Event 5: Final Project Meeting
Final Project Meeting
project no. 22510071
Foot care education program for preschool aged children from the V4 countries
Rzeszów, 11–12/02/2026
Partners:
University of Rzeszow University of Presov Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem
REPORT ON EVENT 5:
Final Project Meeting
On February 11-12, 2026, the final project meeting took place at the University of Rzeszów, for the project entitled „Foot care education program for preschool aged children from the V4 countries”, funded by the International Visegrad Fund. The aim of the meeting was to exchange experiences related to the implementation of educational activities, present the results of tasks completed by representatives of all partners, identify good practices and areas requiring improvement, and strengthen partnership cooperation. The meeting was attended by project members from the partner countries - Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic - as well as invited guests, including the regional consultant in physiotherapy for the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Wojciech Rusek. PhD; the director of Public Preschool No. 40 in Rzeszów, Dominika Cwynar-Broszkiewicz, MSc; and the deputy director of Public Preschool No. 40 in Rzeszów, Stanisława Piekło MSc.
Day 1: (University of Rzeszów, Building G4, Room 125) – Partner briefing
The meeting was inaugurated by the project manager, Ewa Puszczałowska-Lizis, Ass. Professor, representing the University of Rzeszów, who warmly welcomed all participants. Next, the results of the educational activities carried out in each of the partner countries were presented. Experiences and good practices were shared, the methods and educational tools used were discussed, and participants exchanged insights and challenges encountered. The meeting concluded with a group discussion.
Day 2 (University of Rzeszów, Building A0, Room 156) – Public meeting public in a hybrid form
At the opening of the meeting, the project manager, Ewa Puszczałowska-Lizis, Ass. Professor, representing the University of Rzeszów, addressed the audience, welcoming the guests and participants. Next, the project partners’ representatives provided a summary of the educational activities carried out in each of the partner countries, aimed at children, parents/guardians, and teachers. During the concluding discussion, the possibilities for implementing the recommendations were reviewed. Participants exchanged views on potential modifications and improvements to the educational program, as well as on developing a unified concept for continuing the activities after the project’s completion. The meeting also addressed possibilities for using the acquired information and experiences in the future, developing a nationwide foot health program dedicated to preschool children, and establishing cooperation with the National Health Fund and institutions responsible for healthcare to provide additional financial support for preventive activities among children.
During the meeting, the directions of the international scientific research constituting the next stage of the project were established. The research will focus on the diagnosis of foot conditions in preschool-aged children, the analysis of implemented preventive measures, and the evaluation of the effects of early health education carried out in the countries of the Visegrád Group. The aim of the research will be to develop common standards for preventive procedures, to compare results among the member states, and to formulate recommendations supporting effective health education and preventive actions in the preschool environment. The research carried out within the project will include a comprehensive analysis of foot structure in children aged 3-6 years, the identification of the most common developmental abnormalities, and an assessment of the appropriateness of footwear selection in relation to children’s developmental needs in the countries of the Visegrád Group. An important component of the research will also be the assessment of the level of knowledge among parents and preschool teachers regarding the prevention of foot defects, the early identification of abnormalities, and the principles of supporting the development of the musculoskeletal system. The results obtained will serve as a basis for developing preventive recommendations and educational tools supporting health-promoting activities in the preschool setting, as well as for a comparative analysis of outcomes in the countries of the Visegrád Group. Given that the project envisages the implementation of a unified, evidence-based educational program adapted to the cultural contexts and educational systems of the V4 member states, an important direction of the research will also be the evaluation of the program’s effectiveness through comparative international analyses, the exchange of good practices, and the development of recommendations for public health policy and preschool education in the countries of the Visegrád Group.
The project is co-financed by the Governments of the Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
More Information
Financing organization:
International Visegrad Fund
www.visegradfund.org
