kid on the move: Encouraging to do sport – IFMSA-Brazil

Name of the activity: kid on the move: Encouraging to do sport

Country/NMO: IFMSA-Brazil

Program: Healthy Lifestyles & Non-Communicable Diseases

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: First-time Activity

Category: Campaign

Focus area: Prevention of NCDs and Health Promotion, Children & healthy habits

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being)

General description:

In view of the difficulty that many children in Guarulhos-SP had in carrying out physical exercises during the pandemic due to the closure of sports centers and schools, the “kid on the move: Encouraging to do sport” campaign proposes a playful morning with children aged 5 to 9 years to encourage them to practice sports, understand the benefits of this practice and disconnect from digital screens.

Problem statement:

 In Guarulhos there are 5 Sports Centers with free weekly classes in dance, gymnastics, swimming, futsal for children from 7 to 17 years old. In addition, physical education is a mandatory subject in basic education in the Brazilian public network and encourages neuropsychomotor and social development, in addition to well-being and greater physical and mental health. However, centers and schools were closed due to the pandemic, making it difficult for these children to practice sports.

Target groups:

• Children

Beneficiaries:

• Children

Objectives:

1- To Provide recreational activities for school-age children in Guarulhos.

2- To Contribute to the understanding of the importance of sports in children’s health.

3- To Encourage children to practice more sports in their daily lives.

4- To Analyze children’s use of screens

Indicators of Success:

1- To Provide recreational activities for at least 100 school-age children in Guarulhos;

2- 30% increase in the number of positive responses regarding the importance of playing sports

3- 70% of children reported intending to do more sports after the activity

4- 70% of the public know how to answer for how many hours they use screens daily and the harmful effects of prolonged exposure to this type of electronics

Methodology:

The “kid on the move: Encouraging to do sport” campaign was developed by the local committee of IFMSA Brazil Uninove Guarulhos, together with 30 academics and a physical educator, chosen from a selection process launched through a Google Form. The campaign was publicized by the Municipal Sports Department to all schools in the city and also via a radio station. Thus, the activity took place on October 12th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Parque Bosque Maia with the offer of exercises: jumping rope, athletics, soccer and gymkhana. In addition, between each game, there was a moment of conversation, in which academics emphasized with children and parents the importance of playing sports and the harmful effects of prolonged exposure to electronic screens on children’s health.

Plans for evaluation:

The impact assessment of the activity took place through the oral application of forms to the public before and after the activity. In the pre-form the questions were: “Do you practice any sport during the week?” “Do you have access to electronic screens? If so, how many hours do you use them daily?” “Do you think it’s important to play sports?”. In the post form, the questions were: “How much did you like the activity” through a visual analogue satisfaction scale. “Have you ever participated in an activity like this?” “Do you intend to take up a new sport?” “Do you think it’s important to play sports?

External collaborations:

A partnership was established with the Municipal Sports Secretariat so that there was greater dissemination of the project and could be carried out in a public square during the October 12th holiday. In addition, to make the event more fun, a sound box, popcorn and cotton candy cart, face painting tools and balloons were used, which were sponsored by Polenghi (dairy industry)