Education Program Update: Another Term at the Kanzi Academy

Jambo! Happy New Year from Kanzi Academy! Everyone returned to school revived and refreshed after the Christmas break, ready to begin 2015 in earnest.

It has been a wonderful half term. The children began their year with a trip to a local shamba (farm) here on Kuku Group Ranch. They learned how crops grow, investigated the requirements of seasonal planting, and even did some basket weaving!

Class 1 hard at work

All the students continue to progress well with their academic studies. However, Kanzi Academy is focused on more than just academic success. We emphasize the importance of effort both inside and outside the classroom. We also connect to the environment around us and reflect on our need of it. This, in turn, prompts much discussion and learning.

Class 3 concentrates on their art project

Teamwork is an important ethic of the Academy as well. As such, the students of Class 3 have continued to develop team building skills, reflective practice, and peer-to-peer support. They have also been researching and learning about Gandhi, an inspirational and interesting leader who spread the message of peace. We will continue this unit after our mid-term break.

All students enjoying their surrounding environment in PE

Class 1 are settling into a more formal style of learning and are demonstrating greater responsibility for their own learning needs. Teachers do not think for the students here at Kanzi Academy; instead we encourage all the children to be free thinkers. As adults, our job is to guide and direct. The results are often organic and overwhelmingly creative. When children are involved in their own learning, we get very excited!

From all of us here at Academy, we say "kwaheri" (goodbye) and look forward to updating you again soon.
- Sarah and the Kanzi Academy Team

A fantastic photo of Head Teacher, Sarah, with Class 1 and Class 3!

Education Program Update - End of Term One at Kanzi Academy

Term One has ended at Kanzi Academy, and with it a successful season of learning and discovery.  As the welcome rains of November transformed the savannah from dusty yellow to lush green, the students enjoyed trekking in the Chyulu Hills and exploring the great outdoors.  The Kanzi teachers recognize the exceptional opportunities afforded to a school in the bush and incorporate nature into their lesson plans, building a learning environment that utilizes both the classroom and the world outside.  Experiential learning is key at the Academy, where students strive to understand their role in the community as well as their relationship with the environment.

Class One lines up for a hike in the Chyulu Hills.

 
In the second half of the term, Class 3 explored the theme of "leadership" in spiritual education class, addressing such probing questions as "What makes a good leader?"  Responsibility, trust, connection, tolerance, and empathy were all discussed in detail through debates and moments of reflection.  The facets of leadership were also demonstrated in fun, practical activities such as the "banana operation."

The students continued to benefit from advanced technology in the classroom, utilizing both laptops and a state-of-the-art SMART Board.  These tools enhance the learning experience and prepare students to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
 

Class Three hard at work on their laptops

Kanzi Academy students use interactive technology to complement their lessons.

  
The students enjoyed a musical treat when violinist Barbara Stoddard performed a private concert at the Academy.  The children learned about the parts of a violin, the bow, and the tuning process and also listened to different styles of music.  Meanwhile, in art class, the students had a great time making bracelets and "Kanzi Bears."
 

Students made "Kanzi Bears" as a craft project.

   
At the end of the term, the students got into the Christmas spirit by decorating the Christmas tree at Campi ya Kanzi's Tembo House.  The savannah-themed tree is decked with lions, zebras, giraffes, gourds, and small African dolls.  As the students and teachers head home for the holidays, they wish a joyous season of celebration to all!
 

Merry Christmas from Kanzi Academy!

Education Program Update - the Kanzi Academy is Back!

The Kanzi Academy opened its doors last week for the new school year 2014/2015!

We have the absolute joy of welcoming all children and staff back to school, nestled in the savannah in between the Chyulu Hills and Kilimanjaro!

Class 1 & 3 ready for the new year! 

As usual, we combine traditional teaching using both the UK and International Curriculum to offer the children a broad-based, holistic learning experience. This teaching, when combined with the richness of the environment, provides not only a feast for all the senses, but enables the children to learn experientially and explore their culture, their roots; their lore.

We aim to educate the children as much about the conservancy on which they live, as well as giving them a sense of 'bigger picture'. To be caretakers of our planet is a fundamental message for future living, survival and the integrity of our 'right' to be here.

Already this week, not only have we had some truly wonderful classroom experiences, where the children have shown much responsibility for their own learning alongside a solid work ethic... but we have been out in the wilderness to explore some very unique experiences indeed.

