VVOB Board of Directors visit to Healthy Learning Schools

VVOB Director General is welcomed to Olasiti Primary School in style

A team of six from the VVOB board of directors visited two Healthy Learning schools on 7th March in Narok North district. This was part of a week-long visit to Kenya between 4th and 11th March 2012 aimed at familiarizing the team with the Kenya programs of Healthy Learning and ICT Integration in Education. 

Welcoming the board members to his education area, during a courtesy call to his office, the District Education Officer Mr. Saoinah Ole Kuyo thanked VVOB for the support accorded to his district and highlighted milestones achieved since the start of the programme in 2008.
“Healthy Learning has contributed towards increased enrolment in the 5 schools implementing the programme. School gardens, rain water harvesting and sanitation projects have improved the health and nutrition status of pupils hence reducing the absenteeism in the schools due to illnesses” noted Mr. Ole Kuyo.

During the day long visit, the board members interacted with teachers, parents and pupils of Nturumeti Primary School in the morning and of Olasiti Primary School in the afternoon. Both schools displayed some of the projects implemented as part of Healthy Learning.  They held discussions with the school community on progress made and challenges experienced.

At Olasiti Primary School, the team observed the pupils having their school lunch consisting of maize and beans with some little salt and cooking oil added to improve the taste. With produce from the school’s Healthy Learning Kitchen garden, the pupils occasionally get a more nutritious meal enriched with vegetables.

Pupils from Olasiti Primary School later on entertained the guests with a Maasai folk song and a short play.

Offering a vote of thanks to the Olasiti community on behalf of the delegation, Mr.  Jef Tavernier, a former minister, thanked the entire school community especially the pupils for the wonderful work that had been witnessed during this visit and urged them to continue working hard.

Other members of this delegation included Mr. Bart Dewaele - Director General VVOB; Mr. Toon Martens -Director General Catholic High School representing the Flemish Council for Higher Education;  Ms Ulla Werbrouck – Member of Parliament Flemish Government;  Ms Heidi Vanderpoorten - officer in the Flemish Government in charge of Equal Opportunities and Mr. Luc Lathouwers -  officer in the Flemish Government Ministry of Administration.

Commenting on the overall mission, VVOB Director General commended the Kenyan team for their commitment, discipline and creativity. He urged the team to keep up the good work and to strengthen the two programmes at all levels.