Healthy bodies, healthy minds!

Here in Namunyak, it’s not just our teachers who are committed to the growth of our future leaders – the entire community supports them as they reach many important milestones in their young lives!

One of the ways we ensure the students get everything they need on their journey of learning is by tracking their physical growth. Every three months, our healthcare team visits each of our nomadic Montessori Schools to evaluate every child.

The health evaluation involves measuring their mid-upper arm circumference, their weight and recording their height– on a brand-new stadiometer that was recently donated by a generous benefactor from the US – to see if they’re on track. Nurses Dorcas and Parito also give all the students a good overall health check so that they can learn and play to their heart’s content!

“Often, during school terms, we see many children picking up such a healthy amount of weight!”

Malnourishment is not an uncommon concern in Kenya’s arid north where Namunyak Conservancy is located. With rain seasons becoming increasingly unpredictable, the rangelands, the community and their livestock feel the effects. All our schools provide the children with nutritious porridge to support cognitive development and aid learning and concentration.

With no set meal times, the children can excuse themselves from class and help themselves to a warm cupful whenever they are ready to have lunch. This instils a sense of plenty - which is something that most children in our schools are not familiar with. Even if they choose to have their lunch at the end of the day, there will still be enough porridge for them.

It’s a method that’s making them reach healthy physical milestones, and as Nurse Dorcas says, “Often, during school terms, we see many children picking up such a healthy amount of weight!”

Ashe oleng to Nurses Dorcas and Parito for ensuring the physical wellbeing of our Montessori learners!