We had the opportunity to visit CCRC, where the rescued 2 week old Lesser Kudu was being loved and cared for. The children had the opportunity to learn its Maasai name feed it, and ask many questions about its future!

Enjoying feeding the lesser kudu!

We have also been lion tracking! With the help of the Conservation Team, we were able to borrow telemetry equipment that enabled us to track and locate Namunyak. She was relaxed and calm and truly a beautiful vision as she lay quietly on the lava, camouflaged by the surrounding bush.

Students of Class 3 eagerly keeping their eyes out for Namunyak!

Inside the school, we have transformed one of our rooms into a dedicated art room. This will be the centre of much creativity and imagination. As always, we will look at different artists, explore different materials and media and 'feel art'. We will also be using different types of music to inspire us... from Tibetan chanting to Bob Marley, as well as burning incense to give us a different, sensual experience to feed our creative energy. We are very grateful for the donation of some spectacular classic art prints to hang on the wall of this new art room.

Enjoying the newly dedicated art room

Finally, we have been fortunate enough to have 4 tablets donated by Google for the children to use right across the learning spectrum. Having such up-to-date technology enables us to app-based programmes to enhance learning!

Innovative learning with the new tablets

Stay tuned for more updates soon!

Karibu tena

Education Program Update - Another Term at Kanzi Academy

Jambo! And so another half term comes to an end at the Kanzi Academy. All of the children have finished their final exams and have done well as expected. This has left a number of school jobs and fun to be had!

We enjoyed a bush walk earlier this week, which saw us walk some distance to where we capture all of our rainwater here at Campi ya Kanzi. It was very interesting for the children to see where the water collection begins, and then follow the path down to the "bladders" which store all of the water. Practically identifying with where our water comes from and reliance on the rain, as well as understand how and where it is stored, is vitally important. We cannot simply leave raps running here at school or Camp - every drop of water is precious.

Viewing the water catchment from afar! 

We also made traditional "shakers". It is a wonderful, cultural experience for the children to know how to utilize what is around them in order to make something worthwhile and fun. As ever, during life at KA, it is not just about the "end result", but the process we go through when doing things. Both the bush walk and shaker-making prompted the use of new skills, new vocabulary, and heightened awareness. We worked as a team and looking out for, and after each other - very valuable life-skills I'm sure you'd agree!

Students making "shakers"

So, as the end of the week is upon us, the children head home and so do we, the staff team. We return to school in three weeks to begin the third and final term of this school year! Time sure does fly! Karibu tena!

- Head Teacher, Sarah

Head Teacher, Sarah, with Class 2

Education Program Update - Kanzi Academy is Back!

Welcome back to the second half term 2 at the Kanzi Academy!

We have all returned in good spirits and full of joy - ready to learn, have fun, and contribute to our immediate environment, and learn ways of living that will affect and improve the future of our planet.

Here at Kanzi Academy the fundamental teaching is incredibly important. Every child should have a firm foundation on which to build his or her educational future. However, here at KA, we beleive that each and every child also has the right to learning with integrity. By that, mean that learning has to be applicable to life, holistic, and purposeful.

As teachers, we need to show the children "the way". We give them tools for learning... but not everyone hits the nail with a hammer the way! Therefore, our "leaders of tomorrow" have to hone their skills and learn that there are many different strategies that can be used to solve any given problem. The delight, as a teacher, is in observing the processes and choices the children use to get there.

This half term is a short one at Kanzi Academy. I do not want to say that this half term is "packed with all the usual learning"... I would rather say it is "packed with all of the unusual learning". Let's be different; let's break the mould!

Stay tuned to the blog for more updates and pictures to follow! Karibu tena!

- Head Teacher Sarah

Education Program - The Kanzi Academy

The Kanzi Academy is a unique school, based in the heart of the Maasai wilderness, supported by the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, and kind donations from visitors to Campi ya Kanzi.

The children here at Kanzi Academy have a unique opportunity. Not only do they learn from an international curriculum; they approach their learning from a multicultural perspective too. Kanzi Academy offers education to gifted talented pupils from the local Maasai community, as well at the children of Luca and Antonella (founders of Campi ya Kanzi).

