2024 in review: Circles Association
Circles Association for Nutrition and Healthy Life, our member in Egypt, had a very active year, carrying out many impactful campaigns.
These campaigns included the School Awareness Campaign on Healthy Food and Healthy Lifestyle: Mansoura College (22nd March, 2024), a fitness camp during Ramadan and an October campaign to support breast cancer patients - "بهية"
School Awareness Campaign on Healthy Food and Healthy Lifestyle: Mansoura College
22 March 2024
The primary goal of this campaign was to promote awareness and understanding of healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle among school-aged children, empowering them to make informed decisions for long-term well-being.
The Mansoura College School Awareness Campaign was designed to educate children on the significance of a balanced diet and regular physical activity. It aimed to address common issues related to unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. Through a variety of engaging activities, the campaign encouraged children to adopt healthy behaviors that contribute to their overall physical and mental health.
Key activities included:
- Interactive workshops to discuss the benefits of nutrition.
- Educational sessions focusing on balanced diets and portion control.
- Hands-on activities for practical learning.
- Zumba classes to make exercise enjoyable.
- Distribution of flyers with easy-to-follow healthy habits, intended for both children and parents to reinforce the information provided during the campaign.
Increase Awareness: Educate 300 children of different ages about the importance of healthy food choices and maintaining an active lifestyle.
Encourage Healthy Habits: Motivate children to select healthier snacks, meals, and activities over processed foods and screen time.
Provide Personalized Health Feedback: Conduct free InBody analysis for 300 children to give individualized reports on their health status.
Promote Physical Activity: Organize Zumba classes during the day as a fun method to highlight the benefits of regular exercise.
Distribute Information: Provide flyers containing practical tips for a healthier lifestyle, accessible to both children and parents.
Involve Parents and Educators: Engage parents and teachers in reinforcing healthy habits at home and school.
Raised Awareness: The campaign effectively educated 300 children on the advantages of nutritious eating and staying active. The children learned about various food groups, appropriate portion sizes, hydration, and the importance of physical activity for overall well-being.
InBody Analysis Conducted: Every participant received a free InBody analysis, providing detailed insights into their body composition, helping children, parents, and educators understand individual health needs.
Personalized Health Feedback: Feedback from the analysis helped identify specific areas for improvement, such as lowering body fat percentage, increasing muscle mass, or enhancing hydration levels. Each child received tailored recommendations for a healthier lifestyle.
Physical Activity Engagement: The Zumba classes, held throughout the day, effectively encouraged children to engage in physical activity. They showcased how movement can be fun and integrated into daily life.
Flyer Impact: Flyers with healthy lifestyle tips were distributed, offering a practical and easy-to-remember guide for both children and parents. These included advice on balanced meals, portion control, hydration, and reducing sugary snacks.
Empowerment for Better Choices: The campaign empowered children to make healthier food and lifestyle decisions, with many reporting a shift in their preferences towards fruits, vegetables, and active play instead of unhealthy snacks and screen time.
Community Impact: Parental and teacher involvement fostered a supportive environment for continuing these healthy habits beyond the campaign. This created a community-wide culture that promotes better health, both at school and home.
Impact and future aspirations
The campaign successfully raised awareness about healthy lifestyles among children, creating a foundation for long-term health improvements. It demonstrated the effectiveness of combining educational sessions, engaging physical activities like Zumba, and practical resources to influence children's health behavior positively.
Future Aspirations include: Expanding programs to reach more schools and communities, ensuring a broader impact; Enhanced follow-up with comprehensive health monitoring for students to track progress; Developing culturally relevant materials that cater to the specific needs of different age groups; Fostering ongoing community involvement to sustain the healthy lifestyle changes initiated by the campaign.
This campaign serves as a model for similar initiatives, combining education, fun, and community engagement to make a lasting difference in children's health and well-being.
Fitness Camp During Ramadan
10 March - 9 April 2024
The goal of this campaign was to encourage the community in Mansoura to stay active and make healthy food choices during Ramadan through engaging competitions and guidance, promoting long-term healthy habits.
The Fitness Camp at Gezert El Ward Club, held during Ramadan for two consecutive years, aimed to support 20 participants each year in staying active while fasting. The program emphasized safe exercise practices and a healthy diet suitable for Ramadan. Activities included fitness competitions, group workouts, and diet coaching to help participants maintain energy levels and make informed nutritional choices while fasting. Prizes, including healthy supplements and personalized diet plans, rewarded top performers based on commitment, progress, and consistency.
Promote Safe Exercise During Ramadan: Educate participants on exercise timing, hydration, and safe activity types while fasting.
Encourage Healthy Eating: Guide participants in planning balanced Suhoor and Iftar meals to maintain energy for exercise and daily activities.
Foster Community Engagement: Build a supportive atmosphere where participants motivate each other, reinforcing community and team spirit.
