COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It is a shocking statistic: nearly one third of the developed world's children are currently overweight or obese.

In response, schools around the world are participating in a new health initiative, designed to get kids up and moving.

"As soon as I got home from school, I would put away my backpack and then go to the couch and play video games," a 4th grader at Pioneer Elementary School said.

Activities that many kids across the nation, and around the world, do too much of.

Which is why the Global Children's Challenge was started, to get kids interested in exercise.

"It is set up on a website, and each student gets their own pedometer and a booklet so they can chart their steps," Jacob Bell, a teacher at Pioneer, said. "Then we enter these steps, and we compete with schools all over the world."

Some of the countries include India, Australia and China.

The more steps the students take, at home and in school, the faster they complete their virtual tour of the world.

Their recommended goal each day: 15,000 steps.

As they travel the world, they are also on an educational journey, learning about new people and new places.

"The things we usually highlight are the currencies, because it is interesting for the kids to see different types of money, and then there is usually a paragraph that goes with the location," Bell said.

This year around 4,000 schools are participating in the challenge, and Bell said currently Pioneer Is in 42nd place.

"We have been trying to incorporate movement into all the curriculum we do, instead of just skill and drill all day long," Bell said.

Overall the students said they have had a lot of fun with the challenge and have come up with some fun ways to earn their steps.

"Sometime I walk to the park, and I ride my bike a lot more," a 4th grade student at Pioneer said.

The Children's Global Challenge does not cost schools a penny.

It is all funded by a private company.

If you would like to visit the program's website click here.