Encourage and support educational efforts to promote a responsible lifestyle among young people and adults (health, exercise, nutrition, protecting the environment) and to contribute to the health of the communities in which the company operates.
3 educational community projects were devised in 2008 in partnership with local institutions
that were aimed at encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles.
GIOCAMPUS
In order to promote physical exercise and healthy living amongst young people, the Giocampus initiative was organized for the seventh year running in collaboration with CUS Parma and the University of Parma.
The project was based on a study of the area carried out in 2001 that highlighted the
lack of authoritative sources and training experience in the areas of physical, nutritional
and environmental education. Our aim is to provide a multidisciplinary experience based
around an intense program of sports, play and educational activities.
Giocampus provides the youngest of children and their families the opportunity to learn the fundamental principles of well-being. The program promotes regular physical activity and correct eating habits that reflect recommendations made and supported by the international scientific community.
150 professionals and qualified trainers (ISEF qualified and/or graduates in Physical Education, pediatricians, psychologists, naturalists and experts in environmental education) took part in the launch of the project. The number of children that attend the summer camp has continued to grow, and has welcomed 15,000 participants over 7 years and been awarded satisfaction ratings ranging from excellent to good (expressed by the families based on various parameters including Organization 98%, Sports Education 98%, Nutritional Education 94%).
THE RESULTS OF GIOCAMPUS
In previous years a study was carried out during Giocampus on children’s eating habits. It
emerged that 22% of children do not eat breakfast 5 days a week. Throughout the course
of the day we monitored the balance between calories consumed and expended by the
children.
This showed that in the morning at Giocampus, the children suffered a drop in energy levels that was due to eating a light breakfast or none at all. As a consequence we changed the menu and organized educational activities for both the children and their parents to help them adopt healthy eating habits starting with breakfast.
This initiative encouraged children to achieve a balance between available energy levels and the amount expended during the day.
"BARILLA 1...2...3... VIA!"
“Barilla 1…2…3…Via!”, which celebrated its second edition in 2008, is a project founded on the concept of continuity and synergies between physical exercise and healthy eating principles, aimed at enhancing the work of educational institutions in collaboration with local and national authorities and the sports world.
The Puglia Olympic Committee, the Department of Sport, the Department of Education of Bari, the National Association of Dieticians (ANDID) in Puglia and the Provincial School Offices of Bari have collaborated on the project.
“Barilla 1…2…3…Via!” provides educational courses based on activity and healthy eating to children from 8 to 11 years of age. Teachers are also involved in the initiative through training sessions on correct eating habits, and parents are invited to workshops focused on diet and exercise. Assistance was provided to the teachers by a team of specialists: 20 physical education consultants and 9 dieticians from ANDID Puglia. “Barilla 1…2…3…Via!” has been operated in Parma since 2002.
The project’s main goal is to improve physical exercise in primary schools, providing schoolchildren two hours a week of physical education in the school gym between October and May.
Local institutions also participated in this initiative: Parma Town Council, the Olympic Committee for the province and the University of Parma.
7,000 children between 6 and 11 years of age have been able to take advantage of 60 hours of physical education. The 680 regular teachers are assisted in the gym by 70 experts, either ISEF qualified or Physical Education graduates.
THE RESULTS OF "BARILLA 1...2...3... VIA!"
In order to monitor whether the initiatives implemented as part of the project have had
a positive impact on the children’s health, the following measurements are taken at the
beginning and end of the school year: height/weight ratio, running speed, flexibility, body coordination.
The data for the 2007-2008 school year are not yet available. The 2006-2007 results were published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.
Evidence showed significant improvements in running speed, body coordination and height/
weight ratio (only in respect of boys; no significant changes were recorded in respect of girls). With regard to flexibility no improvements were noted in schoolgirls, while that of schoolboys actually worsened. This is attributed to the type of exercises that require different skills to be used at the same time: movement and coordination. This parameter will be analyzed in more detail in future.
Based on experienced gained to date the Giocampus project will become a permanent fixture. Commencing with the 2009-2010 school year the project will be extended to primary schools in Parma and will supplement normal educational activities. The aim of this joint initiative with our partners (Parma Town Council, the University of Parma, Emilia Romagna Regional School Office and Parma University Sports Centre) is to promote Giocampus as a national educational reference model. The project objectives are shared by all of its partners taking into account the evidence gathered each year that is monitored using qualitative/quantitative questionnaires, focus groups formed with the parents and children who took part in the initiative and specific scientific studies carried out by the University of Parma.
The results measured so far are mainly qualitative in nature. Although physiological and growth data can be easily measured in quantitative terms, the effects on the children’s awareness and behavior throughout the day are not so easily quantifiable. Up until now, monitoring changes in habits has only been possible in relation to behavior during project related activities. The family circle has the greatest influence on children’s eating habits and the educational insight offered at school and Giocampus may not be embraced within this environment. In order to maximize the educational efforts we have organized sessions on specific topics with both parents and teachers.