mcgovern dole international food for education and ......mercy corps kyrgyzstan ffe-116-2012/027-00...

MercyCorpsKyrgyzstanFFE-116-2012/027-00

Bi-AnnualReport#7SuccessStories:April2015–September2015|MERCYCORPS

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McGovern-DoleInternationalFoodforEducationandChildhoodNutritionProgram:SuccessStoriesApril2015-September2015

ProjectSummary CountryContact MercyCorpsHQContact

Agreement:Report#:ReportDate:ReportingPeriod:

FFE-116-2012/027-007November15,2015April1,2015–September30,2015

GarrettHubbardMercyCorpsKyrgyzstanCountryRepresentative15,AzhybekbaatyrSt.,720044Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan+996312986701(office)[email protected]

ManasiPatwardhanMercyCorpsSeniorProgramOfficer45SWAnkenySt.Portland,Oregon,USA(503)896-5849(office)[email protected]



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Table of Contents Lessonslearned:IncreasingfeedingbudgetsinAla-Buka.........................................................................3

Advocacyinaction:AnewkindergarteninNaryn....................................................................................6

Increasedsupport:BettermealsinNookenRayon...................................................................................8

PrimaryschoolmealsinUzgenRayon:“Welikeit”................................................................................10

Effectiveadvocacyhasraised$26,000inoneyear.................................................................................13



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Lessons learned: Increasing feeding budgets in Ala-Buka The early years of a child’s life are a period ofrapid growth, development and change and arecritical for a child’sphysical, cognitiveand socialdevelopment. In theKyrgyzRepublic,18percentofchildrenunder-fiveyearsoldarestuntedand,only16percentofchildrenfrom6to23monthsofagearereceivingtheminimumacceptabledietaccording to the World Health OrganizationStandards (DHS 2012). Throughout the country,kindergartens provide nutrition, socializationopportunities, and education to children before they begin primary school that help them develop andmeettheirpotential.

Since1994,theUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)andMercyCorpshaveprovidedessentialsupporttokindergartenstohelpthemachievethismission.Since2003,thissupporthascomethroughtheMcGovern-DoleInternationalFoodforEducationandChildNutritionProgram.ThemostrecentMcGovern-Doleprogrambegan in2012andhasprovideddailyschoolmeals forapproximately60,000kindergartenandprimary school students eachmonth. Theprogramalso has improved the learning environments inkindergartens and primary schools through nearly 900 small grant projects and trained over 12,000parents, school administrators and staff, and local government officials on practical ways to improvechildhood nutrition. The current McGovern-Dole program is the final support that kindergartens willreceivefromUSDAandhasfocusedonbuilding localownershipof feedingprogramsandthecapacityofschool administrators and local government officials to ensure that hot, diverse and nutritious mealscontinuetobeavailableatallprimaryschoolsandkindergartensintheKyrgyzRepublic.

InAla-Bukarayon(district)of Jalal-Abadoblast (region), the lessons learnedthroughtheMcGovern-Doleprogram have enabled the local community to increase funding to kindergarten feeding programs,ensuringtheyareabletocontinueprovidingdiversemealsthroughoutthedistrict.IntheKyrgyzRepublic,nationalregulationsestablishedthestandardbudgetof36KyrgyzSoms(KGS)($0.55)perchildperdayformealsinkindergartens,with18KGS($0.27)contributedbyparentsand18KGS($0.27)contributedbythegovernment.However,inmanypartsofthecountry,theactualcontributionsfrombothsourcesaremuch

less. The overall average at kindergartens currently supportedbyMercyCorpsthroughtheMcGovern-Doleprogramis30KGS($0.46)perday.

Atyrgul Almatova has worked in education since 1991 andremembers the challenges faced by the Kyrgyz educationsystemintheyearsafterindependencefromtheSovietUnion.UnderSovietruletherewasawellorganizedsystemofschoolsand pre-schools but after independence the new governmentwas not able to fund these institutions and many of thepreschools closed. In rural areas, similar to where she worksnow as an officer of the Ala-Buka rayon Department ofEducation in Jalal-Abad oblast, the educational system facedadditional pressures. Rural households lost their source ofincomeandparentswerenot able tomakepayments to theirchildren’skindergartens.Governmentfunding,whenallocated,often came late and the kindergartens did not have theresources to cover expenses while they were waiting.Kindergartens were unable to pay salaries to their staff orprovidemeals for students and inmany cases childrenwould



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bringbreadfromhomesotheycouldeatduringtheschoolday.

