Children from Hafnarfjörður take part in Walk to School 2024

Schoolchildren from Hafnarfjörður walk to their school.

Engidalsskóli, Hvaleyrarskóli and Öldutúnsskóli are among the schools taking part in the project. Let's walk to school this autumn. The initiative was launched for the 18th time on 4 September. It formally concludes with the international Walk to School Day on Wednesday, 2 October. It is based on a foreign model, www.iwalktoschool.org.

The aim of the project is to encourage children to adopt an active mode of travel to and from school and to increase their skills to travel safely in traffic; walking, cycling or using another active mode of transport to and from school, encouraging increased physical activity and educating children about the benefits of regular exercise.

Encouragement to live a healthy lifestyle

The annual “Walk to School' campaign aims to encourage a healthy lifestyle for the whole family, as physical activity helps to combat lifestyle-related diseases, promotes stress relief and improves self-esteem. The aim is also to increase children's ability to walk to school safely and to teach them rules for walking and cycling safely. Furthermore, the aim is to reduce traffic near schools and contribute to better, cleaner air, as well as safer and more peaceful streets and neighbourhoods. At the same time, it promotes awareness of travel methods and environmental issues: how 'walkable' the environment is and where improvements are needed.

Millions walk all over the world

Every year, millions of children in over 40 countries across the world take part in Walk to School in one way or another. Here in Iceland, participation has grown steadily; the first year, 26 schools took part, but a total of 84 schools had registered for the event in 2023. There are now 63 schools on the campaign's website, but this number will no doubt increase in the coming days.

The 'Walk to School' initiative was launched at Brekkuskóli in Akureyri this year. Ragnhildur Skúladóttir, Director of the Education and Mass Sports Department of the ISI, gave a short speech but the Icelandic Sports and Olympic Association, the Ministry of Education and Children's Affairs, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, the National Commissioner of Police, The Accident Prevention Association Landsbjörg, the Transport Authority and the National Association Home and School are behind the project in Iceland.

• Here Schools can register to play.

Yes, we are proud of the children who take the opportunity and walk whenever possible!