Be Healthy, Be Natural, Be Smart

The project context / background: the students in partner schools had digestive problems, disordered diets, overweight problems, heart dysfunctions. They skipped breakfast frequently and often chose unhealthy food. They needed to learn how to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Many parents needed to become aware of various aspects related to healthy lifestyle habits. Some parents are absent from home, working in a distant location, unaware of their children's unhealthy lives. On a social level many students were economically disadvantaged and needed more opportunities of integration with the others. Many students were demotivated to learn. The project provided them guidance for a healthier lifestyle, their education, motivation to learn and personal progress.The project objectives were: - to improve the lifestyle of 2500 students from 7 European schools by implementing long-term health education, good practice and mind progress - to improve the education system in the 7 partner schools by introducing innovative elements in the curricula and by the exchange of good practice/experience- to help the European community achieve progress in health, education and environment awareness, by disseminating the project as a good example on an expanded level of audience- to implement healthy practices for students along with innovations in the school curricula- to encourage new generations to practice sports- to increase awareness on the importance of movement for a healthy life - to promote knowledge about what is healthy food and what is toxic- to raise awareness on the direct connection between a healthy environment and a healthy life- to raise awareness on the effects of pollution on health- to increase awareness on natural resources and the importance of preserving a healthy natural environment - to encourage progress of the thinking process by improving scientific and strategic skills- to increase awareness about the importance of educating oneself to be healthy - to encourage the development of healthy minds and increase interest for learning and self development - to reduce the phenomenon of school abandonment - to improve communication skills in a foreign language - to improve the quality of the education systems in the partner schools by innovative elements in the curricula and by exchange of experience between European schools - to encourage the progress and development of students' minds and thinking process - to increase international cooperation and good reputation of schools involved- to promote a multicultural dialogue - to increase interest and motivation for lifelong learning and wide learning - to improve mathematical, logical and technological skills- to improve basic skills of self awareness, responsibility and ability to make healthy decisions- to offer to disadvantaged students the opportunity to be included in the European community- to increase the students' self esteem and feeling of belonging to the European community Participating organizations: 7 schools from Romania, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, Turkey.The project activities included: - sports activities, outdoor activities, games, dances, competitions, - workshops, debates,- visits of documentation in nature, cultural trips, - scientific studies on what is good or bad for health - writing essays and articles about healthy lifestyle - ecological activities, planting trees, creating green corners in schools, - making short videos, taking photographs of nature and animals, - scientific presentations of healthy lifestyle, - drawing and painting on the subject of healthy life,- improving English skills and ITC skills, video conferencing. The project results were: -project website, - Guide to a Healthy Life (electronic and printed form), - project magazine Be Healthy, Be Natural, Be Smart, - brochure with healthy recipes and therapeutic plants, - power point presentations, - calendar, - drawings, paintings, - short videos, digital photographs, - articles, scientific studies, essays, - scientific analyses of the toxic effects of unhealthy life, - scientific presentations of the coordinates for a healthy life,- list of plants good for therapy, - objects from recycled materials, - posters, - written impressions from mobilities- green houses, planted trees, vegetables, flowers. The long-term impact of the project was: - improved lifestyle for young generations, - established healthy habits, - improved health and good practice, - increased knowledge and awareness about the coordinates of a healthy lifestyle - increased awareness about what is toxic and damaging to health, - improved communication skills,- improved education system, - increased solidarity and unity between members of European community, - improved cooperation and innovation between schools. The project established a beneficial path for a healthy lifestyle for new generations.