“Undoubtedly, today the situation has changed significantly, of course, due to the growth of Kyrgyzeconomyandwelfareof itscitizens,butweneverforgethownecessaryandalwaystimelyhasbeenfoodaid from the USDA provided byMercy Corps since early 1995. By that time 18 operating kindergartensremainedinAla-BukaDistrict,andallofthemwereprovidedwithflour,riceandoil.Thiswasanessentialcomplement to the scarce stock purchased for the funds allocated from the local budget and parentalcontributions”,AtyrgulAlmatovarecalls.“Onalargescale,kindergartenshaveacquiredtheopportunitytouse the fundsof theirownbudget toensure thediversityofchildren's food,as requiredby thepreschoolnutritionsystem.Thisgavehopethatthedifficultieswillbeovercomesoonerorlater.ItisnoexaggerationtosaythatannualfoodaidfromMercyCorpshaspreventedmanyruralkindergartensfromclosing.”

The2012McGovern-Doleprogram’scommoditydistributionsreached20kindergartensinAla-BukaDistrictthroughthe2013and2014distributions.Inthefirstyear,kindergartensreceivedanine-monthportionofcommodities to supplement their feeding programs. In the second year, the kindergartens ration wasreducedtoasix-monthportionofcommoditiestopreparethemforgraduationfromtheprogram.In2015,as a result of the funding level analysis, all of the kindergartens in Ala-Buka were graduated from theprogram,duetoanincreaseinthenutritionfundingcontributedbyparentsfrom360($5.54)to500KGS($7.70) per month. This increase offsets the value of the McGovern-Dole commodities and allows thekindergartenstoservediversemealswithoutexternalsupport.

HowdidMercyCorpspromotethisincreaseinfunding?Allactivitiesintheprogramhavebeendesignedtopromotesustainable,diversemealswithoutUSDAsupport.Onethathasbeenparticularlysuccessfulisconducting trainings for parents, who then serve more diverse meals at home and increase theirwillingnesstopayforbettermealsintheschools.InAla-Buka,MercyCorpsconductedtrainingsforparentsin eight communities and held ten short information meetings for local leaders, government officials,parents,andeldersinalleightvillagedistrictsonthetopic“Familybudgetplanningisthebasisofahealthydiet.”MercyCorpsalsoheldfoundationaltrainingsforthestaffofthekindergartensandbrought17cooksfromkindergartens in thedistrict to vocational training courses inBishkek to learnabout childnutritionandsafefoodpreparation.

MercyCorpsheldmeetingsineachkindergarteninAla-BukaduringFebruary2015withtheparticipationofparents and staff. The main purpose of the meetingswastoinformparticipantsthattheprogramwasending,tocongratulatethemontheirsuccesses,andtodiscusstheirvisionofhowtoensuresustainablediversemealsfor kindergarten children without support from theMcGovern-Doleprogram.

These issues were also discussed during monthlymonitoring of the kindergartens conducted by MercyCorps training and field officers. Atyrgul Almatovaparticipated in the majority of the events. “At DistrictEducationDepartmentmeetings the issues of ensuringquality and rational nutrition in kindergartens areperiodicallyconsidered”,AtyrgulAkmatovasays.“Atthemeeting inMarch2015preschool institutiondirectorsraised the issue of forthcoming completion of MercyCorps’FoodforEducationPrograminAla-Bukadistrictand the urgent need to increase funding for mealsprovision in kindergartens. Preschool institutiondirectors informed the District Education Departmentmanagement about the fact that during parentalmeetings the majority of participants express thewillingness to increase monthly payments for



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children’s stay in kindergartens to the level necessary to provide full-value meals for children inkindergartens.”

After thismeeting, Atyrgul Almatovametwith thedeputy headof the district administration, KalchagulSatimbaevna Usonbaeva, to discuss other social issues. During a lengthy conversation, the deputy wasinformedaboutthestatusofkindergartensinthedistrict,effortstakentoservediversemeals,cooperationwithMercy Corps' Food for Education program, its upcoming completion, and the consequent need toincrease and sustain funding for meals preparation in the kindergartens of the district. After somediscussion, they decided to appeal directly to the district administration head Alymkul RaimkulovichKuluev,sincetheresolutionofthis important issueatthedistrict leveldemandedhisdirectparticipationand support. In mid-March of 2015, the need to increase funding for children’s meals in pre-schoolinstitutionswasraisedfordiscussionatthedistrictmeetingwiththeparticipationofallayilokmotu(villagecouncil)headsanddistrictlevelofficials.HavinglistenedtothereportoftheDistrictEducationDepartmentand having discussed the state of preschool institutions funding, the meeting participants made aunanimousdecisiontoincludetheissueintotheagendaofupcomingsessionsofdeputiesofthe8villagecouncilslocatedinAla-BukaDistrict.

