According to the World Health Organization, the global childhood obesity rate has increased tenfold over the past four decades. In Romania, the lack of updated official statistics makes childhood obesity a silent killer. This alarming reality has led us to develop a comprehensive sports and health education program: “Learn to Be Healthy”. Through this program, we aim to promote and support a healthy lifestyle among children from disadvantaged backgrounds. We create favorable contexts for practicing individual and team sports, organize informational sessions on the importance of a balanced diet, deliver awareness sessions on topics such as Fair Play, teamwork, and anti-bullying, and provide healthy snacks.
Main activities within the “Learn to Be Healthy” program:
■ Informational and educational sessions on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. During the sessions, children learn through play about: the importance of hydration; the nutrition pyramid; the short- and long-term effects of alcohol and tobacco on the body; proper sleep habits; the importance of physical activity; emotional health and emotion management, etc.
■ Sessions on topics such as Fair Play, teamwork, and anti-bullying. Children read stories on one of these subjects and learn from real-life examples what sportsmanship is and isn’t, how to defend themselves against bullying, and how to be valuable team members.
■ Sports workshops: football, volleyball, badminton, basketball, and ping-pong take place weekly. Over the course of the year, children participate in over 200 workshops. To support these, we have purchased the necessary equipment for each sport practiced.
■ Provision of healthy snacks – fresh fruits, cereal bars, nutritional supplements, yogurts, whole-grain biscuits, etc. – and clean water for children in the program.
■ Organizing the “Sports Days” event. During the summer and throughout the year (e.g., “School Otherwise” Week, “Green Week”), children take part in various sports activities.
■ Informational sessions for parents. The parents of children involved in the program attend information sessions about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity in their children’s lives.
