Get Moving project got the conscripts moving
The joint Get Moving project of Patria and the Finnish Military Sport Federation encouraged conscripts to take up sports and increased their leisure time sports activities nearly by a third.
The three-year project Get Moving started in 2011 when the Finnish Military Sport Federation and Patria took on a challenge to make voluntary physical activities available for all conscripts to promote a sports-oriented lifestyle during conscription. During the project, the amount of leisure time sports activities rose by 27.8 per cent and opportunities for leisure time sports were introduced in all of the training units. The project proved that as long as opportunities for leisure time sports are provided, the demand will arise.
”Social responsibility and continuous development form an important part of our work. These aspects were reflected in the Get Moving project, which has had an important social impact and far-reaching results. Taking care of the physical condition of young people is important and presents an opportunity to improve their quality of life, both in the short and long term. Patria wanted to take part in inspiring each young person entering the conscript service to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle," says Birgitta Selonen, Vice President, Corporate Communications.
Sports activities now available for all conscripts
Get Moving project extended the Finnish Military Sport Federation's sports club activities to cover all Finnish military training units and conscripts. Before the Get Moving project, 15 training units had sport clubs of their own. Conscripts are offered over 50 forms of physical activity to choose from. These clubs focus on sports that are of interest to conscripts and that are coached by the conscripts themselves. Training sessions for sports club leaders are attended by 150 conscripts every year. Acting as a sports club leader also provides conscripts with an opportunity to gain hands-on leadership experience.
”We hope that the inspiration to exercise stays with as many young people as possible, even after their conscription. A better physical condition and the indisputed positive effects on mental health that follow are reflected in benefits in other segments of life, too. Conscript sports clubs are now an established concept in training units and we hope that work will actively continue. We would also like to thank the leaders of this project for their valuable work in promoting the well-being of young people,” Selonen says.
For further details, please contact:
Birgitta Selonen, Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +358 (0)40 869 2043, [email protected]
Patria is a trusted provider of defence, security and aviation lifecycle support services and technology solutions, owned by the Republic of Finland (73.2%) and the Airbus Group (26.8%).
www.patria.fi