InApril2015,allvillagecouncilsinAla-Bukaagreedtoincreasetheparentalfeeforkindergartenservicesfrom360KGS ($5.54)up to500KGS ($9.26)per childpermonth. Thedecision came intoeffect inMay2015. The size of funding for child’smeals from the local budget has remained at the level of 360 KGS($5.54).Thus, funding for child’snutrition inall kindergartensofAla-BukaDistricthas reacheda totalof860KGS($13.23)perchildpermonth.

“Thiswasaverytimelydecision,sincethefoodcommoditiesprovidedbytheFoodforEducationProgramin2014hadbeenpartiallyor fully consumedby themajorityof kindergartensby thedescribedperiod. Theinitiativewassuccessfulandwassupportedbyparents,stateadministration,andvillagecouncildeputieslargelyduetothefactthattheywerepreparedforthedecision.Thiswasmadepossibleasaresultofourjointefforts.An important rolewasplayedbymeetingsandtrainingsconductedbyMercyCorpsstaffonthe organization of healthy nutrition and capacity building of preschool institutions and schools in the

organization of children's meals with theparticipation of parents, institutions heads andrepresentatives of local self-governance bodies;awareness and involvement of parents in decision-making processes; willingness of managers atvarious levels to provide immediate support tochildren'sinstitutions,”saidAtyrgulAkmatova.

“Ala-Buka District Department of Educationconducts annual planned seminars for nurses withtheparticipationofvillagedistrictspecialists,districtSanitaryEpidemiologicalStationandapediatrician;winners of district competitions among pre-schoolinstitution chefs have become winners of regionaland national competitions in different years; ournearest plans include conducting a workshop formedicalworkersonthebasisofkindergarten#1,aswell as conducting master classes by thosekindergartenchefswhohaveattendedtherefreshercourseorganizedbyMercyCorps inBishkek for theother kindergarten chefs of the district.Undoubtedly,allofthiswillpromoteconsolidationoftheeffortsofallstakeholdersto improveconditionsforchildreninkindergartensofthedistrictandtheirnutrition”.



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Advocacy in action: A new kindergarten in Naryn Mercy Corps’ training team organized trainings on“Capacity building of preschool educationalorganizations/schools to improve children’s diets”through the United States Department ofAgriculture(USDA)supported2012McGovern-DoleInternationalFoodforEducationandChildNutritionProgram,whichhasprovideddailyschoolmealsforapproximately 60,000 kindergarten and primaryschoolstudents.Theprogramalsohasimprovedthelearningenvironmentsinkindergartensandprimaryschoolsthroughnearly900smallgrantprojectsandtrainedover12,000parents,schooladministratorsandstaff,andlocalgovernmentofficialsonpracticalwaystoimprovechildhoodnutrition.Thecapacity-buildingsessions reached 442 educational institutions andmore than 1,700 people participating in 105 trainingsessionsacrossallKyrgyzstan.

During the capacity-building workshops, kindergarten and school administrators discuss the specificproblemsthattheir institutionsarestrugglingwith.Then,throughouttheworkshop,each institutionandtheirlocalgovernmentrepresentativesprioritizeproblemsanddevelopactionplanstosolvetheproblemusingtheadvocacyskillsthatarepracticedthroughoutthetwo-dayworkshop.

After the workshop, Mercy Corps’ commodity monitors and training officers provide coaching to thekindergartensandschoolsduringmonthlyvisits tomakesure theyareon track tocomplete theiractionplans.Todate,about40%ofeducationalinstitutionshavecompletedtheiractionplanswiththesupportofparentsandthelocalgovernment.

ThisstoryisaboutthekindergartenTereke-Bereke,whichattendedtothetrainingon“Capacitybuildingofpreschooleducationalorganizations/schoolstoimprovechildren’sdiets”inNovember2014.

The kindergarten is located in Terek village of theAk-Talaa rayonofNaryn oblast. Terek is a very smallvillagewithapopulationof1,338people.Inthevillagethereareonlythreegovernmentinstitutions:theaiyl okmotu (village council), a school and the kindergarten. These three institutions are also the onlysource of salaried employment in the village, with wages ranging from 2000 KGS ($31) to 15,000 KGS($231).Theresidentswhodon’tworkforthegovernmentsupportthemselvesassmallfarmers.

