Today, RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan received the newly appointed head of the UN World Food Program (PFC) Leyla Melou. Arthur Martirosyan, Deputy Minister of Education, also took part in the meeting.
Congratulating Leyla Meli, my secretion of Ghanna Andreasyan highlighted the effective cooperation with the PFP, to emphasize the tangible results and stressed the need to ensure the continuation of the programs.
The Minister presented the process of "Stable School Food" program, noting that the management of its Government has been fully transferred to the Armenian government since July 2023. From now on, the project is implemented exclusively with the help of the state budget. According to Zhanna Andreasyan, the positive impact of the program is already significant among schoolchildren in the regions of Armenia. Children review their diet, get healthier food and at the same time knowledge, right and healthy.
In his turn, Leyla Meliy thanked for the reception and effective cooperation. He praised the efforts of the Armenian government to nationalize and successfully implement the program in a short period of time, emphasizing the direct role of the Minister of Edgive. Melii stressed that many schoolchildren with hot food in the regions record the increase in progress and increase conception. According to him, Armenia's experience is exemplary for a number of other countries in the world.
The head of the PFC Armenia Office attached special importance to the involvement of local production in school food, in particular, the creation of greenhouses in schools, which allows school to supply healthy food while providing educational component for children. He also emphasized the conduct of a healthy lifestyle, both for students and members of the community, noting that this is evidence of a successful Armenian experience. The implementation of the program also highlighted Leyla Melou in the context of the country's economic development, noting that more than 2,000 women who vulnerable groups were also provided with work in school canteens.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the programs to be implemented in Armenia in the next five years, the expected initiatives and strategic directions. In this context, Zhanna Andreasyan said that preparations are being carried out to start pilot programs in 2026 to include Yerevan schools in the "School Food" program.
They also touched upon the importance of Armenia's membership in the "School Food" coalition. Emphasizing the effective activity of the "School Food and Child Welfare Welfare" institution, Satenik Mkrtchyan, the director of the Dseb Foundation, is currently taking part in the 2nd World Conference of the "School Food" coalition in Fortaleza, Brazil.
