Jestem świadomym Europejczykiem – dbam o zdrowie

<< Background >>We applied for this project because of the alarming observations we made among our students with intellectual disabilities and their parents, especially during the post-pandemic period. Our observations and survey results clearly indicated a lack of knowledge and proper attitudes in the context of broadly defined physical and mental health and healthy lifestyles. Attention to this problem was also drawn by our partners from Ahtme Kool in Estonia, LCEducational and LCYouth in Cyprus. The spreading epidemic of obesity and the diseases caused by it has begun to become a serious problem, and the lack of elementary knowledge has exacerbated it. People with intellectual disabilities are particularly susceptible to bad influences in this aspect. Our goal was to show students and their parents the alternatives they could use on a daily basis to improve their health. The project therefore responded to the needs of each participating institution, as shaping a young person as a responsible citizen who cares about his or her own health and that of others, as well as the quality of the environment, is the goal and mission not only of our school, but also of each of our partners. << Objectives >>In carrying out the project, we wanted to make students and their families aware that there is other than passive way to spend leisure time; that meals prepared and eaten together are a bonding factor for the family and provide an opportunity to stimulate responsibility for food decisions. We wanted to show that building positive relationships with the environment is necessary to maintain psychophysical well-being, and that the state of the environment in which we live is an integral part of this. Hence the main goal of our project was to improve the health of students by acquiring the right attitudes. We also wanted to show parents how to take care of their children's health by changing the way they think about shopping. We hoped that a daily trip to the store would result in a conscious purchase of healthy foods in place of previous choices. We wanted to support teachers in their daily work with students. All project activities were planned to include all students at the school - a meeting with a nutritionist, workshops, creation of a vademecum, a card of healthy dishes, an herbarium and a glossary of terms about healthy lifestyles, information on the FB profile. All the results both teachers and parents can still benefit from.<< Implementation >>In the project we carried out all the planned activities. We showed what healthy eating is all about: culinary workshops, a meeting with a nutritionist. We made people aware of the important role in the aspect of taking care of health. We pointed out healthy substitutes for unhealthy snacks and food additives. We showed how to start an herbarium, how to take care of herbs and how to use them. We reinforced hygiene habits and showed how to prepare simple cosmetics on their own, such as organic antiperspirant and skin scrubs. We encouraged active recreation: swimming, walking, cycling, exercises. We showed the importance of interpersonal contacts in the process of returning to well-being after a time of pandemic isolation - joint handicraft activities, playing in the snow, walking along the seashore, team-building games. We also raised awareness of the importance of the state of nature for recovery. Participants were equipped with basic knowledge about waste segregation and alternative energy sources. We included the suggestions in the Vademecum, which serves the students of our organizations. The Vademecum was expanded to include a glossary of terms, which we built successively during mobilities and other project activities.<< Results >>The concrete results of our project were a change in the way we think about health. It occurred in the consciousness of our students and their parents. We were able to show that physical and mental health are an overriding value in life. We showed the students different ways to spend their leisure time, offered sports games, handicraft activities and joint preparation of healthy snacks. By taking part in mobility, some students had the opportunity to improve soft skills in an international group. All students are familiar with our tips through the project's products - Vademecum, herbarium, glossary, card of healthy dishes. There we encourage exploration and point out important aspects of achieving well-being. We targeted parents with a meeting with a nutritionist, where they got tips on helping children with excessive weight. The nutritionist focused not only on discussing healthy and unhealthy foods, but pointed out the importance of physical activity and sleep. Thanks to her advice, parents can skillfully support their children. Teachers of our institutions use the products of the project in preparing personal functioning classes, where they present the results of their work.