Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia / CINDICINDI programme in Slovenia operated as a preventive unit of Community Health Centre Ljubljana until June 2009. From July 2009, it is a part of Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia. Since 2000, the programme is being carried out by local preventive promotional groups or health education centres in community health centres across Slovenia. The main purpose of CINDI Slovenia is to contribute to maintaining and strengthening health and life quality of Slovenian population. The focus is on minimizing mortality and incidence of noncommunicable chronic diseases and to minimize the risk factors. Activities are focused on research, education and raising awareness through promotion of healthy life style on all levels of society.
Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Disease Intervention (CINDI) is a World Health Organization (WHO) Programme.
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ccdpc-cpcmc/cindi/pdf/cindi_vision_en.pdf
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Cycle Training at Kindergarten Age
Bicycle Training for pupils
Cycling among adults and seniors |
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CINDI - Cycle Training at Kindergarten Age in Slovenia
OBJECTIVESThrough the activities in kindergartens we wanted to influence child’s perspective to develop a positive sense of cycling already in kindergarten and transfer that sense to their parents to encourage them to bring their children to the kindergarten by bicycle.
MEASURESWithin the framework of the European project LIFE CYCLE, activities for kindergarten children have been implemented in two Slovenian kindergartens from different environments: one urban and one rural. Cycling at kindergarten age has been fostered through play, by organising a of traffic day dedicated to cycling and cycling art competition, by learning to cycle on bicycles without pedals, by encouraging parents to bring their children to kindergarten by bicycle and with the organisation of cycling events with various games at important days (e.g. Car Free Day). Furthermore, the Orientation cycling for children has been developed and implemented within this project as a special measure to promote cycling.
PLANNINGAgreement with kindergartens
- Development of different measures fostering cycling
- Inform educators, parents and children about the program
- Workshops for sports & kindergarten teachers
- Promotion of activities
- Implementation of various activities related to cycling
Partners included Institute of Public Health Murska Sobota, Slovene Road Safety Council, Road Safety Council of Municipality of Ljubljana and Beltinci, Cycling federation of Slovenia and others.
One obstacle was concern that insisting on holding out activities in bad weather might result in the opposite effect. Another was how to keep motivating our target groups and partners.
Results and lessons learnt: In 2 years, more than 400 children and other family members from 2 kindergartens participated in different LIFE CYCLE activities. The support of pedagogues and families is crucial to get the desired effect for setting a positive role model.
SUCCESS FACTORSIt is important to create a network of partners who help you with the implementation. It is also important to mobilise and enthuse the employees with the project. In Slovenia, they gave suggestions and ideas and offered their support for the implementation. They encouraged children to cycle through play and they also encouraged parents to bring their children to the kindergarten by bike. They were the key of our success. Since parents play an important role in influencing children behaviour, whole families should be included.
Given that we developed and implemented project activities in two geographically diverse areas, we believe that these measures could be replicated all over Slovenia. Together with our partners we are trying to continue with the activities even after the end of the project.
This project was supported by EAHC, European Union Public Health.
Author and Contact person:
Ajda Jelenc
E-mail: ajda.jelenc@ivz-rs.si
Tel: + 386 1 5477371
National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
CINDI Slovenia
www.cindi-slovenija.net |
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