Italmark presents the second edition of "Missione Benessere" dedicated to younger people

Italmark presents the second edition of “Missione Benessere”, the project which, as part of the social responsibility programme “Italmark per Noi”, brings an educational programme dedicated to children and young people to local communities and involves schools, sports clubs and families alongside them.

The initiative aims to turn the topics of nutrition and healthy lifestyles into practical experiences and opportunities for discussion, addressing increasingly current challenges such as childhood obesity, sedentary lifestyles and the need for greater awareness of healthy eating habits. Through an integrated approach that brings together school, family and sport, “Missione Benessere” develops an educational programme capable of engaging the different contexts in which children and young people grow up, with activities and tools designed to support them in developing healthier and more informed lifestyles.

The new development

Following a first edition that involved around 3.000 children and young people from primary school pupils to Under 12 and Under 14 young athletes, “Missione Benessere” returns with an even broader and more comprehensive programme. The main new development in this second edition is the collaboration with Sport4Life, which expands the project with new training and discussion sessions dedicated to families, educators and sports coaches, strengthening the link between nutrition, physical activity and the wellbeing of younger people.

In primary schools, children will take part in a programme of four hours of play-based physical activity during which, through play and movement, they will be introduced to some fundamental concepts of healthy eating: the function of nutrients, the importance of a complete breakfast and the composition of the “healthy plate”. The programme will also involve teachers, with a training session dedicated to “Continuity planning”, designed to create a link between the activities carried out in the gym and educational work in the classroom.

The project then continues in sports clubs, where young athletes will take part in three hours of play-based physical activity led by specialised coaches. Particular attention will be paid to managing snacks before and after sports activities and to the role of nutrition in supporting physical activity. At the same time, coaches and trainers will be able to take part in a training module dedicated to pedagogical and methodological aspects, as well as the basic principles of nutrition during adolescence.

The programme for families

Alongside the activities aimed directly at children and young people, “Missione Benessere” is extending the programme to families this year, recognising the fundamental role played by the family environment in developing positive and lasting habits. The new schedule of free events will offer parents, educators and coaches opportunities to explore and discuss topics relating to nutrition, sport and the wellbeing of younger people.

The programme will begin with two online webinars held in collaboration with the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, on 9 November and 18 January. The programme will be completed by three in-person meetings organised with Sport4Life.

The comment

“Missione Benessere was created by listening to the needs of local communities and from the desire to turn social responsibility into a concrete and ongoing commitment. We chose to start with younger people and the educational and sporting contexts in which their daily habits are formed, because that is precisely where tomorrow’s wellbeing is built. The first edition confirmed to us the value of an approach capable of bringing school, sport and family together, creating a shared language based on awareness, movement and healthy eating. With the second edition, we want to continue this programme and, at the same time, develop it further by expanding the involvement of families and introducing new expertise through our collaboration with Sport4Life. The aim is to consolidate over time an increasingly structured educational model that is closer to young people’s everyday lives, capable of supporting them in developing healthy and informed habits,” says Mauro Odolini, sustainability manager at Italmark.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.