The construction of secondary school No. 1 in Dankov began as early as in mid 1990s. However, it was only in 2005 that the school actually opened its doors for students. Since the school was built quite recently, it could not expect an overhaul in the near future, and so the premises saw some face-lifts during these years made by teachers, students and their parents. The canteen was never renovated, though, and its condition was quite poor, with paint coming off, floors creaking, and window frames made of wood.
The initiative to have the canteen renovated was proposed by Natalia Blinova, the school’s principal, and parents inspired by the outcome of the previous refurbishments by Smenka and Cherkizovo. School teacher Natalia Krotova, whose child goes to this school, too, filed an application.
The renovation included complete replacement of utility systems, floor and wall repairs, and installation of plastic window frames. The venue was equipped with new furniture and up-to-date cooking appliances to make varied dishes, including hot ones, right in the school. The canteen also features colourful information boards on healthy eating. The content of the boards was developed with the help of Rospotrebnadzor’s Healthy Eating project experts.
“We believe that the school environment directly influences the students’ willingness to learn and develop. A modern, beautiful and convenient space inspires the children and fills their days with joy. The Dankov school canteen has become just such a place, and we are happy that we were able to make this gift to the children jointly with Cherkizovo Group,” said Arina Nuriakhmetova, a co-founder of Smenka.
Cherkizovo Group has been running the project to renovate school canteens for three consecutive years now, as part of the social programme aimed at improving the quality of life in its regions of operation. All in all, the Company has renovated nine canteens in the Penza, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Voronezh, Tula, and Lipetsk regions, the Altai Territory and the Republic of Bashkortostan.
“Yet another stage of our project with Smenka partners is complete. At each of the schools where canteens were renovated over the last three years we were inspired by parents’ and teachers’ readiness to invest their efforts in helping create adequate conditions for their children. In turn, each time we did our best to make the canteens light-toned and sunny, convenient and attractive, so that the children were happy not only to have their meals there but also to spend some time together,” said Vsevolod Gribchenkov, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development at Cherkizovo Group.
