Publicity and Nutrition Erasmus Project

Project Title

Publicity and Nutrition

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing; Creativity and culture; Natural sciences

Project Summary

Teenagers’ dependence on junk food is more prevalent than ever. Health problems resulting from bad eating habits and eating disorders due to the beauty stereotypes of our era have jeopardised the health of the young. Obesity, anorexia, bulimia, heart disease, diabetes are just some of the health issues encountered today. Misleading publicity is largely to blame for the situation.

School responsibility is not just to teach basic skills but also to educate children and teens on how to achieve an enjoyable life and avoid illness. Therefore this project aspires to tackle bad eating habits in three ways:
(a) training students, as well as parents and the wider public, to be suspicious of bright adverts and decipher the hidden messages in commercials and on food packaging.
(b) educating students, as well as parents and the wider public, on the foods that are conducive to good health, preferably those that are locally produced and can be brought fresh to us as well as suit our dietary needs
(c) Involving students in spreading the news of healthy diets and awakening the public on the foods that they impulsively choose to fill their fridges with.

At the same time by being a transnational project, it aspires to boost the students’ national and European identity, develop cultural awareness and tolerance in them, but also to encourage them to compare and contrast eating habits, laws related to food marketing and marketing practices in various places in Europe.

Finally, by requiring communication and cooperation, information collection and processing, development of arguments that convince, a critical view of information and creation of conventional and multimedia materials, the project contributes to the development of 21st century skills in students, necessary for their personal and professional success.

Participants, directly or indirectly involved, will be about 1500 students (aged 12-18) and about 50 school teachers.

During the project a variety of activities will be performed and materials will be produced both at school and during meetings, where the job done at schools will be culminated.

A computer game will be developed to incorporate and consolidate the knowledge collected throughout the project. Minor thematic online quizzes will be made to provide the public and the students with information. Leaflets will be composed, posters will be painted and an anti-advertisement will be made to awaken everyone as to the flaws of our diets. An e-book will be the collection of the project’s materials and activities to be available to educators for use at schools but also to parents and every interested party.

Students will go shopping and organise a healthy picnic, observe food packages and advertisements and report on their findings regarding misleading messages, will taste foods and compare them to how they are advertised, will speak to experts and participate in workshops.

The project comprises a variety of activities and ways of implementing them which ensures that all students will make the most of their talents and skills. The main characteristic is student-centeredness, experiential learning and group-work. Students will be involved in decision-making, will learn by doing and will cooperate to reach common goals. According to bibliography, the above have proven to be effective ways of teaching and learning.

All information will be made available to the public (educators, stakeholders and others) for use at schools or for personal reference. Our website and the eTwinning platform will be forums of dissemination together with the mass media and the public events. In this way, we expect that the impact of our project will be intensified and sustained.

Students and the wider public will reconsider their eating habits, the influence of marketing in food choices and will take steps towards a healthier diet. Stakeholders may decide to protect the young against unethical advertising practices by imposing stricter regulations.

Finally, the project will boost the school’s European identity by placing it in a network of schools and educators where teachers will exchange good practices and take leadership in the launching of constructive changes and educational projects making school life satisfying and motivating for everyone.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 179260 Eur

Project Coordinator

EPAGGELMATIKO LYKEIO AGRIAS & Country: EL

Project Partners

• KURTKOY ANADOLU LISESI
• Zespol Szkol Ponadgimnazjalnych
• Friendly Appeal Cesis State Grammar School
• Escola Básica e Secundária Gonçalves Zarco
• ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO PLINIO IL VECCHIO