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 october 5, 2026, in honor of Education Workers' Day, representatives of Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic attended a ceremonial event organized by the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic.
During the meeting, sincere gratitude was expressed to teachers for their valuable contribution to nurturing future generations and advancing the country's education sector.
For Good Neighbors, supporting teachers, improving school infrastructure, and creating a quality educational environment in the regions remain core priorities. We are glad to be part of this important event and to continue our joint efforts for the benefit of Kyrgyzstan's children and educators!
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On October 2, 2026, a working meeting and monitoring visit were conducted by the Country Director of Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic and a representative of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) to the Kyrgyz Republic as part of a joint project providing ophthalmic assistance to ethnic Koreans.
The main objective of the visit was to comprehensively evaluate the interim results of the joint initiative aimed at providing free diagnostic services and ophthalmic treatment to elderly ethnic Koreans residing in Bishkek and the Chui Region.
During the joint meeting, the project team presented the progress achieved to date, including the volume of initial check-ups, diagnostic procedures, and completed surgeries, as well as discussed future implementation plans for the initiative.
The monitoring program included a visit to the partner eye clinic, "Kudret Göz," where the KOFIH representative and the Director of Good Neighbors inspected the facility's equipment and infrastructure, patient care conditions, and the quality of medical services provided, while also reviewing joint operational dynamics with the medical staff.
Special emphasis was placed on direct dialogue with project beneficiaries: the representatives personally met with elderly ethnic Koreans who underwent treatment and surgeries to gather feedback and assess the real impact of the project on preserving their sight and improving their quality of life.
Quality education is impossible without basic conditions. But in remote regions, they are often simply missing:
How can we teach children computer literacy if there are no computers at school?
How can teachers educate when basic needs for clean water, hygiene, and hot meals are not met?
A teacher is a person just like any of us, with their own limits and emotional resources. The lack of basic conditions reduces teaching efficiency, leading to fatigue and burnout.
That’s why we at Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic don't stay on the sidelines! To create a strong foundation of support for teachers and children, we:
Equip computer classrooms (STEM);
Install drinking water filters and build modern sanitation facilities;
Organize healthy school meals and develop school gardens;
Conduct trainings for both teachers and students;
Organize mobile medical check-ups by bringing qualified specialists and equipment directly to the regions;
Systematically strengthen the educational environment.
Dear teachers and educators!
We sincerely congratulate you on your professional holiday! Thank you for your resilience, patience, and invaluable work. We are happy to stand by your side and support you on this journey.
Happy Education Workers' Day and World Teachers' Day!
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