Nestlé's Health Routes Program Reaches 12,000+ Uzbek Students

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Nestlé-Backed School Health Program Covers All Uzbek Regions, Introduces "Food Lab" Format

A Nestlé-supported initiative teaching Uzbek schoolchildren nutrition, hygiene, physical activity, and environmental responsibility now reaches more than 12,000 students annually across all regions of the country, organizers reported at a national seminar in Tashkent on Wednesday.

The Republican seminar "Raising a Healthy Generation," held at School No. 60 in Tashkent, brought together officials from the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, the Republican Education Centre, medical professionals, and educators from 12 regions to review outcomes of the "Health Routes" program for the 2025–2026 academic year.

The program, part of Nestlé's global Nestlé for Healthier Kids initiative, operates in partnership with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and the Republican Education Centre. Through thematic lessons, interactive sessions, and educational projects, it delivers practical knowledge on nutrition, physical activity, personal hygiene, and environmental stewardship.

A centerpiece of the seminar was the unveiling of a new teaching format: the "Food Laboratory." The interactive module allows students to explore nutritional science through hands-on experiments. During a live demonstration, pupils from School No. 60 worked alongside medical university students conducting experiments that illustrated the properties of different foods and their effects on the human body. Specialists present noted that practical, inquiry-based methods measurably improve student engagement over conventional lecture formats.

Sergey Lysyuk, General Director of Nestlé in Uzbekistan, framed the company's involvement as a long-term social commitment. "For Nestlé, it is especially meaningful to be part of an initiative that brings together teachers, parents, and experts around a shared goal — helping the younger generation grow up healthy, confident, and aware. We are pleased to see the program's results for the 2025–2026 school year and intend to continue supporting educational projects aimed at children's wellbeing," he said.

Environmental education featured prominently on the agenda. Lola Rakhmanbayeva, Adviser to the Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change on information policy, underscored the importance of aligning government, business, and schools around ecological responsibility. Zarrina Abdullayeva, head of the national "Eco-Culture" project implementation unit, described the program's environmental module as foundational. "Cooperation with Nestlé is highly significant for developing environmental education in the country. Expanding such modules will foster ecological awareness, a culture of responsible consumption, and respect for the environment among the younger generation," she said.

Dilshoda Norboyeva, Director of the Republican Education Centre under the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, highlighted the program's reach beyond the classroom. "Health Routes builds students' capacity for conscious choice — from nutrition to their own wellbeing. Crucially, this approach extends beyond the classroom: children begin applying what they learn at home and in daily life. Such initiatives strengthen the educational environment and support the adoption of modern methods oriented toward children's long-term wellbeing," she said.

The seminar closed with an awards ceremony recognizing teachers and regional coordinators for outstanding contributions to program delivery. Participants called for continued inter-agency cooperation, broader program coverage, and accelerated rollout of innovative teaching tools — steps they described as essential to building a health-conscious generation across Uzbekistan.