The Government of Tajikistan, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of the Republic of Korea have completed the reconstruction of two schools in Rasht and Tojikobod districts, which were damaged by an earthquake this year.
A ceremony to inaugurate the schools was attended by local authority representatives, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Tajikistan Jeon Sung Sik and WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan Adham Musallam.
"Immediately after the earthquake, the Government of the Republic of Korea decided to participate in this school reconstruction project together with the Government of Tajikistan, and we consider this to be very meaningful. This project stands as a testament to Korea being a warm friend and a genuine partner of Tajikistan in times of need. I believe it will serve as an opportunity for our two countries to become even closer. I sincerely hope that the reconstruction of this school will plant seeds of hope in the hearts of many students in the Rasht region, and that they will devote themselves to their studies in these new classrooms and grow steadfastly into future leaders, "said Ambassador Jeon Sung Sik.
"Thanks to the support of the people and the Government of the Republic of Korea, children in remote areas of the Rasht Valley now have access to quality education, helping to build brighter futures and stronger communities," said WFP Representative Adham Musallam.
The reconstruction of school No. 56 in Rasht District and school No. 33 in Tojikobod District was made possible through financial support from the Government of the Republic of Korea and WFP. The two schools will serve around 180 children. As part of the initiative, new kitchens and canteens were also built to support school feeding activities.
The schools were reconstructed within WFP's emergency response and school feeding programmes. School Feeding is WFP's largest programme in Tajikistan, representing WFP's decade-long commitment to Tajik children and their families.
Since 1999, WFP has been partnering with the Government to implement school feeding in the country. In 2025, WFP's School Feeding Programme has reached more than 416,000 primary schoolchildren in more than 1,900 schools across 53 districts and towns.
The Republic of Korea (ROK) is a key partner of WFP, providing substantial financial contributions and humanitarian support. Korea's assistance includes emergency food aid and investments in resilience-building projects that help communities recover and thrive.