In Volyn, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska reviewed the implementation of the school nutrition reform.
Together with representatives of the Regional Military Administration, the Ministry of Education and Science, the school nutrition reform team, and the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative, the President’s wife visited three educational institutions where kitchen facilities have already been upgraded.
The visit began at Dubove Lyceum, which features one of the innovative models of school nutrition organization – a hub kitchen. Last year, the village council carried out a comprehensive modernization of the kitchen facility using state subvention funds. In addition to the lyceum, the hub kitchen prepares meals for three other educational institutions.
One of them is the gymnasium in the village of Oblapy, which the First Lady also visited. The school has only 90 students, so installing a full-scale kitchen would be economically unfeasible. However, thanks to the school nutrition reform, the children receive hot lunches every day.
“The conditions in which our children study and spend their time are important. And within the framework of the reform, every responsible community already can and must improve them – all the necessary resources are available. I urge educational institutions to take advantage of the state subvention and upgrade their kitchen facilities to ensure high-quality nutrition,” said the First Lady.
In addition, during her visit, Olena Zelenska also visited the Volyn Regional Lyceum with Enhanced Military and Physical Training named after the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. More than 500 cadets not only study there but also live and receive four full meals a day.
“Each year, 60–70% of the lyceum’s graduates choose a path of service in Ukraine’s defense. Providing the best for our defenders and our children is our shared responsibility – one that the school nutrition reform helps fulfill,” the First Lady emphasized.
At the conclusion of the trip, a working meeting was held. Head of the Volyn Regional Military Administration Ivan Rudnytskyi reported that full modernization of kitchen facilities and canteens in seven educational institutions would be completed by the end of the year. Since 2020, a total of 270 kitchen facilities have been upgraded. Two culinary hubs are in operation, where several dozen cooks have already undergone advanced training. The region has also hosted a series of forums and other educational events for teachers and parents.
A presentation was also held for an integrity project within the framework of the school nutrition reform, implemented by the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI), the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the reform team. The project addresses the need for systematic oversight of how the state subvention is used for kitchen facilities modernization.
“A systematic approach to monitoring expenditures and risks is also a critical part of the reform – without it, the reform simply cannot succeed,” the First Lady concluded.