World School Milk Day Celebrated in Armenia

On September 24, the Yeremyan Group, United Nations World Food Programme and Eurasian Development Bank celebrated the World School Milk Day as part of the “Milk to Schools” project, joining the global initiative held annually on the last Wednesday of September. As part of the Project, nearly 1,400 schoolchildren from nine schools in Yerevan and Lori region start their day with a glass of Yeremyan milk.

The celebration started with remarks from Araksia Svajyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports; Leila Meliouh, Representative and Country Director of WFP Armenia Office; Armen Melkikyan, EDB Country Director; and David Yeremyan, the Founder and the General Director of the Yeremyan Group.

“This is one of the best examples of cooperation between the state, the private sector, and international organizations. Neither the state, the private sector, nor international organizations could achieve success on their own. That is why this partnership is so vital, and indeed, it is time to start discussing the possibilities of expanding the Milk to Schools project,” noted Araksia Svajyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

Leila Meliouh, WFP Armenia Representative and Country Director, stated “Armenia faces a double burden of malnutrition - undernutrition alongside rising obesity, with 22% of children aged 11–15 overweight or obese. Only 10% of households consume sufficient levels of calcium. These issues are not just about nutrition and health, they are about enabling the future of our children and society. At WFP, we are committed to tackling malnutrition in Armenia. Through one of our flagship efforts, the National School Meals Programme, over 100,000 children in more than 1,000 schools receive daily nutritious meals provided by the government. And today, we spotlight our newest initiative, working together with government, international finance group, and private sector we are providing fresh milk to over 1,300 children, as a strong step toward improving the nutritional quality of school meals.

Armen Melkikyan, Director of the EDB Representative Office in Armenia, stated: “This is yet another opportunity to remind us of the importance of a healthy diet and the role of dairy products in our daily lives. We at the EDB are proud to fund the “Milk to Schools” project carried out together with the World Food Programme and Yeremyan Group – a project that delivers tangible benefits for the health of Armenia’s future generations. The ‘Milk to Schools’ project comes as a direct result of our Bank’s investment into Yeremyan Group, by financing in construction of the smart cattle farm in Lori Region and dairy factory in Yerevan. So, today’s celebration is a perfect example of how strategic partnerships can create sustainable impact. The project aligns directly with our mission to improve the quality of life and promote comprehensive development and is an ideal case of tri-fold cooperation of the government, international organizations and the private sector.”

In his welcoming speech, David Yeremyan, General Director of the Yeremyan Group, highlighted the company’s agricultural projects developed under the “Seed to Table” concept. “We identified the gap that existed in the dairy market. For us, producing high-quality dairy products is first and foremost a mission – to create food that we would not hesitate to give to our own children, and to share it with the public by providing healthy products made from natural, pure milk sourced from our own farm. Yeremyan Dairy factory, certified under the international food safety standard FSSC 22000 and additionally authorized to produce milk for children, guarantees the highest quality of milk and dairy products. This uncompromising commitment to safety and excellence in production is precisely what laid the foundation for this project,” he noted.

The event also included a presentation which highlighted preliminary positive effects of the initiative: increased willingness among children to drink milk, healthier nutrition choices, and improved concentration in classrooms. Based on a parents’ survey, 74% of children now enjoy drinking milk every day, while 63% have begun consuming it regularly at home, replacing carbonated drinks and sugary, unhealthy snacks with milk. 27% of children have started drinking milk at school.

The event continued in a panel discussion featuring Deputy Minister of Economy Tatevik Sargsyan; Mariam Mnatsakanyan from the Ministry of Health, WFP Armenia Representative Leila Meliouh; Vera Barkatina, Manager of the EDB Technical Assistance Fund; and Lusine Yeremyan, Deputy General Director and the PR and Marketing Director of Yeremyan Group Moderated by Astghik Sahakyan, President of the Armenian Representation of the Project Management Institute, the panel highlighted the project’s impact on promoting healthier milk consumption, improving public health, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Public–private partnerships, such as this project, are crucial. I would also like to highlight the importance of the livestock facility established in Lori through the cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and the Yeremyan Group. It is the largest in Armenia and unique in its kind across the entire region,” said Tatevik Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Economy.

The second panel, “Generation Alpha: Fast Food or Food of the Future,” featured nutritionist Vardanush Petrosyan, teacher Nune Hovhannisyan, students Edgar Harutyunyan and Anahit Petrosyan from School No. 111, and Lilit Sargsyan a former beneficiary now part of the Visit Yeremyan Factory programme. Moderated by Grigori Hakobyan, the panel highlighted the importance of educating youth on healthy eating and the role of milk in daily nutrition. Students shared how they’ve become lifestyle influencers among peers and family. “I start every morning with a glass of milk and truly miss being part of the program,” said Lilit.