Intimate and genuine learning environments

It is here at the Academy that the children are actively encouraged to be children. By that, we encourage free-thinkers, critical thinking, and problem solving. Learning is an active state, not one where we just sit, listen, and do. Learning is a partnership between the child, the teacher, and the environment; whether that be a classroom, or in our case, "out there" in the bush!

Protecting and learning about traditional culture

Maasai culture is steeped in history. As such the childrens' roots and and heritage is nurtured and supported accordingly. We like to think of the children as the "leaders of tomorrow". Education across all the standard school subjects is of vital importance. But there is more to it than that - these children learn and play in the heart of an environment that is being protected through the work of MWCT. Already the children know about living amongst the wildlife around us, from the smallest insect, to the Big Five! They are global citizens, and realize that. Having an awareness of the responsibility they have to their immediate bush life and community, combined with a solid education, will ensure that these "leaders of tomorrow" disseminate information to their generation, and generations in years to come.

Innovative and advanced learning opportunities

At the Kanzi Academy we believe that making small, individual changes today, through expanding our knowledge in a holistic way, can lead to a combined effort for bigger changes - namely protecting our environment, our roots and heritage, and our integrity as caretakers of this planet.

Education Program Update - A Busy Week at the Academy!

Jambo from the Kanzi Academy! This week at the Academy has been very busy! In all subjects the students have worked very hard and learned so much. We have started to look at verbs in the past tense, and realized how difficult the English language can be! The student's reading has improved dramatically, with two students now enjoying a good breadth of reading, and not just reading from the reading scheme.

Concentrated students in Class 2

We were full of rainbows this week! In our affirmations, in our conversation, and "in our hearts", as one of the Class 2 students said. So it was obvious to switch from our Big Five theme temporarily, to make a rainbow in Art.

Class 2 with their giant rainbow!

We have been making enquiries about the UK in Geography and had much discussion about Nelson Mandela in History. We have made a very simple timeline for the wall and discussed, whilst looking at pictures, his imprisonment, and then offered our thoughts and opinions of that. It has been truly amazing to witness 6, 7, and 8 year olds' compassion and respect for such a great man.

Timeline of Nelson Mandela

Phillip has done a lovely job with PE this week - introducing the game of rounders! Which is now being played by the students during break and lunch!

In Kiswahili, the children have looked at parts of the body, shapes and clothing. And in Science, they have been observing weather changes, life processes, and animals!

To switch things up slightly, we went on a walk to go see the chickens, rabbits, and horses located at Campi ya Kanzi. We found a Campi ya Kanzi staff member grinding maize by hand to feed the horses We all had a try at grinding, and found it to be quite difficult!

Head Teacher Sarah giving the maize grinding a try!

As you can see, it has been really busy here! Be sure to keep checking for photos and updates from the Academy every week!

Karibu tena - Sarah

Education Program Update - First Week at the Academy

The Kanzi Academy branch of our Education Program had been busy last week with the beginning of a new term! Head Teacher Sarah shares some stories and photos with us!

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Jambo! What a great, busy, and very exciting first week we have had!

Class 2 watching as a helicopter arrives at Campi ya Kanzi

We have begun all our work and topics in earnest and had much fun along the way. Our measuring, volume, and capacity unit has begun in Maths, with the children really getting involved... and getting wet while estimating how many cups of water fill a sufuria, which really cooled us down! We also got to grips practically with fractions, using everything from cutting and sticking, to dissecting apples! We started and finished our handprint lion head too! Class 2 really enjoyed this.

Estimating volume with water!

We also encountered some unplanned experiences this week.. from finding a tortoise in a bush, to watching a helicopter land in our football field! Life here at the Academy and in the bush is always wild and varied, and we like it like that!

Class 2 found a turtle!

We also went on countless nature walks, one which saw us collecting 16 different types of grass! Phillip has started looking at weather in his teaching, so we have enjoyed making weather charts and exercising daily observations of the weather!

Grasses found on a nature walk

And with a view just behind the school of Mount Kilimanjaro, what a completely splendid environment to learn in!

More news, photos, and updates to come next week!

Karibu tena, Sarah!

Education Program Update - New Term at the Kanzi Academy!

The Kanzi Academy is now back in term for the New Year, and Head Teacher Sarah has some creative and innovative thoughts to share with us on the upcoming weeks! Welcome back Kanzi Academy!

