FAN4Kids (USA)
In 2019/2020 and 2021/2022, the Eurofins Foundation supported FAN4Kids, a non-profit organisation that was formed in 2004 in response to the growing rate of childhood obesity, its related health concerns, and the lack of coordinated and simple solutions to tackle the growing problem. FAN4Kids provides a comprehensive and innovative nutrition and fitness programme designed to introduce children to a lifetime of healthy living. The programme targets elementary school children from low-income families and is taught by trained instructors in a school setting.
FAN4Kids works in predominantly underserved communities in NYC and Newark, NJ, USA. Most of these children lack access to the basic social determinants of health that most people are accustomed to. Their families live in neighbourhoods lacking access to quality and affordable healthcare. FAN4Kids helps prevent poor health outcomes due to being unhealthy through its health education curriculum. They also provide resource lists to families providing information on affordable healthcare.
By reaching children at an early age and working together with their parents, teachers, and local communities, using a holistic and interactive approach, FAN4Kids empowers children to make healthy choices and prevent issues of poor eating and inactivity before they become a problem.
In addition, FAN4Kids works with local city council members and sits on various coalitions of wellness organisations providing insights and input into legislation regarding health and wellness in the schools.
In 2021/2022, the Eurofins Foundation helped cover programme costs for FAN4Kids in a school in District 8 of the Bronx, New York, reaching 125 students. The financial support covered five classes per week on health and wellness, as well as all other components of the programme.
FAN4Kids also added an advocacy lesson for their students called "The Power of Group Action", teaching kids how to use their own voice to evoke change in their communities.
This project contributes to the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
