On December 5th, 2025, the Association Sport for All Serbia officially launched the training phase of the HEPA-Olympics project at the Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine of the Republic of Serbia. This milestone event marks the beginning of a transformative 12-week journey for educators across the country.

The core philosophy of the HEPA-O initiative is that active, confident, and motivated teachers are the best role models for their students. By transforming educators—not just PE teachers, but teachers of all subjects into HEPA Ambassadors, the project aims to shift the entire school culture toward a more active and health-conscious lifestyle.

The meeting gathered school coordinators from Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš. Under the expert guidance of Prof. Dr. Dušan Mitić, the participants underwent an intensive introductory session that included:

Physical Fitness Testing: Establishing baseline metrics for the participants.

Practical Methodology: Demonstrating diverse forms of physical activity through pair work, group games, and the use of various sports props.

These coordinators will now lead the 12-week training process within their home schools, applying the acquired knowledge to encourage their colleagues to adopt more active daily routines.

This training phase is a critical component of the project consortium, which includes partners from Bulgaria (BG Be Active) and Romania (AJSPT Suceava). By empowering teachers with practical skills and personal motivation, HEPA-O ensures that health-enhancing physical activity becomes a permanent fixture in the educational landscape.

The program will culminate in a final event where all 100 participating educators will gather to share results, exchange best practices, and celebrate the success of the HEPA-O program.

The HEPA-O project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority.