| • Session 2B: The Road to a Healthy Life Style |
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Young people have access to an unprecedented variety of opportunities in an environment that may be less conducive to making the best choices. The decisions made by youth now can significantly affect their future. The main topics that will be discussed include: HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, female genital mutilation, young people with special needs, avian flu, different forms of addiction such as smoking and drugs, road safety and accidents, physical activity and healthy diets and health in emergencies. The discussions will be held in the form of a “talk show” and complimented by audio visual materials.
Reducing risky behavior among youth requires that they have the information and the capacity to make informed decisions. This session will address a number of questions including: How can we raise public awareness among youth about the negative consequences that the decisions they make today could have on their future? How can youth themselves contribute? And how can national policies address health hazards and promote the adoption of a healthy lifestyle? |
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| • Session 4B: Young Minds Enriching the Environment |
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We live in times where the fabric of our environment is unraveling before our eyes. Climate change, biodiversity loss, Ozone depletion, deforestation and the continuing problems of soil erosion and water availability have become a major threat to the interface between humans and the environment systems on which we all depend. Young people have an enormous stake in changing these trends in order to be able to have a better future. They can help to focus the efforts of the international community towards more cohesive strategies vis-à-vis the environment. They can mobilize public opinion in favour of eco-friendly policies and practices. In addition, they have the potential to find innovative strategies to minimize the negative impact of economic development on the environment and preserve our natural resources. |
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| • Session 5C: Sports: a Means for Instilling Positive Behavior |
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Sports and physical education are invaluable tools for promoting social development, community involvement and instilling positive character traits among youth. Studies have shown that a positive relationship exists between sports participation and positive personal qualities; youth who participate in sports tend to be more self-disciplined, self-confident, and emotionally stable and have better academic performance than those who do not. For over 30 years, research has indicated that there is a positive correlation between youth involvement in physical activity in sports or physical education and their less delinquent behavior, higher educational aspirations, and better grades. Skills and qualities developed on the playing field, such as team-building, sportsmanship, tolerance and effective communication will not only help youth become better athletes, but will prove useful throughout their lives. |
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