11 FOR HEALTH IN PAKISTAN
Project Background
In 2023, Mr. Farman Ullah, a Ph.D. candidate at Shanghai University of Sport, launched the “11 for Health in Pakistan” project. This is the first time a sports education project with a complete theoretical basis and practical value has entered Pakistani campuses, as well as the first pilot of this football fitness program in Pakistan and even South Asia.
In order to ensure the smooth running of the project and scientifically evaluate its effects, Mr. Farman Ullah works together with the sports science expert team led by Professor Peter Krustrup and Professor Malte Nejst Larsen from the University of Southern Denmark. At the same time, the project team has built positive working relationships with professional sports teams, universities, primary and secondary schools, and local government departments to publicize the project locally and investigate ways to efficiently combine resources from all stakeholders to facilitate the project’s continued development in Pakistan.
Project Implementation
The “11 for Health in Pakistan” program comprises 2 weekly 45-minute sessions for 11 weeks (22 sessions in total). The 90-minute game format is split into two halves that are carried out on two separate weekdays. The first half is called “Play Football” and focuses on teaching students skills related to a specific aspect of football. The second half is called “Play Fair” and focuses on teaching students about a particular health issue and helping them cultivate healthy lifestyles and behaviors.
Approved by the Ministry of Education and the Federal Directorate of Education, the “11 for Health in Pakistan” project has been initiated in five primary schools and colleges (middle schools) within Islamabad from May to August 2024. We are utilizing the most recent edition of the 11 for Health coaching manual, which is simultaneously employed in Denmark and the United States. In the sections dedicated to health education, we have tailored the contents to align with the cultural nuances and prevalent health conditions in Pakistan. A comprehensive depiction of our course’s structure and themes is presented in the poster below.
