AKIPRESS.COM - The U.S. Department of Agriculture will finance the second cohort of Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in Kyrgyzstan.

The second phase of the program will cover 150 schools in Chui, Issyk-Kul, Osh, Jalal-Abad, Batken and Naryn regions.

The first phase of the program supported provision of hot meals for primary school students at 124 schools.

The provision of hot meals to elementary school students is stipulated in the Law #135 of the Kyrgyz Republic “On the Organization of School Feeding for Students at Educational Institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic” of 4 December 2019. The Mercy Co implements the program in Kyrgyzstan.

The Mercy Corps will provide technical support to equip school kitchens, provide consultancy services to school administrations on civil engineering works, and improve children’s diet through the provision of six types of commodities.

In addition, some schools with suitable conditions and prerequisites will have an opportunity to organize school gardens and improve water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.