Since 2021, the Kosh Community Kindergarten has made fighting hunger and food insecurity a top priority after FAR expanded its Child Health and Nutrition project to five kindergartens in the Aragatsotn Province, including Kosh.
According to Principal Armine Gharibyan, the kindergarten has gained a reputation among others for serving what parents jokingly call an “oligarchic menu.” In reality, the menu consists of balanced, nutritious meals—essential for the mental and physical development of the children.
From receiving the food delivery to storing and serving it, every step is carefully managed by the local staff, with oversight from FAR. "Fruits and vegetables are perishable, so we store them at the right temperature," explains kitchen manager Lusine Minasyan. "Each day, I prepare ingredients like meat, eggs, and dairy based on the menu, and then pass them on to the kitchen staff."
Armine Gharibyan notes that before the program, food would often spoil before it could be served. "FAR also helped by providing us with a much-needed refrigerator," she says.
In addition to offering balanced meals, the local staff has been trained on child nutrition and development. They've even extended this knowledge to the community. "We’ve held training sessions for parents to raise awareness about the dangers of fast food and random snacks their kids might consume on weekends. I believe we've seen progress," says Armine.
Despite Kosh’s abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, many families still struggle to provide enough food for their children. The three meals the children receive at the kindergarten have become a lifeline for disadvantaged families.
“FAR began fighting malnutrition among children aged 0-5 in 2013, starting in the Berd region and later expanding to Aragatsotn, Armenia. The core of this effort is promoting balanced nutrition, which is key to supporting children's overall health. A recent evaluation in Berd showed significant improvements in food variety for preschool children and, more importantly, a positive shift in attitudes among mothers, preschool staff, and community leaders,” says FAR Health Programs Director Hambardzum Simonyan.
Armine believes that making food literacy a regular topic in kindergartens is a powerful form of advocacy. The school hosts fun, age-appropriate activities that help children understand healthy eating habits. For instance, 4-year-old Hasmik Chilingaryan can easily list healthy foods like oranges, apples, and milk, while her peer Armine Vardanyan points out unhealthy options like burgers, pizza, and soda.
Celebrating Hunger Action Month starts by taking action against hunger and food insecurity, and this September you can make a real difference by donating to FAR today!