School-children from Rivne oblast have been once again convinced that knowledge about health nutrition ensures not only good state of health but also costly prizes. In particullar, Inna Nikitchuk, school-pupil from Tugovytska Secondary School (10^th form) did not expect to be awarded with modern MP3 Player for her story about native region. Inna collected legends from local residents, researched documents in village archive and added antique local recipes to her story. “Poliski dumplings”, “Poliskyi borsch” this are names of only some recipes that young researcher has noted from her mother, grandmother and other old residents.

37 representatives of local authorities from Poland visited similar settlements that belong to the Chornobyl-affected areas in Ukraine. The visit is organized by UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme and Institute of Regional Development in Poland and aims to spur effective socio-economical development of the affected areas. As result of the visit partners plan to establish fruitful cooperation that will allow implementing a number of joint initiatives and projects that would lead to effective socio-economic development.

2-4 June Kyiv Regional seminar for specialists and local authorities responsible for information provision on Chornobyl accident.

April 24, 2009 -  The new project is a joint effort by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Joint ceremony marking the project launch have been conducted in UN HQ in New York.

In Ukraine, over 50 participants representing local self-governments, community leaders, private businesses and international donors have participated in a round-table meeting in Korosten (Zhytomyr Region) where they discussed the joint actions required for sustainable development in Chornobyl fall-out territories. This and other events confirm one more time that the Chornobyl remain on the top of the agenda for UN agencies.

15-16 квітня 2009 року у Томашгородській школі-ліцей  та у загальноосвітній школі с. Блажове Рівненської області молодші школярі та старшокласники вивчали та набували практичний досвід здорового життя з радіацією та без. Навчання були проведені спільними зусиллями Міністерства надзвичайних ситуацій, Коростенського центру соціально-психологічної реабілітації та питань інформування про наслідки Чорнобильської катастрофи та Чорнобильської програми відродження та розвитку.

Healthy nutrition of children defines success of their development and studying as well as ensures basics of physical health for the whole life. Traditional choice of school-child between chips, sweets and fresh vegetables usually goes not for the healthy food. Children and parents at Chornobyl-affected areas in addition to risks of eating stale food, useless or dangerous diet with questionable species face the risk of consumption of products in which radionuclide content could exceed permissible levels. The task of teachers and parents is to ensure that children know how to choose healthy food.

But this can be achieved?

30^th of March to 10^th of April 2009 the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine in commemoration to the 23^rd anniversary organized an internet-conference “CHORNOBYL LONG FOOTPRINT OF THE TRAGEDY”.

Louis Bonduelle Fondation has supported the project “Friendly Vegetables!” that was developed by Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme (CRDP). The Project will use completely new approach to information provision on safe and healthy nutrition. School-children will learn receipts on how to cook local products and will participate in cooking competition and would receive recommendations by experts on diet.

 18 - 19 December 2008 Rokytne rayon

Even 22 years after the Chornobyl accident, coordination of activities toward Chornobyl-affected territories recovery provided by state authorities and international organization still requires attention. For example, in the North part of the Rivne region there are still some settlements that are critical from the point of view of internal irradiation doses, levels of radionuclides in agricultural products and especially in non-timber forest products. Data state that there is endemic microelements deficiency in local population diet. At the same time, these districts are characterized by the high level of the birth rate. Typical are families with 4-6 kids. However, level of medical service, schooling and pre-school facilities needs substantial improvement. The employment needs are constantly growing.

У Києві 27 листопада 2008 року відбулося четверте засідання Чорнобильського форуму економічного розвитку(ЧФЕР). Тема  Форуму «Перспективні напрямки використання земель на територіях, що мають статус постраждалих внаслідок Чорнобильської катастрофи». У обговоренні перспектив прийняло участь широке коло зацікавлених сторін: представники міністерства МНС України,  делегації обласних і районних держадміністрацій і рад, сільських та селищних голів, представників бізнесу та неурядових організацій, вітчизняні експерти науковці та мас-медіа.

The Chornobyl Economic Development Forum (ChEDF) was launched in 2005 and initiated by the UNDP, representatives of central and regional authorities, local self-governance authorities, businesses, international and national governmental and non-governmental organizations. The ChEDF’s activities are directed to contributing to economic recovery, creating conditions to elaborate a successive strategy of economic development for affected territories, drawing the investments, strengthening and developing civil society.

 Today the new poster aiming at information provision on safety living at the radioactively polluted areas has been developed to be used in the education process at school and after-school activities. The poster has been developed by Ministry of Emergency of Ukraine based on the information materials developed by CRDP. It will be distributed among schools and other educational institutions via Community Development Centres at the Chornobyl-affected territories. Edition 500 copies.

22 вересня Молодіжний центр «Промінь» смт. Любеч був підключений до Інтернет. Доступ до Інтернету значно сприятиме розвитку молоді, адже відкриває нові можливості отримання та поширення інформації. Саме Інтернет сприятиме сталому соціально-економічному розвитку території та дозволить знизити різницю в доступі до інформації на сільських та міських територіях.

 Kyiv, September 22-23, UNDP in Ukraine has co-organised the International Workshop “Learning from the Chernobyl legacy to make European nuclear energy safer: the role of local communities, authorities and central governments in emergency preparedness and management”.

Among participants of the Workshop were representatives of local authorities from 18 countries, Ministry of Emergency of Ukraine, other international organizations including The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe,  and International Atomic Energy Agency.

At CRDP office, the session on developing of the informational materials on safe living at the radioactively-polluted areas for the general public took place. The session was held in the framework of scientific-research «Development of modern informational illustrative materials on safe living at the radioactively-polluted territories, which belong to the zones of radioactive contamination after the Chornobyl accident». Such a research is included to the thematic plan of research and scientific works of the Ministry of Emergency of Ukraine (MoE) for 2008.