PROGRAMME 1 – MOVE IT

(AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM)

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!

PROGRAMME 2 – YOUTH ON THE MOVE

GIVE YOUR HEALTH A GO!

“To keep the body in good health is a duty; otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” – Buddha

If you are aged between 14 and 24 years old, you can get active by joining Youth on the Move! In continuation of Move It, this programme specifically supports physical activity among teenagers and young adults.

There are proven health benefits related to physical activity and exercise, which are crucial to your growth and development. Regular physical activity and a healthy diet during your college and youth years can improve your general well-being for the years to come.

Moreover, taking part in physical activity is an opportunity to have fun and spend time with your friends while making you feel good about yourself. You are also at your absolute physical peak in your mid-20s and regular exercise will help retain your fitness in later years.

Through Youth on the Move, the Mauritius Sports Council offers a range of engaging activities for youth of all backgrounds, preferences and abilities to enjoy, including:

After-School Sports and Fitness Programme – Secondary
Winter holiday and youth camps
Summer school holiday sports camp
Nager, c’est vital
Anou naze Rodrigues
Rehabilitation of Youth Programme
Support to Physical Education Curriculum
Anou zwe –Inter-Generational Games

Under the Active Mauritius programme, we also organise talks on sports medicine every year in places like secondary schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The aim of this activity is to highlight the impact of physical activity on health, the importance of a balanced diet and the use of ice in treating injuries as well as raise awareness of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

The ultimate goal of Youth on the Move is to help young Mauritians become healthy, smart, successful and happy citizens.

PROGRAMME 3 – AGEING WELL

IMPROVE YOUR FUTURE NOW!

“Whatever amount of work One has, I believe One must find time for exercise as one does for one’s Meals.” – Mahatma Gandhi

The health benefits of physical activity in adulthood are widely known. The actions that we take today to adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle will affect our future, leading to a better quality of life.

Most adults claim that they are busy juggling with work, family and other commitments, leaving them with little time for physical activity. Many women also want more opportunities to go to the gym or run in public.

You should know however that all adults must avoid inactivity and that some physical activity is better than none at all. In addition, the World Health Organisation recommends that all adults should undertake 150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week.

The Mauritius Sports Council started Ageing Well in 2017 as a life-changing programme to help our adult population stay in good health and prevent non-communicable and other lifestyle diseases. You can access the programme in different community centres around Mauritius and Rodrigues.

We encourage you to take part in other activities such as the Exercise at Workplace – 12-Hour Run, Health Clubs at the Ministry of Health and Walking Clubs, a 12-week walking programme for women with trained walk leaders. The ultimate aim is to promote better physical functioning, vitality, and general health among adults in our country.

All these experiences form part of an innovative exercise and wellness programme to help you live a healthy lifestyle, have fun and create new relationships as you maintain your fitness.

PROGRAMME 4 – ELDERLY FITNESS

THERE’S NO AGE FOR BEING FIT!

“We do not stop exercising because we grow old – we grow old because we stop exercising.” – Kenneth Cooper

Getting older doesn’t mean that you have to give up working out, going to the gym and staying in shape. Staying active both mentally and physically is extremely important as we age.

Among older people, regular exercise has a life-changing effect. The wide-ranging benefits of physical activity include improving your health and resilience, keeping you strong, mobile and independent for longer, and making you feel good about yourself. Leading a health-conscious lifestyle also helps reduce healthcare costs.

As you age, it gets increasingly important to stay fit and healthy. Active Mauritius has therefore developed a programme to promote physical activity among the elderly. It is the key to giving you momentum and energy, strengthening your heart, decreasing your body fat levels, reducing the risk of developing diseases and enhancing your mental health. It improves your emotional well-being, self-esteem, and quality of life while helping to create social bonds.

Staying active can significantly improve our health at any age. It’s never too late to begin to exercise and reap its benefits!

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