Brazilian teachers get health training ahead of 2014 World Cup

Public school teachers from the 12 cities to host the World Cup have started on Monday (Feb. 10) a program to prepare them to address health topics in class. The initiative comes from FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football) in collaboration with Brazil’s Health, Sport and Education Ministries, along with the Brazilian Football Confederation (“CBF”).

As many as 242 teachers are expected to take part in the program, scheduled to end Friday (Feb. 14). Its ultimate target audience includes 11- and 12-year-olds. The program, according to the Health Ministry, will be carried out in schools through the use of soccer fundamentals, like dribbling, ing, defending and kicking, alongside messages like “respect girls and women”, “watch your weight”, “wash your hands”, and “vaccinate”.

The course will be taught by FIFA officials as well as professionals from Paraná’s capital city, Curitiba, where, in 2013, the program’s pilot project took place in schools. Technicians from the Health Offices of the host cities and from the Ministry will also attend the classes.

Soccer players such as Marta, Neymar Júnior, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba have made promotional videos with the topics to be addressed in the schools.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira