Ongoing study highlights the importance of daily physical activities for children’s wellbeing
The Environment Ministry is financially supporting the final phase of the ‘Fun Fit 5’ study as part of its sustainable development drive. This study analyses the relationship between physical exercise and children’s physical, psychological and academic development.
The study, which was launched in October with the support of the Education Ministry, is being coordinated by the Malta Football Association’s (MFA) Inħobb il-Futbol Foundation (IFF) in collaboration with the Institute of Community Services of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST).
The Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli and the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima announced this collaboration during a training session for the children participating in the study held at Buskett.
The Fun Fit 5 study aims to assess the role of schools in encouraging children to engage in daily physical exercises. Year 4 pupils from the primary schools in Rabat, Zejtun and Pietà are participating in the study through daily training sessions organised by the IFF. MCAST researchers are assessing the measurable benefits of the training on the children’s wellbeing. The study also seeks to identify ways that encourage increased physical exercise for children within schools.
Minister Miriam Dalli thanked the IFF, MCAST and the children of the three schools for their commitment to this important study. “It goes hand in hand with the objectives of Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategy for 2050, which the Environment Ministry launched for public consultation last year. The UN Sustainable Development Goal number 3 calls on us all to improve the wellbeing of all, at all ages. Starting off children on the path to healthier lifestyles is an important pillar of our sustainable future,” the Minister said.
Minister Dalli concluded that this goes hand in hand with Project Green’s role in creating more open spaces, gardens and parks in our communities, where everyone can enjoy training, playing and other activities in green surroundings.
Minister Clifton Grima said that the Fun Fit 5 pilot programme ultimately aspires to bring about a meaningful change through its innovative approach, in the way physical activity is understood, prioritised, and organised in Maltese schools.
“We are aware of the importance of the impact that sports and physical activities have on a healthy life, and equally important that sport is a lifelong process that must start as early as possible. Thus, the Ministry is supporting this initiative with the ultimate aim of having more frequent physical activity in schools and is given the importance it deserves. Our aim is to have an education that will also positively impact our children’s wellbeing,” stated Minister Grima.
IFF Chairman Gareth Sciberras, Project Coordinator Mark Gatt, Project Green CEO Steve Ellul and Sustainable Development Directorate Director Francine Pace Caruana accompanied the Ministers during this event.
Project Green, which is also supporting the Fun Fit 5 study, is embarking on several initiatives to encourage more people to use open spaces for their physical training. Through the Park Fitness web app, users visiting the agency’s parks can try out different workouts with the aid of instructional videos. The app is available on the website project.green.
Il-Ministeri tal-Ambjent u tal-Edukazzjoni b’appoġġ lill-istudju tal-MFA Fun Fit 5
L-istudju janalizza l-importanza tal-eżerċizzju fiżiku fis-saħħa tat-tfal
Il-Ministeru tal-Ambjent qed jassisti finanzjarjament fl-aħħar fażi tal-istudju Fun Fit 5 bħala parti mill-isforzi tiegħu favur l-iżvilupp sostenibbli. Dan l-istudju janalizza r-rabta bejn l-eżerċizzju fiżiku u l-iżvilupp fiżiku, psikoloġiku u akkademiku tat-tfal.
L-istudju, li ġie mniedi f’Ottubru bl-appoġġ tal-Ministeru tal-Edukazzjoni, qed jiġi kkoordinat mill-Fondazzjoni Inħobb il-Futbol (IFF) fi ħdan l-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Futbol Malti (MFA), b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Istitut għas-Servizzi tal-Komunità fi ħdan il-Kulleġġ Malti għall-Arti, x-Xjenza u t-Teknoloġija (MCAST).
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli u l-Ministru għall-Edukazzjoni, l-Isport, iż-Żgħażagħ, ir-Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni Clifton Grima ħabbru din il-kollaborazzjoni matul sessjoni ta’ taħriġ għat-tfal li qed jipparteċipaw f’dan l-istudju fil-Buskett.
L-istudju Fun Fit 5 għandu l-għan li jevalwa r-rwol tal-iskejjel biex iħeġġu lit-tfal jipparteċipaw f’eżerċizzji fiżiċi kuljum. Studenti tar-raba’ sena mill-iskejjel primarji tar-Rabat, iż-Żejtun u l-Pietà qed jipparteċipaw fl-istudju permezz ta’ sessjonijiet li qed jiġu organizzati mill-IFF. Ir-riċerkaturi tal-MCAST qed jevalwaw il-benefiċċji kwantifikabbli ta’ dan it-taħriġ fiżiku fuq il-benesseri tat-tfal. L-istudju qed jidentifika wkoll modi ta’ it-tfal jiġu mħeġġa jagħmlu aktar eżerċizzju fiżiku fl-iskejjel.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli rringrazzjat lil IFF, MCAST u lit-tfal tat-tliet skejjel għall-impenn tagħhom lejn dan l-istudju importanti. “Dan l-istudju jimxi id f’id mal-għanijiet tal-Istrateġija ta’ Malta għall-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli 2050, li bħala Ministeru nedejna għall-konsultazzjoni pubblika s-sena li għaddiet. Il-mira numru 3 tal-Miri tal-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti issejjaħ lilna lkoll biex intejbu s-saħħa ta’ kulħadd, f’kull età. Li nibdew inrawmu lit-tfal minn età żgħira lejn ħajja aktar b’saħħitha hija pass importanti għal futur sostenibbli,” qalet il-Ministru.
Il-Ministru Dalli qalet li dan l-impenn jikkonferma wkoll l-importanza tal-ħidma li qed tagħmel Project Green biex toħloq aktar spazji miftuħa, ġonna u parks fil-komunitajiet tagħna, fejn kulħadd jista’ jgawdi t-taħriġ fiżiku, logħob u attivitajiet rikreattivi oħra f’ambjent imdawwar bin-natura.
Il-Ministru Clifton Grima qal li l-programm pilota Fun Fit 5 jaspira li jkompli jġib bidla b’mod innovattiva fil-mod kif nifhmu, napprezzaw u norganizzaw l-eżerċizzju fiżiku fl-iskejjel Maltin.
“Nafu bl-impatt pożittiv li jġib miegħu l-isports u l-eżerċizzju fiżiku għal ħajja aktar b’saħħitha, u kif l-isport huwa proċess ta’ matul il-ħajja li għandu jibda minn età żgħira. Għalhekk bħala Ministeru qed nagħtu s-sapport tagħna f’din l-inizjattiva bl-għan li t-tfal fl-iskejjel jkollhom eżerċizzju fiżiku aktar spiss sabiex jingħata l-importanza li jistħoqqlu. L-għan tagħna huwa li jkollna edukazzjoni li tħalli impatt pożittiv fuq il-benesseri tat-tfal tagħna,” qal il-Ministru Grima.
Iċ-Chairman tal-IFF Gareth Sciberras, il-Kordinatur tal-Proġett Mark Gatt, il-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ Project Green Steve Ellul u d-Direttur tad-Direttorat għall-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli Francine Pace Caruana akkumpanjaw lil Ministri matul din l-attività.
Project Green, li wkoll qed tappoġġja l-istudju Fun Fit 5, qed twettaq diversi inizzjattivi biex aktar persuni jużaw l-ispazji miftuħa għat-taħriġ fiżiku tagħhom. Permezz tal-applikazzjoni online Park Fitness dawk li jżuru l-parks tal-aġenzija jistgħu jippruvaw eżerċizzji fiżiċi b’livelli differenti bl-għajnuna ta’ filmati apposta. L-applikazzjoni online tinsab fis-sit project.green.
