������Ƶ

A healthy mind in a healthy body

Children naturally move around a lot, but some feel intimidated by school sport lessons. To overcome this, the Erasmus+ project used traditional national sports and games to increase physical activity, and enabled pupils to create their own games to develop their creativity. The initiative also emphasised healthy eating, using local ingredients and sharing healthy eating ideas, which resulted in multilingual food and sports dictionaries and a cookbook of healthy recipes.

These three projects were recognised by the :

• In Portugal, the ‘Give a Stage to Health’ project took an innovative approach tocancer prevention. By using drama and stage performances, the project empowered students with cognitive, social and emotional skills to identify and combat low cancer literacy. The project’s approach educated students and influenced a broader audience through thought-provoking performances.

• The project at the 6th primary school Varaždin, Croatia, focuses on developing healthy habitsand ecological thinking among pupils, parents and the wider community. Started in 2013, the initiative encourages pupils to prepare healthy meals, exercise regularly and become more independent in helping around the home. Recognising and rewarding the best chefs and helpers on a weekly basis motivates pupils to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
• The in Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed an approach that offers equal opportunities to disabled pupils in physical education and extracurricular activities. By creating a safe and healthy environment, the initiative encourages pupils with disabilities to engage in physical activities to reduce the risks of obesity and other health problems.

Creating well-being through inclusion

Well-being is meant for everyone – including for those who may feel or be different to others.

RefugeesWellSchool (RWS) is an EU-funded project with an objective to promote refugee and migrant adolescents’ mental well-being. The project has identified five preventive school-based interventions, and studies how they can be implemented in diverse educational settings.

Pupils of the Ekebyhov adapted school in Sweden wanted to challenge prejudices against those with special needs. They wrote a book called that tells a story about bullying and exclusion, but also friendship and community. The book is part of UNIQ, an initiative by the school’s pupils to fund their school trip while raising awareness about children with intellectual disabilities.

The project involving 16 partner institutions, focused on building LGBTQI+ friendly schools. By providing resources, multilingual tools, lessons and policy recommendations, this initiative contributed to creating inclusive, safe and secure educational environments for all pupils from primary to secondary schools.

(Re)connecting with nature

Outdoor activities support children’s health and positive environmental attitudes, combat excessive screen time and counter sedentary behaviours. Several Erasmus+ projects encourage a connection with nature and ecological awareness among children of different ages:

• : developed a wide range of training and teaching materials for pre-primary teachers and school leaders, as well as a guide for parents.
• : created a handbook with easy-to-use lesson plans to teach 5–9-year-old children about biodiversity. It is available in five languages: English, Estonian, Latvian, Slovenian and Icelandic.
• : helps youth leaders, facilitators and trainers use new tools while working on environmental topics, especially in natural awareness and engagement activities.
• Nature Within Me: created an – a collection of materials, activities and games used within the youth exchange.

������Ƶ also about a primary school in Wallonia, Belgium, that organises some of its lessons outdoors, so that pupils can approach learning in a different, inspiring environment.