ONEArmenia is launching a new campaign for Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) to bring a nutrition and hygiene program to 160 primary school children (ages 6-11) in the village of Aragatsavan located in Aragatsotn Province. 

Recent surveys indicate that the majority of Armenian school children consistently skip breakfast and have poor eating habits. Despite the fact that fruits and vegetables are plentiful, children in rural Armenia have diets mostly consisting of foods high in fat and sugar. Extreme poverty in rural communities further complicates the problem, as parents often cannot afford food items necessary to maintain a balanced diet. Moreover, since a cafeteria system is not place in Armenian public schools, children often go hungry throughout the school day. 

Proper oral and general hygiene is another big issue in rural Armenia due to such basic factors as the lack of dental health education and poor access to clean water. Over 98% of rural children suffer from tooth decay. 

The campaign aims to raise $26,000 to build a space where the primary school children can have well-balanced nutritious meals and brush their teeth every day. The oral hygiene component of the program will feature tooth brushing stations (called Brushadromes) built adjacent to the cafeterias to instill good dental hygiene habits among children. In addition, the program will include ongoing health education seminars to children and staff members. 

Aragatsavan will be the 4th school to participate in the program. In 2013, COAF successfully opened three cafeterias and tooth brushing stations benefiting over 400 children in the villages of Karakert and Lernagog. The Nutrition and Hygiene Program has been one of COAF’s most popular and effective projects, evoking a high degree of enthusiasm and interest among parents and teachers. Many local farmers and parents have donated food items to the program in appreciation of their children being provided with free meals. 

To learn more and to contribute, visit the Indiegogo page.