ISCA speaks to Pál Szekeres, Hungarian Deputy State Secretary of Sports, about physical education reform in HungaryAcross the world physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles are threatening the future of our younger generations, and for the first time in history it is foreseen that the children of today are expected to live five years less than their parents as a result of inactivity. The everyday life of a child is typically thought of as one that is physically active – with running, jumping, active transport, active play and sport being a natural part of a regular day. However, the reality for most children is quite the opposite. School time is also an important part of children’s daily lives because it is supposed to teach the children how to develop as human being. But unfortunately the trend is the same in most schools systems – more sedentary hours, and less physical education and physical activity integrated into the average school day. However, in Hungary a new concept giving children more opportunities to participate in physical education and physical activity during school hours has been introduced.  Question 1:Last year Hungary implemented a new concept for physical education and physical activity in the school system. What does this new concept include? The concept of every day physical education (five lessons a week) has been implemented since 1 September 2012 due to the renewed Act on Public Education. Beginning with the school year of 2012/2013 in every first, fifth and ninth grade this new concept was introduced. In the future this concept will be followed in an “ascending system” and each year new classes will begin to practice every day physical education.Two out of the five PE lessons can be replaced by specific activities defined in the curricula. These activities may be, for instance, swimming, horse riding and other types of physical activity, which can be practiced locally and are included into the curricula.There is another possibility to replace the above mentioned two lessons with other sporting activities. It can be done, if the student is training regularly in a school sport club or in the framework of a regular sport club, where competitive or contract based amateur sport is practiced. Question 2:Across the world physical education and physical activity during school time is in general decreasing. What was the reason for going against this trend in Hungary? It has been a topic for many years. Children and young people spend more and more time in front of the computer and in virtual space. We all know that in order to maintain a healthy way of living, we need to meet the basic physical activity requirements. The young generation provides the basis for a healthy society; thus sedentary lifestyle has to be countervailed first of all at a young age. If our children are growing up with a mentality which includes regular physical activity, it is more likely that they will keep this habit and will practice some sport and physical activity in an older age.We of course are aware of the fact that it is difficult for many families to take their children to extra physical activity after school and work. Due to the new concept, regular physical activity will be available for every child between 6-18 years for free and in their own school in the future. Question 3:Later this month the 5th International Conference for Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Physical Education and Sport is taking place in Berlin. This UNESCO MINEPS V meeting is organised to debate the current challenges in sport and physical education. However, since the previous meeting in Athens in 2005 we have not seen much progress. What would be your recommendation to your international colleagues?I know that it is not easy to take such a big step because there are several challenges. On the one hand the respective institutions have to work together, which is already an issue; on the other hand we are always waiting for the right moment, when all the details are matching and the situation is mature enough to implement such a big project. We decided to start it and not wait for the perfect moment. There is a need to improve the conditions of the facilities, like building and renewing school facilities. PE teachers need to be trained too, but these are the tasks we can manage in the first line. The point is that the children cannot wait and it is important to start as early as possible.I propose to learn from each other and share good examples, for it is the way forward.

