CIVIL SOCIETY: 276 PRACTICES
The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis is a nongovernmental organization, active in the field of medical research, health promotion, environmental and occupational health.
Read more: www.prolepsis.gr
The Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health, Prolepsis is a nongovernmental organization, active in the field of medical research, health promotion, environmental and occupational health since 1990.
The Program on Food Aid and Promotion of Healthy Nutrition – DIATROFI, implemented by Prolepsis Institute,since 2012, with Stavros Niarchos Foundation as the founding donor, supports students in primary and secondary public schools in socioeconomically vulnerable areas throughout Greece, contributing to the fight against food insecurity and hunger. Furthermore, the program promotes healthy nutrition through educational material and activities aimed at the students and their families.
The Program is aimed at students in primary and secondary public schools in socioeconomically vulnerable areas throughout Greece, and secondarily at their families.
The DIATROFI Program has been implemented on 2018-2019 for an eighth consecutive school year, having distributed since 2012 more than 15 million meals in approximately 690 schools and to 114,500 students throughout Greece.
The Program provides a free meal to all the students in the participating schools on a daily basis, which includes a sandwich or other healthy baked goods, a seasonal fresh fruit and white milk or yogurt with honey 2-3 times per week.
The Program’s method of implementation is distinguished by its scientific credibility, its high quality and great sense of responsibility to all stages of Program implementation:
Through dalily feeding of children, food insequrity and hunger are successfully addressed and also the physical and mental health of children are defended, as shown by Prolepsis Institute date from the school year 2018- 2019.
At the end of the school year, the percentage of families experiencing food insecurity decreased by 24.5%, whereas the percentage of families experiencing food insecurity with hunger decreased by 36.9%. Furthermore, 33.4% of students who did not attain normal weight at the beginning, reached a normal weight at the end. Moreover, the physical health of 52% of the students and the mental health of 49.2% of the students improved. Also, the health- related quality of life improved for 50.6% of students. 79.5% of the children were asking for healthier food at home, whereas they increased fruit consumption by 45.2%.
The parents of the students report that their behaviour and concentration to lessons have improved. The teachers report school dropouts have decreased and social cohesion has been strengthened.
The Program also financially assists the families and contributes significantly to strengthening the economy through new job opportunities in the food industry and in service sectors. From its initial implementation until today more than 170 jobs have been created.
During the 2018-2019 school year the Program was implemented in 100 schools, benefiting 6.127 students in the Attica, the Prefecture of Sterea Ellada, as well as the regional units of Evros, Xanthi, Rodopi, and Arcadia (North Kynouria).
The Prolepsis Institute has established cooperation with state, local and regional bodies and has included the DIATROFI Program in programmes and actions implemented at european level. Particularly:
Cooperation with the Prefecture of Central Greece (Sterea Ellada) for implementing the DIATROFI Program in schools located in Central Greece.
Cooperation with the North Kynouria Municipality for implementing the DIATROFI Program in schools located in the Municipality.
Also, in previous years:
36 employees have participated in the design and implementation of the DIATROFI Program
The benefits that the Prolepsis Institute has gained from the implementation of the Program are summarized in the development of competencies and valuable experience of its executives, as well as in the development of a network of volunteers, organizations, institutions, companies and individuals. Moreover, the innovation and results of the Program have led to numerous publications and presentations in Greece and internationally, both in the scientific community, civil society and general public, highlighting the benefits and the international impact of the Program, enhancing the scientific excellence and recognizibility of the organization and promoting good practices that contribute to the welll- being and health of children. In total, there have been 7 publications in international scientific journals, 4 abstracts published in international scientific journals, 2 publications in national research series/reports, 11 presentations of the DIATROFI Program in international scientific conferences, 25 presentations of the Program in national scientific conferences (http://bit.ly/29LXs4u)
