A UNBC project is looking to get youth more active in the North.
Dr. Taru Manyanga, a UNBC Faculty Member with the UBC Master of Physical Therapy program, is pursuing a one-year study bringing together the voices of youth and other key living in the North, to co-create sustainable interventions for promoting youth physical activity.
“We started in Prince George, we had a workshop on March 28th where we gathered a few people that self-identified they want to be part of this project.”
Manyanga said during the workshop, they spoke about what challenges youth are facing and what the potential solutions there are.
“At the end of it we will want to put this all together to then come up with ideas that are coming from the youth themselves.”
Manyanga said these workshops are happening every three months, with the next one taking place in Dawson Creek.
“The fundamental issue, for physical activity, is that it’s a lifestyle behavior, so what you learn as a child, you’re more likely to continue to do in your adulthood,” Manyanga said.
“We know that a lot of chronic conditions that we see in adulthood are related to behaviors that would have started when you are younger.”
The study’s team includes members from Northern Health, Carrier Sekani Family Services, local communities, and UNBC.
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