Getting Out The Message On Obesity

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The Olomana Youth Center team of (from left) Ashley Richardson, Kerrilyn Hanohano and Troy Salas share a get-healthy message with elementary keiki, as part of the Windward school’s service-learning project. Photo from Ellen Schroeder.

Motivated by first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! obesity prevention program, health class students at Olomana Youth Center presented a grant proposal this past school year and won $500 from the Youth Philanthropy Board.

This grant allowed a Service Learning program on obesity to be incorporated into their health class. The service-learning team met on Thursdays starting in September to research and learn about obesity how it is harmful and how to prevent it. Members were Sesolo Cocker, Ilaisi Fehoko, Kerilynn Hanohano, Siari NakilaSunderlin, Troy Salas, Amanda Sava’I, Shaelen Toafe and Dakota Wilson, with teacher advisers Maheswary Post and Karin Brown.

The team from the DOE’s Windward alternative school campus carried its get-healthy message to Blanche Pope, Keolu, Maunawili and Fern elementary schools in January and presented lessons on obesity.

“The students basically told them about the food pyramid, which is now a food circle,” explained grant adviser Ellen Schroeder. “I know that they also performed a skit about not being a couch potato. They led the children in exercise routines, and they also created an original song, Obesity Attack, and later on turned it into a music video.”

They also created two poster boards and a PowerPoint presentation. Thus, the grant not only supported obesity prevention and education, but also art. Schroeder also noted that Kaiser Permanente donated 200 pedometers, which were given to the elementary students at the presentations.

Obesity afflicts the United States in large numbers, so arming young people with tools for a healthy lifestyle can have an impact. Olomana’s small grant helped its students deliver the message directly, student to student.