Motivate Through Competition: Use friendly fitness challenges to maintain enthusiasm and drive among participants.
Provide Expert Guidance: Offer professional fitness and nutrition support, with the camp winner receiving a free, customized diet plan.
Active Participation in Physical Activity: Despite fasting, participants maintained regular exercise routines with guidance on timing and appropriate intensity.
Enhanced Awareness of Nutrition: Participants gained practical knowledge on balanced eating during Ramadan, improving their diet for energy and recovery.
Positive Changes in Lifestyle: Improvements in fitness and body composition were noted, with many participants continuing healthy habits beyond Ramadan.
High Motivation Through Competitions: Fitness challenges kept the camp engaging, driving participants to improve in strength, endurance, and consistency.
Community Building: Group workouts fostered a sense of camaraderie, encouraging participants to support each other’s fitness journeys.
Recognition of Healthy Habits: Prizes for dedication and progress reinforced the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Sustained Participation: The camp's success over two years showed its effectiveness, with participants anticipating future events.
Impact and Future Aspirations
The Fitness Camp combined Ramadan’s challenges with fitness and healthy eating, fostering a healthier community and establishing habits that last beyond the holy month. Future goals include:
- Expanding the program: Reach more participants and incorporate diverse fitness activities.
- Offering follow-up sessions: Track participants’ progress and provide ongoing support.
- Developing tailored resources: Create culturally relevant guides for different demographics.
- Strengthening community ties: Continue building a network of individuals motivated to live healthier lifestyles.
This camp serves as a model for integrating health education, fitness, and community spirit during Ramadan, emphasizing that an active and balanced lifestyle is achievable even during fasting.
October Campaign to Support Breast Cancer Patients - "بهية"
October 2024
The "Bahia" "بهية" campaign was held in October, the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness, focusing on educating the public about breast cancer, its risk factors, and the importance of regular screenings. This campaign specifically aimed to support breast cancer survivors with tailored nutritional advice and offers to improve their quality of life and recovery process.
The campaign included workshops on breast cancer awareness, nutrition seminars highlighting diet’s role in cancer prevention and recovery, and special offers for survivors, such as free consultations with nutritionists and discounts on wellness services. By addressing both prevention and support for survivors, the campaign sought to create a holistic approach to breast cancer care.
Raise Awareness about Breast Cancer: To educate the community about breast cancer, its signs, symptoms, and the importance of early detection through workshops and seminars.
Promote Regular Screenings: To encourage women to perform regular self-examinations and attend professional screenings for early detection.
Educate on Nutrition’s Role: To provide information on how proper nutrition can aid in cancer prevention, treatment, and recovery, focusing on a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, fiber, and essential nutrients.
Support Breast Cancer Survivors: To offer special support for breast cancer survivors through personalized nutrition plans, discounts on services, and free consultations to aid in recovery and long-term health maintenance.
Create a Supportive Community: To foster a sense of solidarity and encouragement among breast cancer patients, survivors, and the general public through shared stories, experiences, and resources.
Increased Awareness of Breast Cancer: The campaign successfully educated a broad audience about the importance of breast health. Workshops were well-attended, and participants expressed greater awareness of how to detect early signs of breast cancer and the significance of regular mammograms and self-checks.
Encouraged Screenings: Many women were motivated to schedule screenings as a result of the campaign’s educational efforts. Local clinics and hospitals reported an increase in appointments for breast exams and mammograms during October.
Nutritional Guidance for Prevention and Recovery: Nutrition seminars highlighted the role of diet in cancer prevention and management. Participants gained practical tips on integrating nutrient-dense foods into their daily meals, such as incorporating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and reducing processed food intake.
Support for Survivors: The campaign offered valuable resources for breast cancer survivors. Many took advantage of free consultations with dietitians, received personalized diet plans, and accessed special discounts on wellness services. These offers were well-received, providing survivors with tools to aid in their recovery and maintain a healthy lifestyle post-treatment.
Stronger Community Bonds: The campaign fostered a supportive atmosphere, bringing together survivors, healthcare professionals, and the general public. Shared survivor stories inspired many attendees, creating a compassionate and unified community focused on empowerment and resilience.
Educational Materials Distributed: Pamphlets, brochures, and online resources were distributed during the campaign, providing information on breast cancer, healthy recipes, and lifestyle tips. These materials served as ongoing references for participants, extending the campaign's impact beyond October.
Positive Feedback and Engagement: Participants provided positive feedback on the campaign’s content, emphasizing the importance of continued education and support for breast cancer awareness. The campaign received high engagement on social media platforms, spreading its reach to a broader audience.
The "بهية" campaign successfully combined education, support, and community engagement, raising awareness about breast cancer and highlighting the role of nutrition in prevention and recovery. It offered survivors encouragement and practical resources, creating a strong foundation for future initiatives focused on health and wellness.