Generation Pep, Sweden
Generation Pep is a non-profit organization initiated by the Swedish Crown Princess Couple, with the vision that all children and young people in Sweden should have the ability and desire to live an active and healthy life.
In 2018, Generation Pep launched a national school initiative for all schools in Sweden. The initiative “Pep Skola” (Eng.trans “Pep School”) is a digital platform, created by Generation Pep together with leading scientists and four elementary schools, as a tool to help schools incorporate more physical activity and healthy eating habits during the school day. The Finnish Schools on the Move program has been a great inspiration and our exchange meetings a valuable asset in the development of Pep Skola. At pepskola.se, schools receive suggested solutions and systematic support in mapping, planning and following up their work as well as an inspirational bank with concrete examples from Schools around Sweden. In 2019, over 1000 schools are registered to Pep Skola nationwide.
Inspired by the Finnish Schools on the Move program, Generation Pep also engage in lobbying activities, with the goal to achieve a similar support system and national guidelines for schools in Sweden.
pepskola.se (In Swedish)
Liikuma Kutsuv Kool, Estonia
Schools in Motion (Liikuma Kutsuv Kool) is a program led by Tartu University’s Move Lab, Estonia. Since 2016, in collaboration with schools, it has been searching for functional solutions to make school days more active and bring joy of movement to every student. At the moment the network includes more than 35 000 students and nearly 80 school from all over Estonia.
Many of the key elements of the Finnish Schools on the Move programme have been found beneficial in the Estonian Schools in Motion.
- A Self-evaluation tool to help them assess, plan and monitor their actions.
- The autonomy of schools: each school has the freedom to choose their own activities and to make action plans based on their current conditions and possibilities.
- The understanding of systematic processes and different models of changing the operating culture of a school.
- The active role of children, for example recess activities organized by peers.
www.liikumakutsuvkool.ee (In Estonian)
International media
British Journal of Sports Medicine: Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: the Finnish Schools on the Move programme
Healt Club Management, UK: Active kids: Finland’s Schools on the Move programme
The Atlantic, US: Finnish Schools Are on the Move—and America’s Need to Catch Up
The Star, Malaysia: Finnish schools are moving on up
Radio Canada: Faire la classe dans la forêt finlandaise (in French)
Golobo, Brasil: Vida Ativa: Finlândia tem combinação de aprendizado e atividade física nas escolas