The kindergarten building was built in 1936 and has previously been used as a school, library, and aworkshop. For many years the building was abandoned before reopening in 2009 as the kindergarten.FortychildrenareenrolledatTereke-Berekekindergartenand14staffmemberscareforthemduringthe

day.Anadditional35childrenareonthewaitinglist.

During Mercy Corps’ capacity-building workshops, the director,nurse,ateacherandaparentrepresentedthekindergarten.Theyidentified one problem, but it was a big one. To build a newkindergarten building that met all the current standards andregulations. Theoldbuildingdidnothaveenough room toenrollthechildren fromthewaiting list,didn’thaveaplaygroundspaceforchildrentoplayoutdoors,andhadold latrinesthatneededtoberenovated.



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Duringthecapacity-buildingworkshops,onemoduleisfocusedonhowtoeffectivelycommunicateneedsto the right stakeholders who can help you address those needs. After the workshop, Tereke-Berekekindergarten representatives realized that they needed to work on their communication skills. Theyprepared and sent a letter to the local government authority (aiyl okmotu and aiyl kenesh) requestingthemtobuildanewkindergartenbuildingthatcouldserve75children.

Aftereightmonths,whennoprogresshadbeenmade,thekindergartenpreparedasecondletterandsentittothelocalgovernmentauthoritiesandthenationalMinistryofEducationandSciences.Thistimetheymadeprogress. Severalmeetingswereheld to investigate thepossibility and the costofbuildinganewkindergartenandinSeptember2015,theyreceivedanofficialletterinformingthemthat17millionKGS($261,500)hasbeenallocatedfortheconstructionoftheirnewkindergarten.

Currently, Tereke-Bereke’s director is preparing all of thenecessary documentation and approvals so that construction ofthenewkindergartencanbegin.

Duringacoachingvisitafterlearningoftheirsuccess,thedirectorsaid:“Onbehalfofme,andourstaffandparents, Iwould like tosaythanksforallstaff,MercyCorpsandUSDA.Thistrainingisveryuseful.Mostoftheinformationfromtrainingweknewbutwedonotknowhowtouse it correct.Andnowwe try touseadvocacytools.Forinstance,atpresenttimewearesearchingfordonorstoequip new groups in new kindergarten with furniture.

Unfortunately,IwasnotabletoapplyandworkwithgrantcomponentasIbecamedirectorinSeptember2014,butwecloselyworkwithfoodcomponentasreceivedrice,flour,peasandoil.”



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Increased support: Better meals in Nooken Rayon Nooken rayon is located in Jalal-Abadoblast, about twohoursdrivefromthesoutherncityofOsh.Approximately120,000peopleliveinNookenandtheyareservedby32kindergartens, including seven new kindergartens thathaveopened in thepast threeyearsalone.Thismirrorsthe national trend where the number of kindergartensand the number of kindergarten children hascontinuouslyincreasedsince2005.

Since1994,theUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)andMercyCorpshaveprovidedessentialsupporttokindergartenstohelpthemachievethismission.Since2003,thissupporthascomethroughtheMcGovern-DoleInternationalFoodforEducationandChildNutritionProgram.ThemostrecentMcGovern-Doleprogrambegan in2012andhasprovideddailyschoolmeals forapproximately60,000kindergartenandprimary school students eachmonth. Theprogramalso has improved the learning environments inkindergartens and primary schools through nearly 900 small grant projects and trained over 12,000parents, school administrators and staff, and local government officials on practical ways to improvechildhood nutrition. The current McGovern-Dole program is the final support that kindergartens willreceivefromUSDAandhasfocusedonbuilding localownershipof feedingprogramsandthecapacityofschool administrators and local government officials to ensure that hot, diverse and nutritious mealscontinuetobeavailableatallkindergartensandprimaryschoolsintheKyrgyzRepublic.

ThekindergartenNaristeislocatedinMombekovvillageinNookenrayonandwasbuiltin1963toserve90children.Naristereceivedcommodities,trainingandgrantcomponentsupportfromthe2012McGovern-Doleproject implementedbyMercyCorpsinKyrgyzstan.Aspartoftheprogram,thekindergarten’sstaffandparentsofchildrenwhoattendthekindergartenparticipatedinaseriesofnutritiontrainings,thecookattendedan18-daycourseonpreparinghealthymealsforchildrenataBishkekvocationalschools,andthekindergartenreceivedmatchingfundsfromthegrantcomponenttopurchaseclassroomfurniture.

