Mighty Meters
This project's parent organization is JAG Sports and Education Foundation
It operates in South Africa
It uses Athletics
Entered the Sport For Social Inclusion Award
More about Mighty Meters
Mighty Meters is a physical education programme which motivates primary school children (ages 5-13) to participate in developing a daily habit of running in order to achieve health, self-esteem and personal pride. Children are taught to set and achieve goals. The goals become anchors for children who often don’t have role models to guide and inspire them and they are awarded incentives for kilometers logged.
By setting and achieving goals children are encouraged to lead active and healthy lives. Mighty Metres provides a positive focus for individuals so vulnerable to gangsterism and drugs. Mighty Metres Coordinators run the programme in a number of schools in each community. These coordinators have grown up in the communities in which they work, with challenged backgrounds similar to those of the children.
Mighty Meters can be run in a hall, outside on a field etc. and no gear is needed
- 15 minutes is allowed per running session and can form part of the Life Orientation period at school
- Class teachers log the laps completed and submit bi-monthly figures to the Mighty Meters Coordinator. Data on the total kilometers run, per child, is captured into a data base
- Children earn incentives which are awarded as goals are reached, e.g. 20km t-shirt, 42.2km (Marathon) medal