Last Saturday, Dushanbe welcomed its first large-scale children’s festival, “I Eat, I Move, I Grow,” which brought together more than 1,500 children and parents at Alisher Navoi Park. The main goal of the event was to inspire families to embrace healthy eating habits and active lifestyles, showing that caring for health can be fun, delicious, and unifying.
Festive atmosphere
From early morning, the park was filled with excitement. Families received branded T-shirts and festival maps marking the locations of different zones. As they explored all five areas, participants collected stickers and received souvenirs upon completing the route.
The hosts and organizers of the festival — representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Tajikistan — welcomed guests from the main stage.
The celebration opened with an energizing morning workout by Crocus Fitness, followed by the first collective flashmob, Healthy Crunch, which became a symbol of the event. All participants bit into their apples at the same moment, filling the park with the refreshing sound of a healthy start to the day.
Learning through play
The festival followed the edutainment format, which implies learning through play. Across five themed zones, children and parents discovered the principles of healthy eating, physical activity, and the benefits of local foods.
In the “Fruit and Vegetable Art” zone, children painted and decorated clay fruits and vegetables. In the “Taste of Childhood” interactive area, they guessed foods by taste and smell. Meanwhile, parents joined “Healthy Alternative” cooking masterclass, where popular food blogger Shamsiddin Nasriddinov and food technologists from SIFI demonstrated how to replace fast food with simple, tasty, and nutritious meals.
One of the festival’s highlights was the interactive performance “How Children Helped the Hamburger Get Healthy.” This educational show taught children how unhealthy foods can become healthy thanks to knowledge and teamwork. Together with the actors, the children learned how to choose healthy ingredients and created their own healthy plate.
The main stage also hosted the “Runway of Health” costume parade, where young participants showcased their creative “vitamin looks” and spoke about the nutritional value of the foods they’ve chosen.
The farmers’ market attracted great attention as well. Visitors could taste organic products grown by local producers and by schoolchildren involved in the BizKids initiative. All proceeds from the market will be donated to charity, proving that caring for health can also bring benefits to others.
Movement is life!
At the festival’s sports zone, Crocus Fitness trainers led fun relays and mini-workouts, showing that sport is not just about competition but about joy, energy, and movement. Players from the national football team of Tajikistan impressed the crowd with their skillful tricks and hosted an autograph session for young fans.
For teenagers, there was a special Healthy Lifestyle Tech Zone, where participants could take photos, send them through an app, and instantly receive printed copies on-site. This interactive activity became one of the highlights of the day. Children eagerly shared their photos and took home lasting memories of a bright celebration of health.
The festive mood continued with a vibrant concert program featuring children’s creative groups, singer Alimukhammad Fakirov, dance ensembles, and popular artist Farrukh Khasanov.
The event concluded with a prize draw for participants and heartfelt words of gratitude from the organizers.
Healthy habits — a shared responsibility
The importance of the festival, held as part of the School Feeding Development Programme in Tajikistan, was emphasized by representatives of government institutions.
Zulfiya Abdusamatzoda, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan, noted: “I want to draw special attention to the participation of parents in this festival. Their involvement is no coincidence, as parents play a vital role in the proper development of a child. Children are the future of our nation, and it is essential to teach them to appreciate the work of farmers and to make informed food choices from an early age.”
She also encouraged families to gradually reduce consumption of fast food and include more local dairy products, vegetables, and fruits in their diets.
Badriddin Muzaffarzoda, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan, addressed schoolchildren with the following words: “We must remember that proper, healthy nutrition is the foundation of our growth, energy, and success. Today, we see active, enthusiastic children supported by their parents, and that makes us all truly happy.”
Together for a healthy future
“I Eat, I Move, I Grow” festival marked a milestone in promoting a culture of healthy eating and active lifestyle among schoolchildren.
Organizers are confident that such initiatives help children not only have fun but also understand that health is a daily choice, one that begins with simple and joyful habits.