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Happy New Year! The holidays are over and we are all back at school ready for lots of teaching, learning, and fun! the children all appear to be happy, keen, and well rested and are looking forward to lots of new things this half term. So, without further ado, let me give you a general breakdown of what we will be doing!

English this half term sees us re-capping nouns, verbs, and adjectives and of course, we will continue to focus on sentence writing and story sequencing. Adding verb tenses (past, present, and future) will be a useful challenge as this will add dimension to the children's writing. Vocabulary building is ongoing, and plays an important part of day-to-day reading and writing. We will be looking at syllables, poetry, and classic fairy tales, such as "The Three Billy Goats Gruff", and "The Little Red Hen". Not only are these stories and absolute must and 'right of passage' in children's literature, they will form the basis for our Spiritual Education - as these stories rely on 'right and wrong' and 'making the right choices'. There will be many questions and 'what ids' so that we can have good debates about the choices and endings of these stories and how we might make them differently by exploring alternative options! In addition, we will be recapping the days of the week, 'weather words' and parts of the body.

In History, we will look at the late Nelson Mandela - Madiba. The children will have the opportunity to research and learn about this iconic man. They will make a time line of major achievements in his life and celebrate him as an African leader. We will also be using one of his quotes: "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world" as a point for debate!

Geography is all about countries, capitals, climates, and culture. We will take three countries (students' choice) to explore. We will look at differences and similarities between the environment we are in and the countries we have chosen, and discuss what it might be like to live there. We'll look at flags, food, and families too! Wow!

Art takes us up close and personal with The BIG FIVE and BIG ART. We will be looking at the Big Five in Kenya; the lion, the leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. We will work collaboratively to creative big, exaggerated animal heads that will be displayed at school. The art emphasis will be on textures, prints, and patterns, so drawing on what we learned and the knowledge we have from last term.

Physical Education, as ever, will see us continue with swimming, horse riding, music/movement, yoga, and meditation. On top of this, Phillip continues his wonderful PE curriculum with outdoor skills, which this term includes hand-ball, volleyball, soccer skills and athletics to name a few.

Math as always is eclectic! We will (and always will) be recapping times tables, mental maths, and basic arithmetic in a broad way. Numbers are not just about sums on a board.. we have to explore problems and problem solving and apply maths to everyday situations. We are going to be looking at 5, 6, and 7 sided shapes as well as 3D shapes. We will take walks to look at where we can find these shapes in our environment as well as making them from different materials.

Phillip takes Class 2 on the scientific journey through comparing living and non-living things, weather symbols, charts and appropriate dress/clothing for such weather, basic needs of both humans and animals with comparisons between each, external parts of the human body and how to maintain its health.

Kiswahili as ever, introduces new and recaps familiar vocabulary, grammar, and spelling strategies. It is interesting in this age group how English and Kiswahili mirror each other a great deal.

Social Studies looks at travelling safely to and from school and the dangers we may encounter along the way (zebra, giraffe...), as well as asking questions such as, "How do we keep ourselves safe?". Phillip will also be introducing the topic of dangerous insects and dangerous/poisonous plants around the school. Something very useful in the Kenyan savannah!

So, from all of us here at Kanzi Academy, Karibu tena, and keeping popping back to check from more weekly updates and photos!

Kindest wishes, Sarah

Education Program Update - End of Term at Kanzi Academy

Jambo from the Kanzi Academy! We have had some rather busy days lately. Last week we spent much time revising in preparation for this weeks' exams, which are now over! All the children have performed well and now look forward to the last two days of term where we shall be doing a bit of communal cleaning before playing lots of games! Weather permitting, we will make sure we get a last minute swim in too!

Head Teacher with Class 2

Last weekend, we went to Tembo House of Campi ya Kanzi to 'help' decorate the Christmas tree. The children are still talking about it now. They really had so much fun. Some of the children had never seen a Christmas tree or shiny lights and decorations before!

Pre Unit and Class 2 with the beautiful tree in Tembo House!

So... from the Kanzi Academy, and a slightly tired Head Teacher, I would, on behalf of the whole team and I, like to wish you all a great Christmas, and more importantly, a very Happy New Year! Watch this space for more updates on learning in the bush in January!

Kindest wishes - Sarah.

Education Program Update - Kanzi Academy

The Head Teacher at the Kanzi Academy has provided us with another informative update from her and her students this past week! Please enjoy!

