The application window closes on November 16. Educators, students, parents, alumni, or concerned residents are encouraged to apply on behalf of schools located in one of the regions where Cherkizovo Group operates: Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Moscow, Tula, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Penza, Orel, Kursk, Tambov, Bryansk, Belgorod, Ulyanovsk, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, and Tyumen regions, Altai Territory, Bashkortostan and Moscow.
The competition results will be announced on December 10 in a live broadcast on VKontakte. As in previous years, the three grand prize winners will be entitled to complete canteen renovations in 2026: premises will be repaired, tables, chairs, and dishes replaced, and walls decorated. Another three schools will receive grants of RUB 100,000 to renovate any of their premises on their own.
Additional information on the competition is available here.
The competition launch is traditionally scheduled for October 16 – World Healthy Eating Day. Proper balanced nutrition is an integral part of the Cherkizovo and Smenka initiative. All renovated canteens feature informational posters developed with Rospotrebnadzor experts that explain the basics of healthy, complete nutrition to schoolchildren in an engaging format. The posters will also be made available to all grant-receiving schools.
“Over three seasons, our joint initiative with Smenka has become a true example of how a business can improve the lives of communities where its facilities operate. Each time we complete another renovation, we see genuine enthusiasm from children, teachers, and parents – and this inspires us to carry on. Next year, we will once again transform school canteens into modern, comfortable spaces where children can enjoy their time between classes while gaining real benefits,” said Anastasia Mikhailova, Head of Communications at Cherkizovo Group.
“Contemporary design directly affects the quality of education and engagement of both students and teachers. Together with Cherkizovo, we are reshaping the school environment and setting a new standard of comfort in education. Our case studies on renovating school canteens demonstrate that smart, stylish solutions not only change attitudes toward school but also improve academic performance,” commented Arina Nuriakhmetova, a co-founder of Smenka.
