rural Development Project in the Kyrgyz Republic, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, KOICA, and Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic.
The event was attended by Mr. Rustam Baltabaev, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic; H.E. Mr. Kim Kwangjae, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Kyrgyz Republic; Ms. Lim Soyeon, Country Director of the KOICA Office in the Kyrgyz Republic; Mr. Cho Sunhaeng, Country Director of Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic; as well as representatives of government agencies, international organizations, and partner institutions.
In their welcoming remarks, the distinguished guests emphasized the strategic importance of the Comprehensive Rural Development Project in the Kyrgyz Republic for the sustainable socio-economic development of the regions and highlighted the significance of further strengthening cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Korea.
During the ceremony, the key achievements of the first phase of the project were presented, along with the main directions of the second phase, which will be implemented in Osh, Batken, and Jalal-Abad regions.
It should be noted that one day earlier, on June 1, 2026, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the second phase of the Comprehensive Rural Development Project in the Kyrgyz Republic.
The new phase of the project aims to support farmers and agricultural cooperatives, develop the processing industry, modernize rural infrastructure, establish a logistics center, expand access to microfinance services, and introduce digital solutions in the agricultural sector.
Together, we continue our efforts to promote sustainable rural development, improve the well-being of rural communities, and strengthen the agro-industrial potential of the Kyrgyz Republic.