At thebeginningof theMcGovern-Doleprogram in2012, theparentsofchildrenattendingNaristeeachcontributed18KyrgyzSoms($0.25)perdayforthetwomealsandonesnackthattheirchildwouldreceiveatkindergarten.Thegovernmentmatchesthesefunds,leavingthekindergartenwith36KyrgyzSomsperchildtospendonfoodeachday.ThroughtheMcGovern-DoleprogramMercyCorpsprovidedNaristewithflour,sunfloweroil,riceandsplitpeastohelpdiversifytheirmealsandasaresultofthisaidthediversityof the kindergarten’smeals has expanded. Foods such as cheese curds, sour cream, yogurt, tomatoes,cucumbers,andcabbagewereaddedtothemenu.

The newly trained staff and parents from the school quickly saw the benefit of the improved meals.Throughthedirector’sinitiative,andactivecooperationwithlocalself-governancebodiesandparents,theparental contributionwas increased to30KyrgyzSoms ($0.46)perday, fora total feedingbudgetof48

Kyrgyz Soms ($0.74) per day. Due to their success atimproving the quality of themeals served and raisingadditional funding from the community, Nariste wasgraduated from the program in the spring of 2015.Parentsrecognizethevalueoftheimprovedmeals,anddespite the increased fees, demand for space in thekindergarten are high. They recently opened a newclassroom and the total enrollment has increased to145children.

“And it is not a single example”, the inspector ofNooken District Education Department, GulmiraAndarova, said. The “monthly parents’ kindergartenfee in Mombekov and Sakaldy villages increased to



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600KGS, inShaidan,Massy,Nooken,Burgundu,Dostukvillagedistricts -upto400KGS, inAralvillagedistrict-upto450KGS,andinKochkor-Atatown–upto750KGS.Atthesametime,inlessthanthreeyearssevennewkindergartenshavebeenopenedandonekindergartenhasbeenrehabilitated.”

“In the past, Mercy Corps always supported usduringdifficultperiodswhenitwasn’tcertainthekindergarten would be able to stay open”, saidNariste kindergarten director, MavlyudaZhunusova.“Andnowtheskillswelearnedatthetrainingshaveleadtovisiblechangesintheworkofthekindergarten.Thetrainingshavealsomadeiteasierforustoorganizemeetingswithparentsand they have become much more active.Interaction with the local self-governance headDaniyarTorokhanovhasimproved,andhereadilysolvestheissuesthatrequirehisinvolvement.”

“For example, Mercy Corps trained us to plan,collaborate and prepare applications to keystakeholders for help solving problems at our kindergarten. We were quick to take advantage of theacquiredskills,andevenalittleunexpectedly,oureffortswererewarded:Mombekovvillagedistrictfundedtheconstructionofanewsummerkitchen,whichisplannedtobecompletedby15Novemberofthecurrentyear-thisissuehasbeenoneofthemostimportantonesforourkindergartenrecently.Thereisahopethatthetaskofensuringhealthydietinthekindergartenwillbesolvedsuccessfully.Wehaveallthenecessaryconditionsforthis.”



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Primary school meals in Uzgen Rayon: “We like it” Since1994,theUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture (USDA) and Mercy Corps haveprovided essential support to kindergartensto help them achieve this mission. Since2003, this support has come through theMcGovern-Dole International Food forEducationandChildNutritionProgram.ThemostrecentMcGovern-Doleprogrambeganin2012andhasprovideddailyschoolmealsfor approximately 60,000 kindergarten andprimary school students each month. Theprogramalsohasimprovedthelearningenvironmentsinkindergartensandprimaryschoolsthroughnearly900 small grant projects and trained over 12,000 parents, school administrators and staff, and localgovernment officials on practical ways to improve childhood nutrition. The current McGovern-Doleprogramisthefinalsupportthatkindergartenswill receivefromUSDAandhasfocusedonbuilding localownershipoffeedingprogramsandthecapacityofschooladministratorsandlocalgovernmentofficialstoensure that hot, diverse and nutritious meals continue to be available at all primary schools andkindergartensintheKyrgyzRepublic.

Kyzyl-AbadSchool#44beganservinghotmealsinSeptember2014andsincethenthe120primaryschoolstudentshaveenjoyeddailyhotmealsatschool.“Inthepastweweregivenonlyteaandbuns,anditwasnotverytastytoeatthemeveryday.Nowweeatnoodlesoupandothersoups,pilaf,anddrinkcompote.Welikeit,”saidaclassofsecondgradestudentswhenquestionedaboutthechangeintheirmeals.