Jambo from the Kanzi Academy! This week has flown by! The Kanzi Academy has had a wonderful week. Having had even more rain, we have been on lots of walks; observing change in our environment and discussing the "what-ifs" of too much rain, not enough rain, and so on. It is fascinating how "tuned in" the children are to their immediate environment and the importance of the right climate. Their awareness and learning has obviously been helped by their recent practical activities with regard to their planting and growing. There has been much sorrow with regard to the "control" plants, which have been kept in the dark, planted in stones, or deprived of water. Their "passing" has been met with some sad faces!

Student's observing their "shamba" outdoors

One of the biggest and most noticeable changes here at the moment is that everything at Campi ya Kanzi is very green! Being able to describe our environment on lovely walks has made it easy to introduce Class 2 to the world of adjectives; which they are really enjoying. Adjectives are wonderful tools for vocabulary expansion. No longer do I hear "Good morning Sarah, your dress is nice"... I rather hear "Good morning Sarah, you have a beautiful, colourful, blue dress on today!". Their awareness of placing adjectives in sentences has really given their sentence writing a colourful boost!

In Physical Education, the children's confidence in swimming has moved on from a couple of timid souls clinging to the side with a look of terror on their faces, to now being able to make some effort to swim a width with a kick board. In fact, two children are swimming very well, one with no float at all!

We have been out "data gathering" as part of our maths this week. I am introducing the children to recording data in different ways. At this age, it is all about "playing with numbers" and realizing that numbers can be used in different ways to provide us with information. So we are going to put a graph together entitles: "What is your favourite soda". We have walked around Campi ya Kanzi to gather such information which has been fun and informative.

Relaxation has become even more relaxing for the students now that we have our fantastic new yoga mats. Thank you Antonella! I have introduced the children to positive thinking while relazing. I talk to them about their favourite colour,  about making it big and beautiful. Then we make this colour into a sheet and fill it with positivity and things that we love and/or are good; things that we need. Then we "allow the sheet" to float down and cover us. I talk to the children calmly and gently about "noticing their breathing"... and usually end up with one or two asleep! It's a lovely time, and certainly the children are learning to be aware of themselves, their bodies and their minds.

Students with their new yoga mats!

This week we are having a gentleman come to teach the children (and myself) Transcendental Meditation (TM). I will give further updates on the progress of this once we are finished our course.

Feeling very relaxed during relaxation time!

Art this week has been all about rainbows! With our current exposure to rain and sun we have been seeing so many beautiful rainbows, which have then prompted all sorts of discussion from they are formed!

Continents has been our topic in Geography this week and the children have really embraced it! They have really enjoyed noticing how the oceans "join up" and have loved exploring world maps and the glops. With most of the children never having experienced a cold climate, they cannot imagine what snow or ice is like, but this will soon change, as in science they are learning about materials: man made and natural and if they can change or not. This will extend to the making of ice-lollies, so they will be up close and personal with something cold and tasty!

Painting rainbows in Art!

As ever, if you have any question, or would like to know anything further about life at the Kanzi Academy, please feel free to post any questions here!

Karibu tena! Sarah

Education Program Update - Another week at Kanzi Academy!

We love hearing about what the Kanzi Academy is up to - courtesy of Head Teacher Sarah! Read about the latest from the Academy below:

Jambo! Again, another busy week has been had at the Kanzi Academy! This last week, the children have been planting in their shamba (farm). As part of science, they have been looking at what condition best suits germination... so they have had much fun indeed and taken great care of their plants, which have included maize, oranges, passion fruit, potatoes and much more! Luckily, we had more than 72 mm of rain last week, so everything was well watered!

The children have been practicing acrobatics in PE and loving it! They are very skilful and have been demonstrating excellent balancing and co-ordination. They went horse riding as well, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

Classroom acrobatics! 

A few days back I flew to Nairobi to buy our reading scheme books; (Oxford Reading Tree). The children are incredibly excited and already becoming competent, independent readers and writers! To help remember which page the children are on in their book, we made book marks using a mosaic theme. The children found this concept fascinating, so I think we will be exploring this further.

Tatio, our Maasai elder who teachers Maasai Lore has been talking about nature and the environment with Class 2 as well as telling the children the names of the trees, along with their "medicinal" uses for lotions and "potions"! All the children have been completely absorbed in this. A couple of days back the children and I went on a walk; discussing the environment and noticing the changes around us since the rain. As we sat and talked, Stanley picked up some twigs, a seed pod, along with some dry grass and started to create "bush babies". Such creativity from natural things!

