EU Project Rock Your HEALTH - RYHEALTH Promotes Healthy Lifestyles for Primary and Secondary School Students to Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases
The first meeting of the European project RYHEALTH, took place in early February 2023 in Coimbra, Portugal. Participating organizations presented an analysis of current health habits in their respective countries and began planning project details and next steps.

This project, co-funded by the EU research and innovation program EU4Health, was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen crisis preparedness in the EU. It brings together six partners from four European countries: Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Sweden.

RYHEALTH aims to develop a comprehensive approach for students and young people. At its core is a socially integrated concept designed to spread throughout society, significantly impacting health promotion and the prevention of non-communicable diseases (such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases) in the European Union.

The primary focus areas are summarized in RYHEALTH's four "projects." The term "project" translates Outdoor Against Cancer (OAC)'s four pillars of a healthy lifestyle into a familiar structure for school programs, making them accessible and applicable for all participants:

The goal is to instill, experience, and live out healthy behaviors in primary and secondary schools – and to do so sustainably. Through this approach, the project aims to accelerate the slow pace of curriculum adaptation in EU member states.

"Too optimistic? Certainly not! The NGOs, schools, universities, and stakeholders involved in the project at the European level are eager to support this vision with all their strength. Comprehensive expertise and the strong will to make a difference are embedded in the DNA of this project. Big visions are, after all, what drive big changes. ‘If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success,’ as James Cameron once said," – Petra Thaller, Founder & President of OAC and author of the RYHEALTH project proposal.

The project reaches students from various socio-economic backgrounds, involving teachers, students, and parents, creating an intergenerational impact and fulfilling the objective of E4Health: HealthyLifeStyle4All.

The RYHEALTH Toolbox (RYHEALTH Hub) will provide students, teachers, and parents with practical tools to integrate a healthy lifestyle into both school and daily life, fostering more outdoor activity and enhancing physical and mental well-being in the long term. For students to develop positively, a holistic approach is essential, combining healthy nutrition, adequate exercise, and mental health. In the safe environment of their school, students learn methods for a healthy and sustainable adult life.

Project Coordination:
Prof. Dr. Paula Tavares, University of Coimbra (UC), Portugal 

Project Partners:

Project Contact, inquiries for schools and potential associated partners, as well as further information: 
contact@RYHEALTH.net

Project Start: November 1, 2022 
Project End: April 30, 2025 
Total Budget: €1.28 million 

Author: Petra Thaller, OAC