“Yes,thisisthesecondyearthatwehaveincludedhotmealsinthedailydietofprimaryschoolstudents.As you know,previously, children's diet at school consistedonly of cookies or bunswitha cupof tea.Since thebeginningof thehotmealsproject implementationeverythinghas changed fundamentally,”saysJyldyzAranova,theschool’scook.

Kyzyl-Abad Secondary School #44 is located in Iyrek village of Uzgen rayon in Osh oblast. The schoolopenedin1934asaprimaryschool,thenitwasconvertedintoaneight-yeareducationschool,andin1971it was transformed into a full secondary school. Currently 430 students from Iyrek village and nearbyUnkur,Yntymak,andKorgonvillagesattendtheschool.

Iyrekisasmall,mountainvillage,located70kilometersfromtherayoncenter.Likemostmountainvillagesit has many problems such as unemployment, remoteness from markets, poor infrastructure, and

problemswithwaterandelectricity.

“Summer is brief here. In October andNovember it becomes cold until next April.Childrenhavetowalk3-4kilometerstoschoolin rain and snow,” said the school directorAdilbek Janibekov. “Children come to schoolcold, sometimes wet. It is important for theschool to be always warm, and it was justnecessary to provide hot meals for primaryschool children. The problem of studentattendance, especially junior grade students,always worries teachers and the parentalcommitteeoftheschool.”

Before the McGovern-Dole project providedsupport for kitchen construction, the school



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didnothaveanykitchen facilities. Instead,a classroomwasusedasa cafeteriawhereprimary studentswereservedbunsandteathatwerepreparedoffsite.Theschoolonlyhadarefrigerator,somedishesandteacups.Eventhewatertheyusedforwashingdisheswasbroughtfromoutsideandheatedinamakeshiftheatertheschoolconstructed.

“Schoolmealsarenot justhotteaorsoup. It isalsotheavailabilityofanormalwatersupplysystem,sewagesystem,heatandgoodelectricwiring.Kitchenspaceanddiningareamustcomplywithall therequirementsof sanitarynormsandrules,which rural schoolsoftensimply lack”,saysAdylbek. “Whenschool teachers and parents discussed the project proposal toMercy Corps for the kitchen repair andequipmentgrantatthegeneralmeeting,wewereallwellawareofthedifficultiestoexpectinordertoachievethisgoal.”

Before they could begin serving hot meals, the school undertook extensive renovations. First, as theircontribution to the project, the schools converted their storage room into a kitchen and an adjacentclassroom into the dining room. Water supply issues also had to be addressed and the school wasconnectedtothevillage’swatersupplyline,whichwas120metersawayfromtheschool.Tocompletethewatersupply,asepticsystemwasinstalled.Finally,kitchenutensilsandequipmentwerepurchased.

“Weboughtnecessarybuildingmaterialsandwiththehelpofbuilderswemadegoodrepairofthekitchen,covered the kitchen floor and walls with tiles, whitewashed and painted the kitchen, changed electricwiring,”theschooldirectorsays,“Weinstalledwatersupplysystemandsewagesystem.Theschool’scostshare of the project was 100,450 KGS, half of which was paid by parents in the form of cash, buildingmaterials,andlabor.FortheMercyCorps’grant,a4-burnerelectricstovewithanoven,acabinetoven,anelectric water heater, a 2-section bath for washing dishes, dish racks and 2 preparation tables wereprovidedtoKyzyl-Abadschool.Atthebeginningoftheschoolyear,theschoolreceivedthemostnecessaryinouropinionfoodcommodities:enrichedwheatflour,oil,peasandricethesecondyearinarow.”

Thestateallocates10KyrgyzSoms($0.15)forthefoodofoneprimaryschoolstudentperday.Itcanseemthe amount is small, for example, the average price of biscuits, pies and buns is 10-15 soms. But withproper infrastructure and a little financial support from parents and local self-governance bodies, thefeeding system can be radically changed, and it is possible to serve the children with hot soups andporridges.

