In the Kyrgyz Republic, food insecurity and micronutrient deficiencies affect children of all ages. According to the 2021 National Integrated Micronutrient and Anthropometric Survey (NIMAS) only 26 percent of Kyrgyz children under 5 consume an adequately diverse diet. Caregivers, the people responsible for providing nurturing care to infants and young children, play a critical role in nutrition outcomes.

The Ene Balaga Kanat organization hosted the Spark to Star Forum to provide caregivers with information and resources covering topics including child psychology, language learning, nutrition, emotional intelligence, and the link between games and the development of fine motor skills. The event held in Bishkek on March 11, 2023, was the first-of-its-kind for caregivers in the country.

During the forum, USAID Advancing Nutrition discussed the importance of a diversified diet for children and overall family health. The project’s presenter talked about introducing solid, complementary foods to children 6 months of age or older, the importance of healthy snacks, and the reduction of consumption of processed foods and sweets. She also shared links to the project’s social media channels (Facebook and Youtube) with participants, information about early learning and responsive care, and a cookbook with family friendly recipes. After the presentation, participants asked questions about children’s nutrition and ways to diversify their diets. Learn more about USAID Advancing Nutrition's work in the Kyrgyz Republic.