Requirements of physical activity (pa). thus, more emphasis needs to be placed on primary prevention strategies, such as incorporating health promotion interventions within established educational and workplace structures. primary schools present unique opportunities for holistic prevention interventions. methods using an ecosystem approach, an interprofessional team of pa researchers, public health specialists and digital innovators, together with partners from the ministry of education and ministry of health in sa, was set up to map and tackle the role of physical education (pe) in the sa school system. experts identified actionable changes at the school, teacher and policy levels. first, a comprehensive health intervention was devel- oped and implemented in primary schools in low resourced settings in the eastern cape of sa. the intervention was followed to learn and adapt. finally, changes in the educational system will be scaled-up and sustained through governmental institutionalization. results in 1994 pe lost its stand-alone subject status and became part of life orientation. ever since, non-specialist teachers lack the confidence and understanding to adequately teach the subject. the interdisciplinary team developed ‘the kazibantu model (healthy schools for healthy communities)’, to promote pa and healthy lifestyles in public primary schools through two complementary programs: kazikidz, a pe toolkit for school- children, and kazihealth, a workplace health intervention program for teachers. furthermore, short learning programs have been developed for continued professional development of life orientation teachers, thereby introducing lasting changes within the educational system. discussion/conclusion pe and health literacy are oftentimes neglected in the sa curriculum, especially in marginalized areas. system-wide changes initiated and sustained through local ownership are and