"Before the school could not greatly affect thequality and sufficiency of food provided tochildren. We received what was brought bysuppliers,whowereselectedbyhigherauthorities.Nowwe jointlydevelopamenu consistingofhotmeals.Thetaskof foodprovisionat theschool issolvedcomprehensively”, says the schooldirectorAdil Zhanibekov. “Thanks to collaboration withMercy Corps, the school is provided withsupplementary food commodities for the secondtime;andtraining for theschoolstaffandparentson topics of rational children's nutrition wasconductedintheschool;JyldyzAranova,theschoolchef was trained in Bishkek at an 18-day course“Technologyofchildren'smealspreparation”.Asaresult of the trainings, today children regularlyreceive healthy and delicious hot meals.Undoubtedly, it affects their well-being,performance and mood. Children are lookingforwardtoalongbreakbetweenclassestohaveatastymeal.”



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Kyrgyzstan’sschoolfeedingprogram,consistingofabunandacupoftea,hasexistedsince2006,butatthenationallevelthequestionofitseffectivenesshasbeenperiodicallyraised.TheMcGovern-DoleFoodfor Education Program funded by theUSDA hasmade a significant contribution to the improvement ofschoolfeedingandhasshownlocalandnationalgovernmentofficialswhatitispossibletoachieve.InthecafeteriaofeachschoolwhereMercyCorps’programisimplementedwecanconfidentlysaythatchildrenofjuniorclasseshaveanewmenuwithdelicious,hotmeals.



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Effective advocacy has raised $26,000 in one year Since 1994, the United States Department ofAgriculture (USDA) and Mercy Corps haveprovided essential support to kindergartens tohelpthemachievethismission.Since2003,thissupport has come through theMcGovern-DoleInternational Food for Education and ChildNutritionProgram.ThemostrecentMcGovern-Dole program began in 2012 and has provideddaily school meals for approximately 60,000kindergartenandprimary school students eachmonth.Theprogramalsohas improved the learningenvironments inkindergartensandprimary schoolsthroughnearly900smallgrantprojectsandtrainedover12,000parents,schooladministratorsandstaff,and local governmentofficialsonpracticalways to improve childhoodnutrition. The currentMcGovern-Doleprogramisthefinalsupportthatkindergartenswill receivefromUSDAandhasfocusedonbuildinglocal ownership of feeding programs and the capacity of school administrators and local governmentofficialstoensurethathot,diverseandnutritiousmealscontinuetobeavailableatallprimaryschoolsandkindergartensintheKyrgyzRepublic.

The kindergarten “Kyzyl Kyzgaldak,” located in theMonok village of Kara-Suu district inOsh regionwasbuilt in 1964. In early 1990s, like many other rural kindergartens, was closed and the building wasprivatizedbecausethegovernmentcouldnotaffordtokeepitopen.Onlyseveralyearslater,in2000,wasthekindergartenabletoreopenduetotheinitiativeofthecommunityledbyBusaraKenzhabaeva.Whenthekindergartenreopeneditserved52childrenandemployedsixstaffmembers.

“Everythingwassoabandoned,thepropertywas lostandwehadtorestorethebuildingandsolvemanyproblemsassociatedwiththecompletesetofequipmentandfurniture.Oneofthemostseriousproblemsfacedbykindergartens inruralareasofKyrgyzstan is theaccesstopotablewater.Before1990,theruralwatersupplysystemswerepropertyofthecollectivefarms,withtheirdisbandmenttheruralwatersupplysystemsalsodisbanded.Thestaffofkindergartenhadtobringwaterfromtheyardofschool-gymnasiumnamedafterD. Sultanovand forhouseholduse theyusedwater from the irrigationcanals”- saysBusaraKenzhebaeva.

Thelackofpotablewaterinthevillageandinadequatesanitationperiodicallycausestheoccurrenceoftheinfectiousdiseases.Intheautumnof2013anoutbreakofviralhepatitistookplaceinthevillage.SEShadraisedthequestionaboutthepossibleclosureofthekindergarten.

“In the past I had repeatedly appealed to the executives of the village administrationwith the questionregardingtheneedof theconstructionofwatersupplysystemforthekindergarten.However,duetothelack of funds in the local budget, the issue remained unresolved. Multiple appeals with the projectapplications to the international organizations didn’t bring any results, too. In October 2014 we wereinvitedto2-daytrainingonthetheme“Strengtheningthecapacityofeducational institutions to improvethenutritionalstatusofchildren”heldbyMercyCorps.Sincethentherehavebeenchangesinthelifeofourkindergarten,”saysBusara.

The training was organized as part of the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and ChildNutritionProgramfundedbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA).Theparticipantsofthetraining were not only kindergarten directors, but also nurses, parents, representatives of the districteducationdepartmentandlocaladministration.

