First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, together with the school nutrition reform team, visited educational institutions in the border areas of the Chernihiv region.
The visit was also attended by Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Viktor Mykyta, and Deputy Minister of Education and Science Andrii Stashkiv.
In particular, the First Lady visited the culinary hub based at the Chernihiv Center for Vocational and Technical Education. This is a facility where school chefs undergo training and professional development, mastering modern healthy recipes.
“Even in times of hardship, our children must receive the best opportunities that the country can provide. One of them is quality guaranteed nutrition that gives them the strength and health to study and to live. This is exactly what the school nutrition reform ensures,” the First Lady said.
The Chernihiv hub was set up with financial support from the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE project. So far, 48 chefs from 16 communities in the region have already completed training at the hub.
Olena Zelenska also visited two gymnasiums where kitchens were modernized using state subvention funds. During a meeting with the regional leadership, the First Lady stressed the importance of expanding access to free meals for children in schools.
“It is everyone’s duty, especially that of local communities, to take full advantage of all available opportunities. I urge you to actively use them: report problems, raise issues on the ground, and do not remain silent about difficulties,” the First Lady emphasized.