Fitness Training
5 Fitness Projects Changing Lives Worldwide
Check out these fun wellness initiatives that can bring positive change to your life.
Sometimes, it's the simple things that make a difference in your day, month or year. Occasionally, it's the moment you decide to get involved in a new project for a bit of fun. Before you know it, that decision turns into a complete game-changer and your life is all the better for it. These are a few fun fitness projects you can get involved in and bring positive change to your life.
1. Skateistan — using skateboarding as a tool for empowerment
The challenges of providing access to education and be active in areas affected by war and extreme poverty are massive. The award-winning NGO, Skateistan, has been working to get children into classrooms and involved in building strong communities through what is probably the most simple of all action sports: skateboarding.
"Youth come for skateboarding and stay for education”
"Skateistan has three core programs in Afghanistan designed to empower children of all backgrounds and keep them involved in the long term," the NGO says. "As students get older, they can become youth leaders, teaching others as volunteers or staff. We believe in local ownership and program design."
Now spreading its wings to Cambodia and South Africa, the NGO, founded in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2007 by Australian skateboarder Oliver Percovich, has been gaining in popularity since.
Here's an interesting fact: 40 percent of the Skateistan students are girls. Surprised? It's due in large part to the fact that girls are forbidden to ride bicycles in Afghanistan, but they are allowed to ride skateboards. It even makes Afghanistan the country with the highest percentage of female skateboarders in the world. Long live Skateistan!
2. Adaptive Sports Fund — no limits, just life
With a project like the Adaptive SportsFund, the dreams of an adventurous life can become reality for anyone. ASF believes that providing adaptive sporting equipment will allow people with disabilities the opportunity to experience freedom, the environment, independence, adrenaline and the satisfaction that sports and adventure activities have to offer.
"Whether it be water-skiing, scuba-diving, paragliding or off-road hand-cycling; we are continuously driven in creating much-needed awareness for people with disabilities."
Jeffrey Yates, founder of the ASF, knows that for a fact — he's paraplegic and an avid sportsman. He plays tennis, golf, rides a handcycle and is learning to paraglide.
With the Adaptive Sports Fund, Yates is giving others the opportunity to experience things that wouldn't have been possible without the adapted equipment.
3. The Recess Youth Movement — a mind and body fitness revolution
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Let Cleopatra Simelane inspire you to move!
Amaphiko Project leader Cleopatra Simelane gives tips for a better, happier, healthier you
The Recess Youth Movement is led by South African fitness star and social entrepreneur Cleopatra Simelane. After going through difficult teenage years and dealing with depression, Simelane discovered that exercise completely changed her life. Now she wants the younger generation to have the chance to experience the same, while taking charge for their own health and well-being.
"We do this by creating content and activations that inspire students to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle in mind, body and soul."
South Africa is facing a growing obesity problem, and it's projects like the Recess Youth Movement that will change things. Right now, the stats are scary: Seven out of 10 women and four out of 10 men have significantly more body fat than is considered healthy, according to an article published in The Lancet medical journal.
"The Recess Youth Movement aims to change that. We want to inspire students to live healthier lives, offering support, mentorship, education and meaningful information sharing in a manner and language they can relate to."
The MindBody Fitness Revolution is only one part of the Recess Youth Movement. Check out the complete project here.
4. FitSpirit — girls in motion
Adopting an active lifestyle in your teenage years can have a massive impact on the rest of your life. The major challenge? Getting teens involved in developing that way of living. FitSpirit's mission is exactly that, but focuses solely on girls.
"Based on their reality and tastes, our programming takes into account their experiences and concerns, what motivates them and, above all, the fact that they love to hang out with their friends."
The Canadian NGO has succeeded in creating fitness awareness in over 110,000 teenage girls since 2007, and they're still growing. Divided in three phases, the program includes a motivation phase, with a conference by a female athlete who, by telling her inspiring story, motivates the girls to join the program. Second is a training phase of eight weeks, during which Fit Spirit ambassadors visit the groups and help them discover new activities, like yoga and aerobic dancing. Finally, the last phase encourages them to push their limits, by taking part in a 5km or 10km race alongside thousands of other girls participating in their FitClub.
Want to know more? Take a look at their website.
5. Morning Gloryville — rave your way into the day
What does your morning routine look like? Hitting the snooze button too many times before checking your social media, chugging a coffee and rushing out the door? How about swapping all that for some cheerful music and dancing your brains off before going to work? Welcome to Morning Gloryville!
We believe that playfulness, fun, colourfulness and quirk are essential in creating a lighter world.
The British initiative started a few years ago and now stages events in cities all around the globe. The concept is simple: bringing people together to connect communities and develop healthy habits through dance and music.
From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., you can not only enjoy the "inspirational, energizing music and mesmerizing visual entertainment," but also free yoga sessions, massage, smoothie and coffee bars and a unique connection with your inner self and the people around you. How is this a health initiative? Here's what their manifesto has to say: "At Morning Gloryville, we believe that vitality and wellness of heart, mind, bodyand soul can raise one's level of awareness of themselves, their community and the world we live in."