Delegation from Smolensk Region Studied Experience of Organizing Children's Meals in Vitebsk Schools

The business visit was organised by the Centre for International Cooperation of the Smolensk Region. The delegation was headed by the Director of this Centre, Artyom Jones. It also included representatives of enterprises involved in providing school meals in Smolensk.

Targeted cooperation in various spheres of the economy, culture, social development, and education has become possible thanks to the strengthening of ties between the Smolensk Region and Belarus.

Elena Karpenkova, General Director of JSC Stolovaya "Smolenskaya bistro", Valentina Khryakova, General Director of LLC KP "Zadneprovye", and individual entrepreneur Natalia Barinova were interested in everything: the organisation of the food preparation process, the supervision of canteens, financial assistance to families raising children...

Particular interest was shown in the material and technical equipment of the catering facilities, compliance with sanitary and hygiene standards, the balance and benefits of ready meals, as well as the results of the pilot project for organising school meals conducted in the 2022/2023 academic year.
The visitors from Smolensk not only received full answers to their questions but were also shown the canteens of Gymnasium No. 2 and Gymnasium No. 7 named after M. Denisenko, as well as Secondary School No. 46 named after I. Bagratyan. The delegation members saw firsthand how the work process is organised, from ordering products and their storage to preparation and serving.

For example, at Gymnasium No. 2, where catering is organised in rented premises by OJSC "Vitmil", over a thousand schoolchildren and teachers are fed daily. Only six people are employed in the catering facility, two of whom are cooks. Meals, including breakfasts and lunches, are provided in two shifts. This includes meals for senior students undergoing specialised training, studying according to individual plans, or preparing for olympiads. Children from large families receive lunches and afternoon snacks. Students in primary school attending extended day groups are fed according to a separate schedule. Students on duty from among the гимназисты are involved in table setting. The educational institution has a buffet where one can have a snack of fresh salads, homemade pastries, or something more substantial.

The guests met with those responsible for organising meals and the cooks, and tasted dishes from the menu.
The meeting participants agreed to continue cooperation and exchange successful practices in organising school meals.