Croatia-bound Young Advisors’ recommendations on physical health

Young Advisors Rowan and Saif are going to Croatia to work with young people from across Europe on the right to physical health. 

They are one of 14 teams in the European Network of Young Advisors (ENYA) participation project, based in Donja Stubica on July 1 and 2. 

The teams have spent the last few months developing recommendations to help improve the protection and promotion of children’s rights to physical health, and will discuss these ideas at the event.  

Our Young Advisors worked with Fast Forward – an Edinburgh-based organisation which supports young people to make informed choices on health and wellbeing – on risk-taking behaviour like vaping and drug-taking. They also worked with the Health Rights Defenders from Children’s Health Scotland. 

The Young Advisors used the Commissioner’s online assembly on International Day of Play to find out what physical activities primary-aged children can do at school, and what their favourite game to play in the playground is.

Rowan, 16, from the Highlands, said: “I’m so excited to be chosen to represent the group in Croatia on an issue I’m so passionate about. I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and to learn what it’s like to be young in other parts of the world.” 

The young people will finalise their recommendations – which include universal access to healthy, balanced and sustainable food, and more awareness around the dangers of energy drinks and vaping – at the forum, hosted by the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children in Croatia. They will share these with members of the European Network of Children’s Ombudspersons (ENOC).