Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/992522
27 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 JUNE 2018 book, Twitter and Instagram, while they rally to his defence when he needs it. For instance, in a recent row with the Egyptian football association over advertising rights, Salah complained on Twitter about the way he has been treated, and asked for more respect. In fewer than 12 hours, the hashtag #SupportSalah was trending in Egypt, the president of the football as- sociation intervened and Salah thanked his young fans for their support. Former Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan said of the incident: "Salah is not only stronger than drugs – he is stronger than everyone else!" – a reference to Salah's support of a prominent anti- drug campaign. Following his recent ad, which went viral, the rehabilitation hotline wit- nessed a 400% rise in calls. Young people's dedication to Salah is evident in everyday life in Egypt: from dates and cakes named after him, to Ramadan lanterns, graffiti and portraits of him – not to men- tion the crowded cafes every time he plays, and the dedicat- ed digital army that votes for him every time he competes for an online award. With their support, Salah was even voted runner-up in Egypt's recent presidential elections. Salah's relationship with Egyptian youth is a unique one; he represents their hopes and aspirations and is a model they seek to emulate. As one supporter commented on Facebook: "Search for Salah inside you; you will find him in all domains." In a recent TV interview, Salah's message to Egyptian youth was simple: "You can. Believe in your dream and fol- low it, no matter what." This message lives in the minds and hearts of millions of Egyptian youths who see him as their brother, their friend and their role model. When I recently met Mo Salah, I told him: "Mo, you are my inspiration." Clearly, I am not the only one to feel this way. TheConversation.eu On children's nutrition, it really takes a village At the end of the day, the responsibility for a child or young person f irst rests with the parents Evarist Bartolo Evarist Bartolo is minister for education and employment Employment part-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MINISTRY FOR HEALTH The Ministry for Health is accepting applications for the position of a Project Administrator For the Project "ESF 04.0084 - Reform in the public health system to maximise efficiency gains and enhance governance" More details regarding the above vacancy and application can be accessed from the Government website http://recruitment.gov.mt and Government Gazette issued on Friday, 8th June 2018. Interested persons are to submit their application, together with a detailed Curriculum Vitae, by not later than 12.00 noon (Central European Time) on Friday, 22 nd June 2018. OVER the past twenty years a lot of work has gone into making sure we live a healthier lifestyle, eat bet- ter, exercise more and live in a thoughtful way. Maltese society has moved forward with other countries in de- veloping greater awareness of the foods we eat and the processes behind them. In the past people used to eat and drink whatever, with little thought going into whether or not these prod- ucts served them well from a health point of view. We have come a long way. Today we are very much in tune with what is healthy and what isn't and people base their choices on such notions. This awareness and renewed commitment to live healthier is widespread across age groups and society. Certainly, schools are an important element in this equation. In recent years, schools have become important players in cultivating a more healthy proposition to children, espe- cially when it comes to food and drink. While it may not have been a popular step across the board, it was important to ban sugary drinks from school canteens and cafete- rias. Junk food has also been removed from the menus of such places and while this is only a small step, as children can still avail themselves of such choices outside of school, I think it's important to send the right message. Despite this effort and the increased awareness, the numbers are not good. A high percentage of our children are still overweight, and suf- fer from serious dental issues. This issue is a perfect exam- ple of how schools can help and support, but a wider ap- proach is crucial if progress is to be achieved. At the end of the day, the responsibility for a child or young person first rests with the parents. We must work harder on this. I am not advocating ex- tremes, just simply to help children from a young age understand the need to live in a healthy manner, the impor- tance of a balanced diet and the need to be responsible for themselves. Such life skills are impor- tant to nurture at a young age, because if such lessons are learnt early chances are that children will grow up with such lifestyles. The Whole School Ap- proach policy of 2015, estab- lished a number of policies to give incentives for more physical activity. Many Mal- tese schools are integrating physical activity and sport in the school day, and are offer- ing a wide variety of oppor- tunities for physical activity and sport to their students. This week I had the pleas- ure to attend the Premju SkolAttiva event, which celebrates schools' commit- ment to providing students with more active time and to ensure that sport and physi- cal activity are an important part of children's educational experience. It also aims to share and spread good practice and to encourage increased activ- ity in other schools. Much work has gone into these initiatives, and the number of physical education educators has increased substantially over the past three years. A lot of work has also gone into making sure physical education sessions are engag- ing and interesting, and in some cases with embeded learning as well. The Daily Mile initiative, which a few weeks ago was showcased on ITV's break- fast show, has also helped to inject a little bit of exercise, a simple mile walk or jog, into a student's schedule. Initiatives such as teach- ing students and parents to cook healthier dishes are also gathering steam in schools, with more schools joining up to offer such important sessions. These are all great. How- ever, the buck does not stop with the school. It is impor- tant that the positive work done in schools continues in the community and in families. It is very easy to microwave something. It's harder to cook fresh food, especially on a daily basis. It does involve more work. But it also means that that child is growing up with a much healthier perspective towards food and a balanced diet which will help them live healthier and happier. Society at large can do better as well. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child.