The Municipality of Lenti has already hosted numerous sports and healthy lifestyle events for young people within the scope of the Keep Young and Fit project, whose main goal is to complement the existing youth health prevention systems in the programme area to make them more effective. Primary school-aged children are the main focus of the project activities. Obesity, as well as poor dietary and exercise habits, is common among the youth. Slovenia and Hungary are not exempt either—in fact, according to the newest statistics on these issues, both rank among the lowest in the EU. To date, the Municipality of Lenti organised sports classes, lectures, physical fitness assessments, three sports competitions, and two health days within the framework of the project for primary and secondary school pupils in Lenti. The above-mentioned activities aim to raise awareness of healthy eating and the importance of physical activity from an early age. In parallel with the events organised in Hungary, similar activities are also being carried out in Slovenia by our Slovenian partners, including health-related lectures, healthy food tastings, sports sessions, nature hikes, and sports demonstrations. The project partners continuously keep the public informed about the activities and events through TV broadcasts and magazine programmes.

In November 2024, a physical fitness assessment took place for children aged between 12 and 13 and experts assessed the physical fitness of 50 children. This was followed by sports classes, with children being able to participate in a total of 12 sessions. The goal of these classes was to improve the children’s physical fitness.  Within the project, three sports competitions have been organised between December 2024 and April 2025 where 150 children participated. Hungarian and Slovenian children of various age groups participated in these competitions, where the children not only exercised and did sports but also struck up friendships. Thanks to local sports clubs, children also had the opportunity to learn about a variety of sporting opportunities, such as handball, football, jiu-jitsu, kangoo, and the traditional Hungarian sport méta.

Within the project, a health day was held at one primary school and one secondary in the spring of 2025 where over 500 children participated. Lecturers from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, one of our project partners, delivered presentations on healthy eating and mental well-being during the health days held in the schools. As part of the animal-assistance part of the programme, pupils had the chance to interact with a therapy tortoise, hedgehog, and dwarf rabbit. This activity gave children first-hand experience with the importance of assuming responsibility. As part of the activity focusing on the development of social skills, children had the opportunity to learn how to communicate better or resolve conflicts by engaging in interactive exercises. These programmes contributed to the development of the children’s mental health and a better understanding of themselves and their surroundings, as mental well-being is one of the foundations of a conscious lifestyle, which necessitates empathy, the development of social skills, and the ability to adapt to others.

Krisztián Pars, the hammer throw champion at the 2012 London Olympic Games, accepted the invitation to the secondary school event and held a lecture in which he encouraged pupils to stay as active as possible and to partake in sports. During the secondary school health day, health screenings (including blood sugar and blood pressure tests) were held. Furthermore, staff members of the National Ambulance Service provided first-aid training lessons for pupils.

During the health days, pupils had the opportunity to engage in physiotherapist-led exercises, that is, in spine-strengthening exercises in the secondary school and pre-competition warm-up exercises in the primary school, after which they could participate in agility-based team competitions as well as try out special bicycles. Nearly ten local producers showcased their products and healthy food options at these events. Not only could children gain theoretical knowledge, but were able to experience how tasty and enjoyable a well-balanced diet can be. Thanks to the produce of local producers, they were introduced to traditional flavours and high-quality ingredients, which is important for not just our health but also for sustainability purposes, as the consumption of local products helps reduce the environmental impact. During the health day, a dietitian introduced healthy desserts, their ingredients, and their benefits for our health to children, thus proving that healthy desserts truly can be delicious as well.

Thus, a plethora of successful and exciting events were organised in Lenti this year as part of the project, which contributed to the promotion of healthy eating and active exercise. And that the students also had a great time. 

Photos by Keep Young and Fit