Thegoalof thetrainingwastodevelopactionplanstoaddresspriority issuesofeducational institutionsthroughtheinvolvementandcooperationofstakeholdersanddecision-makers.ThereweremanyexistingproblemsdiscussedduringthetrainingthatBusaraattended.“Ofcourse,ourteamimmediatelymentionedtheproblemofabsenceofpotablewater inthekindergarten.Aftertheproblemwasnamedandthegoal



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wasputforward,ourteamhadidentifiedandanalyzedstakeholdersanddecision-makers.Thenwelearnedtowriteappealstothekeypersonandintheexampleofagameweactedouthowweappealtothemandtrytoinfluenceandaddressourproblems,”remembersBusara.

“After the training, as itwasmentioned in the action plan,we sent a letter to the deputies of the localcouncilandheldaparents’meeting,whereweinvitedthenewlyelectedheadofthevillageadministrationofKashkar-Kyshtak,Mr.MukhidinNasirdinov,aswellascommunityleaderMr.AslbekBaimyrzaev,whoisalsothechairpersonoftheparents’committee. DuringthemeetingIshowedthedocumentsentbyMs.ToktayimRazykova,themaindoctorofSES,aboutclosingthekindergartenduetoabsenceofpottedwaterandpropersanitationsystem in thebuildingof thekindergarten,aswellaspossibleconsequences in thecaseof the reemergenceof infectious diseases.With the samedocument, I appealed to theheadof theEducationDepartmentofKara-SuudistrictMr.R.N.Nazarov.Afterthat,thespecialistonkindergartensofEducationDepartmentofKara-SuudistrictMs.KulpunaiKamilovavisitedthekindergartenandstudiedtheissue in detail. Then, together with the District Department of Education and district SES wewrote alettertotheheadofthevillagecouncilagain.Thus,allthekeypeople,whomoursuccesswasdependenton,wereinvolvedinaddressingtheproblem,”saidBusara.

Afterreviewingthesituation,theheadofthevillageadministrationsaidthatitwouldnotbepossibleforthevillageadministration to fund thewholeprojectbecause theydidnothavesufficient funds.Supportfrom the parents would be needed. The Village administration could cover 70% of the total amountneededandtheparents’wouldneedtocovertheremaining30%.

Atthenextparents’committeemeeting,theparentsagreedtodonate340KyrgyzSoms($5.23)eachfortheproject. Intotal,51,000KGS($749)werecollected. Thevillageadministrationallocated294,000KGS($4,523)andtheconstructionofthewatersupplysystemandindoorsewagesystembegan.Asaresult,apotable water system was installed within two classrooms, special mini-sinks and mini toilets wereinstalled, twokitchensinkswere installed in thekitchen,andonesinkandbathtub in the laundryroom.Becausethewatersupplylinesmayfreezeinwinterthereweretwowatertankswiththecapacityof2tonseachforcleanwaterinstalledaswellasawaterheater.

Encouragedby theirsuccess, inNovember2014thekindergartensenta letter to theheadof thevillagecouncil with a new idea: to install the heating system in the kindergarten. The building was currentlyheated by small coal stoves in the classrooms; however, the stoves were in poor condition and thekindergartenhadbeenwarnedbythefireservicethatthechildrenmaybepoisonedbycarbonmonoxide.Forthisreason,theheadofthekindergartenB.Kenzhebayevahavehadtopayfinesmanytimes.

Theplanforanewheatingsystemwassupportedandthevillagecouncilhasallocatedthenecessaryfunds.Asaresult,sincethebeginningof2015themodernheatingsystemthatmeetsallsanitary-epidemiologicalnormsandfiresafetyrequirementsoperatesinthetwo-storiedbuildingofkindergarten“Kyzyl-Kyzgaldak”.At the same time, in December 2014 another important problem was solved with the help of villageadministration:oldwoodenwindowframeswerereplaced.

Thus,inlessthanayear,thekindergartenwasabletosolvethreemajorproblemswiththesupportofthe local government andparents. The local government allocated a total of 1,720,242KGS ($26,465)andparentscontributedanadditional51,000KGS($749)toensuretheproblemswereaddressed.

“Afterattendingthetraining,werealizedthata lackoffinance isnotalwaysthemainbarrierforsolvingmanyproblems. Inordertoachieveourgoalandclimbuptothetopof the“Success ladder”weusuallyjust lackof knowledge,experienceandconfidence inourselvesand in that togetherwecan successfullyandquicklysolveexistingproblems”,saysBusaraKenzhebaeva.

mcgovern dole international food for education and ......mercy corps kyrgyzstan ffe-116-2012/027-00...

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