MOVE IT

GET ACTIVE EARLY!

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” – John F. Kennedy

Primary school years are a critical time for physical skill development. It is therefore important to establish healthy physical activity behaviours in our children from an early age for their current and future health. Parents also play an important role in encouraging them to be physically active.

As part of Active Mauritius, the Move It after-school sports and fitness programme was designed to motivate and encourage the participation of Mauritian children aged 7 to 13 years old in regular physical activity while nurturing their love for sports and life. The programme has achieved increasing success with primary schoolchildren since its launch on a pilot basis in 2017. The number of participants has expanded from 2,154 in the first year to 15,981, including 1,276 in Rodrigues in the first term of the 2019 academic year.

The activities carried out by trained and qualified personnel in all 277 schools across Mauritius and Rodrigues now comprises pupils in Grades 4 to 6. A total of 24 sessions consisting mainly of fun games will be provided, i.e. 8 sessions per term.

To encourage participation in sports and physical activity, the Mauritius Sports Council also collaborates in activities such as the MILO World Champions Cup 2019 (a football tournament bringing together more than 5,500 participants in the Move It programme), a swimming in schools programme, winter holiday and youth camps, summer school holiday sports camp, among others, both in Mauritius and Rodrigues.

Promoting physical activity from early childhood is the first step towards creating a fit, healthy and happy lifestyle for the entire population. A sound mind lives in a sound body. So be healthy!