Building healthier, inclusive schools through the Special Olympics Inclusive Healthy Lifestyle Groups in Schools Project

“I learned to exercise, eat healthy and talk to my friends,” said Elena Megariti, a 14-year-old student with intellectual disabilities, who participated in the activities of Inclusive Healthy Lifestyle Groups in Schools in Athens, Greece.

The Inclusive Healthy Lifestyle Groups in Schools (IHLGiS) project is an innovative initiative promoted by Special Olympics aimed at educating students with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) about health and encouraging the creation of an inclusive, accepting environment within and outside of schools. This European Union-funded project, which spans from nutrition to mental health, and from physical activity to health literacy, has improved the lives of children in Estonia, Greece, Poland and the city of Berlin, Germany, over the past three years.

“With the support of the European UnionThrough the EU4Health programme, we want to empower students to take care of their own health, and create a school environment that implements models that promote health promotion and inclusive practices in the daily life of the school,” continues Björn Köhler, Senior Director for Health of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia.

The IHLGiS project is coordinated and led by Special Olympics Europe Eurasia and includes five key partners: Special Olympic Games Estonia, Special Olympic Games Hellas, Special Olympic Games Poland, Special Olympic Games BerlinPorditrian University.

Over the past three years, Special Olympics has been implementing health activities in the respective territories of its national programs, with the aim of leaving a stable legacy of inclusion and health awareness in schools; while the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens was responsible for collecting data and evaluating results to assess the trajectory and impact of the project.

Launched in January 2023, the IHLGiS project aimed to engage more than 4,000 students with and without intellectual disabilities in 100 schools across the territory. Ultimately, the project far exceeded expectations: more than 6,000 students are involved in the project, at more than 290 schools in four countries. More than 200 youth leaders with and without intellectual disabilities have been trained to advocate for healthy lifestyles among their peers, and 450 teachers have received specific training on how to best engage and educate students with intellectual disabilities.

“We are extremely grateful to have been part of this project as it has changed the lives of the participants,” said Merli Neito, assistant to the project coordinator at Special Olympics Estonia.

After witnessing the impact of the project firsthand, Oivi Olle, mother of 8-year-old Dmitri Varno who participated in IHLGiS activities in Tallin, Estonia, confirmed: “Dmitri has become stronger, smarter and more independent through this project.”

^{Financed by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for this.}