ISCA’s ACTIVE Network project was launched in February 2013 and the first of its five multilateral exchanges will be hosted by the Romanian Sport for All Association in Bucharest on 14-16 June 2013. “We would you like to know how different organisations and local municipalities in Europe develop strategic goals and directions in the promotion of physical activity and social wellbeing, and how they plan, implement and monitor the activities, campaigns and partnerships,” ACTIVE Network project partners expressed at the kick off meeting in February 2013. The ACTIVE Network project has identified that partnerships between local authorities and sport organisations are of such critical value – and yet often very challenging and demanding – that it would be beneficial to create a European network for such partnerships to flourish. These partnerships are examples of GOs and NGOs that focus on their respective competencies and deliver services to citizens of critical value. The project, focused on partnerships between local authorities and sport organisations, allows for a more innovative approach to these partnerships and to spread good practices to other localities in each particular country. The first of five multilateral exchanges using this innovative approach will be held in Bucharest, Romania on 14-16 June 2013, hosted by Romanian Sport for All Association. Representatives from ISCA will meet ten project managers from sport organisations and local authorities (from sport departments) from six different countries to attain:• a knowledge base of an active role in enhancing physical activity and social wellbeing as well as generating positive publicity for organisations, cities and communities via campaigns;• knowledge of how to develop and support strategies to promote physical activity and social wellbeing;• the European scope for creating an overview of trends, barriers and opportunities for increasing physical activity and social wellbeing; and• excellent networking opportunities and a structured and engaged programme. ACTIVE Network project partners will meet and work with experts from the Romanian Ministry of Sport and Youth, Romanian National Olympic Committee, School and University Sports Federation/Romanian Ministry of Education, proVelo Bicycles and other local authorities from Romania. Special guests are also invited from Ukraine and Moldova.  The ACTIVE Network project and Multilateral Exchange in Romania are receiving support from the European Commission, Education and Culture DG, under the “2012 Preparatory Action in the Field of Sport”. Topic: Awareness-raising about effective ways of promoting sport at municipal level.

Up to 24 budding entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 30 years old will take part in ISCA’s “Social Entrepreneurship Training for Youth Leaders” course in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from 17-23 June 2013. The five-day course is designed to motivate the participants and give them tools to become entrepreneurs working towards social good. The event will also explore how social entrepreneurship can enhance the impact of volunteer work and enhance the voluntary experience of young people. Why social entrepreneurship?ISCA’s Social Entrepreneurship Training for Youth Leaders (SETYL) programme focuses on helping individuals who are interested in the concepts of social innovation and social entrepreneurship for a better future. The programme has the potential to give the participants innovative tools for sustainable change. Aim of SETYLThe aim of the SETYL programme is to transform traditional young volunteers into agents of social change who can scale up the potential and impact of existing social enterprises and/or innovations.Objectives of the training course• To identify participants’ perspectives about social entrepreneurship in their own social contexts;• To extend participants’ knowledge about initiative, innovation and creativity and their effect on social work;• To help participants to reach enterprising qualities that can be used for the public good;• To encourage the participants to link social work and entrepreneurship as a means of working towards the public good;• To encourage the participants to become the main actor of sustainable change within their own community;• To explore how social entrepreneurship can enhance the impact of volunteer work and enhance the voluntary experience of the participants;• To address risk-taking and risk management in voluntary work;• Develop the networking potential of ISCA’s member organisations and build partnerships that would increase the understanding of the concept of social entrepreneurship and innovation;• To ensure and increase the active participation of participants in ISCA’s NowWeMove campaign and MOVE Week. For more information about the course please contact:Laska Nenova - project coordinatorln@isca-web.org

The Long Term International Project Management training programme – YesWeRun – kicked off the first of three steps in Tisvildeleje, Denmark, from 15-21 April. The training programme gathers 25 young leaders from across Europe to develop and enhance their skills in Project Management and is devised to develop the ISCA Pool of Project Managers. YesWeRun plays a vital role in the ISCA youth strategy as it develops the competence of young leaders across Europe to organise and deliver international projects for their member organisations on behalf of ISCA. The initiative aims to develop young leaders’ competences as international project managers by providing them with support from specialised trainers, sending organisations and ISCA. As part of the first practical phase, the participants will develop a MOVE Week event in their local area. This will see their skills being put into action as they recruit, manage and deliver a project from start to finish.The second step of YesWeRun (Hungary, to be confirmed) will reflect on the experience of each young leader and look at the qualities needed to deliver an international event which could be a training workshop, forum, congress or exchange. The international project is the second practice phase for these young leaders in partnership with their sending organisations. The third step (to be confirmed) will look at international project management competences and focus on future development in nurturing the pool of project managers.Each stage is delivered using the methodology of “Education Through Sport” and monitored and evaluated by experienced trainers and ISCA Youth staff to ensure quality criteria and individual development and progression.The programme allows young leaders to be creative, innovative and also to seek inspiration from those around them and look for new and exciting opportunities.