United Nations Development Programme launches new project in Moldova

Chisinau, 8 April /MOLDPRES/ - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a pilot project on increase in consumption of fresh fruits in schools and kindergartens in Chisinau today.   

UNDP project manager Dumitru Vasilescu has said the goal of this initiative was to find a technological innovative solution for the lack of fruits in pupils’ menu, speed up the consumption of fruits among children and include authorities in identifying funds for projects on this kind, in order to ensure its sustainability.  

“I made a small analysis based on questionnaires, in several schools from Chisinau, on the support of implementing this project and I ascertained that most pupils like this initiative, and about 70 per cent of the parents and the schools’ management would get financially involved in the project’s promotion. Also, about 90 per cent of the 100 interviewed companies, specialized in the production, processing and providing of fruits, would be willing to take part in this initiative,” Vasilescu noted.    

According to him, “in next May, the raising of funds will begin, that will last two months, in order to supply the necessary amount of financial resources. Donors, parents, school management, national/foreign partners, etc. may participate in this process, and UNDP will double the sum invested by them. About 15,000 euros would be necessary to implement such a project in ten schools.”  

Due to the enforcement of this pilot project, pupils from about 20 schools will benefit from daily portions of fresh fruits, attractively processed and packed. If the initiative was successful, UNDP will extend the project nationally.

In the autumn of 2014, the Moldovan government earmarked 19.5 million lei to supply kindergartens, schools and military units with apples.

(Reporter P. Beregoi, editor L. Alcaza)