Healthy Start with Nestlé: Healthy Children Challenge was successfully held in Uzbekistan from September 22 to October 31. The initiative brought together teachers, schoolchildren aged 7-13, and their parents, inspiring families to work together to develop healthy eating habits, strengthen regular physical activity, and care for the environment.
The challenge is part of the Healthy Routes educational program, implemented jointly with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republican Education Center. Each year, the program helps more than 12,000 children across the country develop strong knowledge about a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.
We strive to speak to children in a language they understand—through interaction, play, and positive experiences. Initiatives like the Healthy Start with Nestlé: Healthy Children Challenge provide an opportunity to transform knowledge about a healthy lifestyle into tangible, everyday habits. Our long-term commitment is to support children and families on their path to a conscious, sustainable future, noted Sergey Lysiuk, General Director of Nestlé in Uzbekistan.
Participants completed four thematic stages, each lasting ten days. Families were free to choose themes, complete tasks, and upload photos proving their completion. Participants could enter the drawing at any stage, and those who completed the entire cycle had a chance to compete for the grand prize.
Stage winners:
In Stage One, Fruit Breakfast, the winners were Saidabonu Azizbekova (Tashkent), Nasip Isroilova (Jizzakh), and Madinabonu Saidova (Tashkent). In the second stage, Superhero Breakfast, the leaders were Elnur Akhmatov (Jizzakh) and Boburbek Bakhtiyorov (Tashkent). In the third stage, Moving Together! Mubinakhon Mirbadalova (Tashkent) and Solikhbek Muzaffarov (Syrdarya) won the final stage of the Green Heroes competition.
The Challenge launched simultaneously in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The initiative aimed to engage teachers, students, and parents in the program by developing family traditions, creating useful rituals, and fostering a lasting interest in a healthy lifestyle.
The Challenge became a powerful bridge between the knowledge children receive at school and their real-life actions at home. It helped schoolchildren not only learn new things but also transform their health knowledge into habits that they carry with them every day, emphasized Dilshoda Norboeva, Director of the Republican Education Center under the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of Uzbekistan.
Teachers played a key role in maintaining children's interest and helping them master healthy lifestyle topics. While the children received theoretical knowledge in school, the Challenge allowed them to apply it through play. This approach made the learning process more vibrant and meaningful for both students and teachers.
The topic of environmental responsibility was a key focus. The Green Heroes stage introduced children and adults to practical steps to protect the environment: waste sorting, resource conservation, using eco-friendly materials, and other steps accessible to every family.
Environmental education is an important part of a healthy lifestyle culture. In this Challenge, families were able to demonstrate that caring for the planet begins with small but regular actions. Their examples inspire and foster a responsible attitude toward nature in children, noted Anvar Temirov, Head of the Department of Environmental Education, Science, and Innovation at the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan.
Parents actively posted photos and videos on Instagram with the hashtag #NestléChallenge, increasing audience engagement and increasing their chances of winning prizes.
In addition to the main stages of the competition, winners in special categories were also announced. Nasip Israilova from Jizzakh was the grand winner of the Grand Prix. Yan Stepanov from Tashkent was named the winner of the Instagram contest. Students from Tashkent School No. 101 excelled in the Super Class category, demonstrating strong teamwork. The Most Active Teacher title was awarded to Fotima Sattarova (Syrdarya Province) and Shodieva Khadicha (Jizzakh province), who made a significant contribution to promoting healthy lifestyles among students. Abdurakhmon Sadinov and Muhammadali Isroilkhodjaev from Tashkent won the Audience Choice award, having received the most user votes.
The Healthy Start with Nestlé. Healthy Children challenge has become a shining example of how modern educational formats can unite families, strengthen school-parent relationships, and transform daily actions into positive habits, laying the foundation for a healthy and conscious future.
