Water wins (Slovenia)

About the project Water Wins: Experts from the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Pediatrics found out that children and adolescents drink too many soft drinks what represents a threat for their health.  The pilot project Water Wins is running on four primary schools with the aim to encourage children to drink more water instead of soft drinks. At the same time, these activities are carried out: raising awareness of parents about the effects of excessive drinking of soft drinks on children, benefits of water drinking, encouraging schools to improve school meals. 

In the project four groups of data were collected: consumption of soft drinks and consumption of water with questionnaire among children from 6.-9.grade, measuring body weight and height - in Sept. 2012 before and Jan. 2013 after the interventions. The aim was to find out the efficiency of the project and two interventions. 

As already said, there are two interventions: communication intervention (2 schools) and water intervention (2 schools).  In the first case there are these activities: raising awareness about the benefits of water and harmful effects of soft drinks for children, parents, teachers, and headmasters. Used activities are lectures, posters, brochures, web-pages, Facebook profile, so-called "Water Day" for pupils where they learn about the topics through play.

Water intervention is about improving meals: canceling out soft drinks and with saved money schools buy more fruits and vegetables. Instead of soft drinks children drink tap water, mineral water or unsweetened tea. The project was financed by the Ministry of Health and the University Medical Centre Ljubljana.

More about the project and their activities: https://www.nijz.si/sites/www.nijz.si/files/uploaded/voda_zmaga_0.pdf