Launching the Project "Sports space to enhance mental health"

Attending the launching ceremony were comrades: Nghiem Thi Kim Hue - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training; Be Thi Bang - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, Chairman of the Council of Young Pioneers, Director of the Lai Chau Provincial Community Activity Center; Ms. Phan Thi Hien - Manager of sponsorship programs - Plan International Vietnam and more than 60 delegates representing local authorities, principals, teachers of secondary schools, students, parents and caregivers participating in the project.

Project Launch Ceremony Scene.

The “ Sports Spaces for Mental Health” project is supported by the “Being” Initiative initiated by Grand Challenges Canada and funded by the Fondation Botnar and Plan International Canada.

The project introduces an innovative approach to improve mental health for ethnic minority youth aged 11–15 in two provinces: Tuyen Quang and Lai Chau through the Sports Space model.

By combining team sports with mental health knowledge, the model aims to reduce violence and conflict in the family, strengthen the relationship between parents and children, and improve understanding of mental health for adolescents.

Representative of Plan International Vietnam speaking at the launching ceremony.

Unlike traditional sports models, the sports space is built on the understanding that the mental health of adolescents is strongly influenced by the family and community environment. Therefore, the project not only focuses on improving physical fitness but also uses sports as a means to attract the participation of both adolescents and parents, creating a positive environment to help reduce violence, increase connection and improve communication in the family. The model is designed with many specific activities, suitable for 2 main target groups: students and parents.

Representative of Plan International Vietnam introduced the project implemented in Lai Chau.

In the first phase, students will participate in Sports Club activities - where they will both practice physical training and be equipped with knowledge about mental health, communication skills and problem solving. At the same time, parents will attend training sessions on positive discipline, parenting skills and raising awareness about mental health. Joint sports events at school and in the community will then create opportunities for parents and children to practice the knowledge they have learned. Through this, sports become a "bridge" to connect, contributing to building an open communication space in the family.

During the 15-month implementation period, the project aims to support 6,000 students and 5,700 parents to improve physical health, strengthen social connections, improve relationships between students - parents - teachers, and contribute to early prevention of risks affecting the mental and physical health of adolescents.

Comrade Be Thi Bang - Deputy Secretary of Lai Chau Provincial Youth Union spoke at the project launching ceremony.

Speaking at the project launching ceremony, Comrade Be Thi Bang - Deputy Secretary of Lai Chau Provincial Youth Union emphasized: "The Sports Space Project to Enhance Mental Health" is an important next step, promising to bring many positive impacts to children and families both physically and mentally. We hope that, through this, we will build a network of sustainable, safe and friendly sports spaces at schools, cultural houses of residential groups, villages and youth activity centers.

The project “Sports Space for Mental Health” is not only a sports initiative but also a comprehensive social intervention, aiming to address challenges of mental health and family relationships in ethnic minority communities in the northern mountainous region. With the support of the Provincial Youth Union, the Department of Education and Training of Lai Chau province and Plan International Vietnam, the project is expected to bring about positive and sustainable changes, contributing to building a generation of healthy, confident and happy youth.

Source: https://baolaichau.vn/xa-hoi/khoi-dong-du-an-khong-gian-the-thao-tang-cuong-suc-khoe-tam-than-715771