Launched in 2014 in Armenia’s Berd region, FAR’s child nutrition program was created to address the urgent issue of malnutrition among preschoolers. Over time, its success led to its expansion into Ijevan, also in Tavush province, and later into Aragatsotn province. More than just providing meals, the program helps children and their families discover and embrace lifelong healthy eating habits thus building a foundation for better health and well-being.
Serine Vardanyan from the Ijevan community is confident that she has seen and felt the benefits of healthy eating habits for her twins, Vrezh and Aleks, soon after they started attending the kindergarten in 2022. They had never eaten breakfast before and would often ask for sweets later in the day. Now, they ask for a proper breakfast. “They wake up even on weekends asking for breakfast, hoping it’ll be like what they have at kindergarten. Aleks loves potato, rice, and meat soup made by the kindergarten cook, Aunt Karine, while Vrezh’s favorite is borscht,” says Serine Vardanyan, who takes her children to the FAR-supported Ijevan Community N1 Kindergarten.
The project has not only strengthened children’s healthy eating habits but has also positively influenced their behavior, showing how closely the two are connected.
“It’s crucial to start promoting healthy eating habits early in a child’s life. One of the most important conversations to have with both children and parents is about the power of healthy eating,” says FAR Healthcare Program Director Hambardzum Simonyan, adding that public awareness raising initiatives such as community trainings with parents have become key components of the project while helping them foster a culture of healthy eating within their families and encouraging the integration of local vegetables and fruits into their daily diets.
“We regularly monitor children’s growth, and we haven't seen any developmental delays so far. This is thanks to proper nutrition,” explains Armine Paravyan, a nurse at Ijevan Community N5 Kindergarten. “The children’s immunity has improved remarkably - they rarely get sick anymore.”
Since the project launch, preschool enrollment has increased in both kindergartens: from 94 to 114 children at Ijevan Community N5 Kindergarten, and from 160 to 197 children at Ijevan Community N1 Kindergarten. Both kindergartens have been renovated and refurbished thanks to the generosity of the Mardigian Family Foundation, while the nutritious meals are made possible through the support of Ted and Marianne Hovivian of New York City.
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