Childhood obesity and malnutrition
may be polar opposites, but one
program—Life in Action (LIA)—is
positively impacting both of these
dangerous conditions. In the two years
since its inception, LIA has empowered
thousands of North American youth
to take charge of their health while
supporting their peers in developing
countries to do the same.
The seed for LIA was planted
when Veronica Atkins met with
representatives of Toronto-based
Free the Children in August 2005.
She was immediately touched by the
work of the organization, founded
by Craig Kielburger in 1995 when he
was only 12. Over the next decade,
it grew into the world’s largest youth
empowerment network, one million
strong. Craig’s message: Kids can
make a difference.
Envisioning the possibilities of
joining forces with Free the Children
to incorporate messages of healthy
eating, an active lifestyle and social
responsibility, Mrs. Atkins wrote the
organization a personal check on
the spot, promising to approach the
Foundation board about funding
for workbooks and operational
expenses. Sharing her enthusiasm,
the board chose instead to underwrite
the entire program.
Partners for Action
A month later, LIA launched as
a partnership with the Atkins
Foundation, incorporating Free
the Children’s proven method of
motivational peer leadership training
and mentoring, with an innovative
curriculum promoting healthy
eating and lifestyle.
In its first year, LIA rolled out in
54 schools, mainly in Canada, to
identify best practices and refine
the program curriculum. During the
2006–2007 school year, it grew to
115 schools throughout Canada and
reached six schools in the United
States with a confirmed expansion
of 15 more in the 2007–2008 school
year.More schools and communitybased
organizations, committed to
improving health and nutrition and
reducing obesity among America’s
children, are considering becoming
program partners.
To date, 2,400 sixth graders have been
trained as LIA ambassadors, modeling
positive behavior to their peers and
younger students, creating Healthy
Snack Shacks in their schools and
participating in Free the Children’s
Adopt a Village campaign. Students
raise funds for community
development projects aimed at
impoverished children and their
families in Kenya, Sierra Leone,
China and Sri Lanka. Their efforts
support education, healthcare, clean
water and sanitation, and provide
resources (such as sewing machines
and milking animals) to help families
generate income so that the children
can attend school.
Mrs. Atkins has continued to be
personally and passionately involved,
funding a group of 12 culturally and
socio-economically diverse students
to participate in an Arizona-based
leadership program last summer.
Traveling to Mexico to volunteer
with local peers, the students were
challenged to care for themselves
and others, learning the true meaning
of leadership.
Living up to its name, LIA is proof
that, when given the resources and
options to make healthy nutritional
choices, children respond positively.
With the Foundation’s support, they
are taking an active role in helping
future generations worldwide enjoy
healthier and longer lives.
