The document discusses a project between four schools in Poland, Estonia, Turkey, and Bulgaria aimed at addressing the problems of unhealthy eating habits and reduced physical activity among children. As part of the project, students from the schools met in Turkey to discuss strategies to improve nutrition and increase exercise for students aged 9-14. During the visit, the students participated in cooking demonstrations, physical education classes, and cultural activities to learn about healthy lifestyles and Turkish culture. The schools will continue collaborating with a future meeting planned in Bulgaria.

1. 3, 2, 1 ... TIME FOR HEALTH
PROJECT ERASMUS+
Badeatinghabitsofchildrenhavebeen
oneofthemainpublichealthproblems
forseveralyears,whichcanleadtomany
diseases,e.g.obesity.Children’sobesityis
associatedwithmanyphysicaland
emotionalproblems.Alotofstudies
confirmthatobesityinschool-aged
childrenleadstoahigherriskofobesity
inadulthood.Epidemiologicalstudies
clearlyindicatethatobesityoccursatan
increasinglyearlierageandisthecause
ofanincreasedriskofvariousdiseases,
aswellasbecomingamajorsocialand
economicproblem.
Inadditiontoincorrecteatinghabits,an
extremelyimportantfactorinfluencing
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theincreaseintheriskofobesityis
reducedphysicalactivity.The
deteriorationofeatinghabitsandthe
decreaseinphysicalactivityare
confirmedbynumerousstudies
conductedbyinternationalorganizations,
e.g.bytheWHO.Inaddition,the
deteriorationofthehealthandphysical
activityofstudentswasadditionally
affectedbytheCOVID-19pandemic.
BAD EATING
HABITS

2. RESEARCH - SCHOOLS
BohaterówMonteCassinoPrimary
SchoolfromUstrobna(originatorand
projectcoordinator);
ŞehitMehmetŞengülOrtaokulufrom
Turkey,
Kohtla-JärveMalevaPõhikoolform
Estonia;
176School“St.st.Cyril&Metodius”
fromBulgaria
Fourschools:
decidedtofightwiththeseproblemsasa
partoftheErasmus+projectentitled"3,2,
1...timeforhealth".
PARTNERS
Thecountriesparticipatingintheproject
receivedtheamountofEUR123,320for
theimplementationofprojectactivities.
Researchconductedinschoolsinrecent
yearsofresearch,includingsurveys,
interviewswithpupilsandparents,
observationofpupilsduringe.g.
physicaleducationclasses,analysisof
schooldocumentationconfirmstheresults
ofbothinternationalandnationalsurveys.
Theschoolhasaveryimportantroleto
playinpromotingahealthyandactive
lifestyle.
Theschoolisanenvironmentforchildren
thatcaninfluencethedevelopmentof
appropriatehealthbehaviour,particularly
withregardtonutritionandphysicalactivity
andenablethemtopractisethemin
everydaylife.
Fourmeetingswereplannedaspartoftheproject,thefirstofwhichtookplacefrom
28.11-02.12.2022atŞehitMehmetŞengülOrtaokuluinTekirdağ,Turkey.
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3. Duringthemeeting,groupsofeight
studentswithteachersfromPoland,
EstoniaandBulgaria,togetherwiththe
Turkishhost,discussedhowtochangethe
eatinghabitsandincreasephysicalactivity
ofstudentsaged9-14yearsandraise
awarenessamongstudentsandtheir
parentsabouthealthyandactivelifestyles.
PURPOSE (learningaboutTurkishcuisine)together
withcheftraineesatSuleymanpasa
VocationalandTechnicalHigh
School,attendedalectureonthefood
pyramidandessentialcomponentsofa
healthydietbyProfessorSerapVelioğluof
NemikKemalUniversity,learnt
howtoprepareabalanceddietwith
nutritionistZeynepEzgiTurkoglu,tasted
typicalTurkishdishesservedbyboth
TurkishrestaurantsandTurkishfamilies,
andtookpartinphysicaleducationclasses.
TEKIRDAG
Theschoolshadbeenpreparingforthetrip
forseveralmonths.Thefive-day
planforthestayinTurkeywasverybusy.
Aspartoftheprojectactivities,
plannedtogetherwiththepartnerswhile
theapplicationwasstillbeingwritten,
thestudents:discussedtheresultsof
schoolsurveysoneatinghabitsand
physicalactivity,preparedhealthymeals
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4. ThestayinTurkeywasnotonlyabout
carryingouttypicalprojectactivities,but
alsoaboutmakingnewfriendsand
learningaboutthecustomsoftypical
Turkishfamilies.Thestudentsspentthree
afternoonstogetherwiththefamiliesof
theirTurkishpeers.Preparingmeals
together,playingboardgames,visitinga
bowlingalleyandgo-kartingallowedthe
pupilsnotonlytogettoknowthe
customsofaTurkishhome,butalsoto
strengthentheirfriendships.Such
meetingsareveryimportantforabetter
understandingofsocial,ethnic,
linguisticandculturaldiversityintoday's
world,especiallyinthecurrentreality
inwhichxenophobiaandnationalismare
becomingthesocialnorm.
WHAT ELSE?
Theweek-longstayinTurkeywasalsofull
ofculturalevents.Thestudents
learntaboutnationaldances,notonly
TurkishbutalsoBulgarianandEstonian,
visitedtheRakocziMuseuminTekirdağ,
theEthnographicMuseumandNamik
Kemal’shouseand,mostimpressiveofall,
visitedIstanbul,whosehistory,
breathtakingmonuments(BlueMosque,
HagiaSophia,CisternBasilica)anda
boattripacrosstheBosporusStrait
connectingEuropeandAsiawillremainin
theirmemoriesforalongtime.
ThevisittoTurkeypassedquickly,butthisisnottheend,becauseinmid-March2023,the
studentswillmeetagainthistimeatthe176School“St.St.Cyril&Metodius”inBulgaria.
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5. FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION. VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE HOWEVER THOSE
OF THE AUTHOR(S) ONLY AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION OR THE NATIONAL AGENCY(NA). NEITHER THE EUROPEAN UNION NOR NA CAN BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM.
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