On January 16, the school day for the second graders of “c” class of “Georgi Izmirliev” School, Gorna Oryahovitsa, started unusually. Instead of sitting in rows behind their desks, the children sit in a circle on mats and pillows and learn – not how to count, but how to breathe properly.
Together with Ms. Kalina Prokopieva, Vice President of the Bulgarian Yoga Federation, who is a special guest of the second graders, the children learn breathing techniques to reduce stress and anxiety.
Health in a circle
“The children were impressed with the exercises which showed how breathing properly helps them to be calm and focused. They saw in practice that breathing properly helps them not only to feel better, but also improves their ability to learn,” says Mrs. Kremena Encheva, class teacher of class 2 “c”.
Before the breathing exercises begin, the students discuss what health means. At the very beginning of the lesson, Mrs. Encheva writes the word “Health” in big letters on the board and invites the children to share what their associations are when they hear this word.
“The students saw how multifaceted health is. They understood that sport makes us stronger, more focused and productive. But in addition to healthy nutrition and daily sports, we need to have time for rest and a good night’s sleep,” Encheva added.
Small solutions to big problems
In the form of games and exercises, second-graders not only learn what it means to be healthy and why it is important, but also take their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Together they decide to do daily five-minute exercises, regularly air out the classroom, play harmonizing music in the big break and make sure there is always water in their bottles. The bottles are, of course, reusable, because caring for the environment is also crucial for people’s health.
Teacher with a mission
The students take their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle with the support of their class teacher Mrs. Kremena Encheva, who is one of the teachers supported by the Phoenix Program for the next generation of healthier Bulgarians.
Kremena Encheva is a senior primary teacher with 34 years of teaching experience. As a professional with many years of experience, she cannot help but notice the worrying trends related to the health of the youngest students. At the same time, she is convinced that teachers can contribute to reducing bad statistics – such as increased stress levels, lack of physical activity and unhealthy diets: “I believe that the education system could be part of the solution to this problem“.
That is why in November 2024 she applied for support from the Phoenix Program for the next generation of healthier Bulgarians.
Thanks to the programme, Mrs. Encheva and 115 other teachers received a developed methodology with 10 topics related to healthy lifestyle and developed 2 thematic parent meetings to involve parents in the process, as well as a budget for additional materials for the activities of the Program.
With the involvement of parents
The program engages not only the teachers but also the parents of the children in order to achieve more sustainable results. “Health education of children is a task that requires a joint effort by parents, educational institutions and society as a whole. Only through their active involvement and support can we create positive changes in children’s lives and encourage them to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle,” says Kremena Encheva.
Programme Phoenix for the next generation of healthier Bulgarians
The “Phoenix for the next generation of healthier Bulgarians” program was launched for the first time in the autumn of 2024. It is implemented by the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation in partnership with Parents Association and with the support of Phoenix Pharma. The program aims to develop healthy life skills among the youngest students in Bulgaria, supporting their teachers to work with both children and their parents. The 116 teachers supported in the first edition of the program are expected to develop healthy lifestyle skills in over 2,000 primary school children, involving parents in the process. Thus, in its first season, the program will touch over 5000 people across Bulgaria.
Solutions with a follow-up
The second graders from Georgi Izmirliev School, Gorna Oryahovitsa, are only a part of all the 2000 children who are embarking on the path to a healthier lifestyle. There are many more themes, games and exciting experiences to help them apply healthy habits in their daily lives. Solutions for daily exercise, regular classroom airing and using reusable bottles are the result of the first in a series of topics on healthy living.