WHO INFORMATION SERIES ON SCHOOL HEALTH ... - PAHO/WHO

5.9.2 Collaboration with the community
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Promoting Physical Activity in Schools
Community support and resources are vital for fostering physical activity through schools and with organisations
which are responsible for the well-being of youth (58). Potential partners within a community include
recreation and sports organisations, pool halls, volunteer organisations, churches, temples and mosques
and NGO programmes. These partners within a community can assist in creating awareness, publicity and
visibility for physical activity. Communities can contribute by endorsing, collaborating and co-sponsoring
various physical activity programmes for young people.
Important roles for the community in promoting physical activity:
Make schools a priority location for exercise and sports in community planning efforts.
Link community health services to the resources that promote and support physical activity of
the young people.
Develop parks or playgrounds in vacant lots, make roof tops accessible or convert / rebuild the
community construction into parks and recreation facilities, increase access to community parks
and trails, for walking, cycling and hiking.
Provide children and adolescents with opportunities to engage in various types of physical activity
that are not offered in school, e.g. transportation, fees, access and special equipment.
Rebuild traffic roads to ensure appropriate traffic calming and zoning as well as convert certain
vehicular roads to pedestrian walks and bicycle traffic.
Help pass regulations and ordinances for
- Building sidewalks/ bicycle paths along the roads by schools.
- Construction of sidewalks and bicycle paths in any new communities.
- Bicycle helmet use.
Encourage parents to walk children to school.
Establish safe, well-lit walking, jogging and bicycle paths.
Provide safe and easy transportation to places for physical activity.
Advocate the benefits of physical activity to parents, children, school staff, and other community
members through workshops.
Help schools recruit qualified teachers/instructors for physical education as well as
health education.
Establish a community steering committee for physical activity promotion with representatives
from schools.
Encourage schools to open their recreational facilities to community members during the weekends
and holidays.
Develop community sports and recreation programmes accessible to out-of-school young
children (particularly important in places where a high percentage of young people do not
attend school).
WHO Information Series on School Health