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11/12/2009

23 – 27 November marked the 3rd Healthy Learning District Progress Workshop at Lysak conference facility in Machakos District. This workshop was a unique combination of ICT training and the Healthy Learning activities. A total of 35 participants attended the workshop: 24 officers from 8 districts and 9 officials from VVOB and Ministry of Education.
The workshop week was divided into two key parts, each with a 2-day programme. Focus areas were in ICT training, Machakos school visits, progress reports from the districts and planning for the year 2010.

Progress

All districts have reported remarkable progress in the implementation of the Healthy Learning projects in their model schools. The success of the projects is due to the combined efforts between the teachers, parents, pupils and the surrounding communities.

“Parents have owned this project. They help us dig, plant and weed our gardens,” says the Deputy Headmaster of Kyambuko Primary School.

All the districts have cited drought and water shortages as a persistent challenge this year. To fight this, the schools have put in place water harvesting techniques like storage tanks and gutters. Future plans for the coming year will include starting small scale irrigation systems in the school gardens. Some schools have also diversified projects to poultry keeping as a result of this challenge.

The future of Healthy Learning programmes in schools is bright. Already, Ngenia Primary School in Laikipia East District has seen the results of this programme.

“Our school was voted the best 4K club in the district,” comments the Headteacher of Ngenia Primary School.

Some schools have also harvested and sold products from their school enterprises. The proceeds have been used to sustain the activities and to buy food for the pupils.

About the programme

Healthy Learning is a joint programme between the Ministry of Education, the Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance (VVOB) and the World Agroforestry Centre. It aims at intergrating learning about food, nutrition, health and the environment into primary education in Kenya and is active at the national level as well as in 30 primary schools in 8 arid and semi-arid districts.