WFP is implementing in Armenia – in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science – a school meals project for 50,000 primary school children in seven out of Armenia’s eleven administrative districts.
Talin attends class in Aghavnavank Village in Tavush administrative district. WFP runs its school meals project in the seven districts that have been affected the most by the rise in fuel and food prices. This includes Gegharkunik, Tavush, Lori, Shirak, Aragatsotn, Armavir and Kotaik.
Children attending WFP-assisted schools receive a daily nutritious hot meals or vitamin-enriched fruit bars. The project aims at enhancing access to and quality of education as well as improving children’s health.
This bridge has been built by community members who participated in a WFP food-for-work project to rehabilitate the area. Replacing a much less safe one, this bridge means parents will not have to worry again about their children crossing the river on their way to school. Participants also benefited from the food ration WFP provided them with in return for their work.
As some schools did not have kitchen and cafeteria facilities and were unable to serve hot meals, WFP introduced in 2012 locally produced vitamin-enriched fruit bars in such schools. The project does not only benefit school children, but has triggered an agricultural development process that benefits these communities as a whole.
As some schools did not have kitchen and cafeteria facilities and were unable to serve hot meals, WFP introduced in 2012 locally produced vitamin-enriched fruit bars in such schools. The project does not only benefit school children, but has triggered an agricultural development process that benefits these communities as a whole.
The country has suffered the effects of the recent food and fuel price hikes as well as the global financial crisis. Poverty, food insecurity and social vulnerability increased during 2008-2009 and have been further compounded by the economic situation of 2010-2012.
The situation has hit children in low-income families the hardest. According to the government’s “Social Snapshot and Poverty in Armenia” report published in November 2011, 41.4 percent of children in Armenia live in poverty.
Armenia's school meals project serves as a strong incentive for parents to send their children to school on a regular basis. Eliminating short-term hunger, the project has increased their productive time in school, decreased absenteeism and reflected positively on their concentration and performance.
The project’s goal is to support the establishment of a sustainable national school meals programme that is part of national policies and budgets. WFP plans to hand over the management of the project to the government in 2016.
The project’s goal is to support the establishment of a sustainable national school meals programme that is part of national policies and budgets. WFP plans to hand over the management of the project to the government in 2016.
The 2013-2014 school year will mark another milestone in school melas in Armenia. The government will take over the implementation of the project in an entire administrative district with technical support from WFP. At the same time WFP will expand the geographical coverage of the project to cover all administrative districts – except the Capital City of Yerevan – benefiting 60,000 primary school children.
23 October 2012
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