This pilot project aims to empower school administrators and educators to bring about a culture change through influencing policy in the school environment where healthy habits are concerned. It is only through teacher engagement and support that the desired changes in the school environment leading to a healthy lifestyle for adults and children in the school can come about.

We deliver 2 hour training sessions for staff within the school environment in which we outline the scope of the project and tailor make a strategy according to the needs of the school and the feedback of the staff. Progress is discussed with the school on a regular basis and it is such that it is done in a mindful way not to create unnecessary burden on the administrators or the teachers.

Together with one of the schools we have designed a poster which will be hung in all the classrooms to serve a as a reminder on the importance of drinking water during the day even in the classroom.

The training outlines the importance of the school environment in terms of developing a healthy lifestyle as children spend half of their time in school. Thus whereas the home education is crucial for the child to develop values and principles and healthy lifestyle habits, the school environment needs to be supportive as the children are spending a considerable amount of their awake time in this environment.

During the training we discuss the latest scientific research/data from international and local publications regarding obesity trends and ways on how to prevent it making emphasis on the urgency through demonstrating local statistics. Furthermore, we discuss the psychological aspect and the importance of positive behaviour and adequate sleep as well as the importance of building a sense of community  and solidarity amongst administrators, teachers, parents and children in the school all with the single aim of destigmatising obesity.

In order to bring about change in the school environment it would be ideal to have structured water and stretch breaks between lessons. It is interesting to note that some teachers are already encouraging these practices and provide it in their classrooms while others do not. Through this training teachers come together and share experiences with colleagues. Such a practice sharing discussion encourages others to follow.

At the end of the session teachers are offered the health check-ups on a voluntary basis for participation and against a voluntary donation. It is also important that adults are well aware of the importance of being healthy.

Females with a waistline >80 cm and males with a waistline >94 cm who are otherwise healthy (with no diabetes and no heart problems) are encouraged to get in touch with us and book a health check up against a voluntary donation.