April 3, 2024, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – After three months of intensive training, the National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the National University Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) and the National Institute of Teacher Training (INAFOCAM), successfully concluded the first course on “Effective Food and Nutritional Education from the Educational Center”.
The training program aimed to empower teaching staff, technicians, and other key actors in the educational system to serve as multipliers from educational centers on the importance of healthy eating for student well-being and the entire educational community.
In the course, 160 teachers, technicians, and representatives from INABIE and the Ministry of Education were certified, having been prepared to understand the importance of balanced nutrition and to identify and address challenges related to nutrition in the school environment.
The closing ceremony, held on April 3 in the conference hall of the National University Pedro Henríquez Ureña, was led by representatives of the heads of the institutions and organizations involved in the program. From INABIE, Executive Director Victor Castro was presented by Ocirema Caminero, Chief of Staff; also present were Francisco Ramírez, Executive Director of INAFOCAM; Daniela Osorio, Associate Dean of UNPHU; Mariella Ortega, Coordinator of Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Security (SSAN) of FAO Dominican Republic.
During the event, participants in the course titled “Effective Food and Nutritional Education from the Educational Center: Tools to Achieve Healthy and Sustainable Nutrition” received their certificates, endorsed by UNPHU.
About the food and nutritional education course
The diploma was delivered in four virtual modules and one in-person module by specialized teachers hired by the INABIE – FAO project, the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation Program, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ABC/MRE), and the National Fund for Educational Development of the Ministry of Education (FNDE/MEC) as part of the initiative “Healthy School Environment through Innovative Strategies to Strengthen the School Feeding Program”.
Teachers and technicians can positively influence the eating habits of their students, promoting a healthy lifestyle that will endure throughout their lives. Additionally, the training provides participants with the necessary tools to design and implement effective interventions tailored to the specific needs of their students and communities.
The event was attended by the director of the Public Health Nutrition Program, Patricia Grullón. From INABIE, attendees included Ana Carolina Báez, Director of Formulation and Nutritional Evaluation; Jesus Rodríguez, Head of the International Cooperation Department; Yomaira Tejeda, Head of the Nutrition Department; Ana Zabala, Coordinator of the Comprehensive System for School Food and Nutritional Surveillance (SISVANE), as well as directors and heads of other areas of the institute. Najla Veloso, coordinator of the project of school feeding of the Brazil-FAO Cooperation, also was present virtually.
Content produced by the INABIE team.
