Free Meals for Students in Odesa

Starting from 2023, children in grades 1-4 and 5-11 from disadvantaged families in Odesa can receive hot meals funded by the city budget.

Amid the wartime conditions, children spend 3.5 hours at school. Depending on their shift, they receive either breakfast (costing 55 UAH) or lunch (costing 80 UAH).

In October, Odesa received a state subsidy to provide meals for all students in grades 1-4 until the end of the year.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the subsidy covers 70% of the meal costs for grades 1-4. An additional 30% (15 million UAH) was allocated from the budget during an extraordinary session of the Odesa City Council on October 25.

As a result, after the tender process, all students in grades 1-4 will receive either breakfast or lunch depending on their school shift until the end of 2024.

Students in grades 5-11 who belong to disadvantaged categories, including children of combat participants (identified by a separate decision of the OMC session), will continue to receive meals funded by the city budget of Odesa.