We have been talking about Diwali - the Hindu festival of light. So in art we have been colouring Rangoli patterns. Do not always confuse colouring with something boring! Colouring is almost like a meditation - it relaxes the mind. The conservations and questions that transpired as a result of all sitting around a table and working together was quite something!

Rangoli patterns coloured by two students! 

And whilst I mention meditation - we now have new yoga mats, thanks to Antonella, so we can now relax in comfort. In fact, last weeks' relaxation and meditation was so relaxing that two little souls fell asleep!

So to finish off - our favourite affirmation of the week was "I am unique and valuable".

More to follow next week. Karibu tena, Sarah

Education Program Update - Sharing Inspired Stories

Tiffany Franke visited Campi ya Kanzi and the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust on behalf of the United Nations Development Program. During her visit here on Kuku Group Ranch, she was inspired greatly by the efforts of MWCT, its' programs, the staff, and the local Maasai community members.

Tiffany eloquently gives both praise and understanding to the works and efforts of the Trust and Campi ya Kanzi in her video and posts that she has published on her blog. During her stay with us, Tiffany was witness to all of the programs offered through MWCT, but states that she was most impressed and influenced by the actions of our Education Program - more specifically the Kanzi Academy.

Kanzi Academy students on a walk in the Chyulu's with Tiffany

The Kanzi Academy is a very important project that is contained within out MWCT Education Program. Kanzi Academy, a private boarding school run by the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, has chosen the most talented students from Kuku Group Ranch to attend. The Academy commits to exposing these students to educational opportunities that not entirely available to many other children living on the Group Ranch.

The Academy instills in its' students the importance that should be laid on the local culture and its valuable environment it is contained within. As is stated in Tiffany's video provided here, "the Kanzi Academy represents potential being recognized", and that "in order to have a successful community, you need to have good leaders rooted from good education" (quote by Antonella Bonomi).

Tiffany chose to share her story with us, and we are so happy that she did. 

Please follow the link below to hear Tiffany's story and her impressions of MWCT and Kanzi Academy during her time here in the Chyulu Hills:

Video: Accounts from Walking in the Chyulu Hills of Kenya

You can also find blog postings that Tiffany chose to share about the Kanzi Academy students; as well as her thoughts on the Team at MWCT and Campi ya Kanzi.

Education Program Update - Kanzi Academy Weekly

A great update from the "happenings" at Kanzi Academy last week. We love to share what is going on at the school, how the students are progressing, and demonstrate the uniqueness of the Academy. Enjoy!!

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What a wonderful first week we've all had at The Kanzi Academy (KA)! All of the children and staff team have settled in really well, which has meant the creative juices have already started to flow!

I like to adopt a kinesthetic learning approach at KA, as children of a young age do not need to sit at a desk for hours on end... they are children! So when learning about verbs, (and children are built for verbs!) we get up, go out and physically practice and demonstrate them; running, jumping, eating, laughing, clapping, climbing, etc. Also, if the children are struggling with a concept in maths, I will often have them stand up, walk around and think on the area that they are having difficulty with, while moving - it really helps. We also do this in relaxation too. When the children are having their relaxation session, I talk to them about "all the difficulties they might have met during the week melting away..."

Kanzi Academy Class 2 Classroom

This leads me on nicely to our affirmations. The children have been writing their own affirmations, as well as choosing different ones to go on our "affirmations door". Everyday the children engage in positive through and have a sense of "I can do". Being a NLP Practitioner, I am very aware of the power of positive thought and see its' benefits when working with young children who can easily become frustrated because they think they "don't know how to do...", which rapidly becomes an "I can't do...". This is an unacceptable hurdle which we can learn to jump over effortlessly.

Kanzi Academy affirmations door

We have welcomed Tatio this week, our Maasai Elder. He has come to talk to the children about Maasai lore, which they thoroughly enjoy. Culture and roots are every important. Whether yours or someone else's they are often interesting, intriguing, and educational. more than that perhaps, is the awareness of responsibility and sense of belonging they give us; a vital life-lesson. Tatio will be doing some exciting, practical things with the children, such as painting their faces red, dressing them in traditional clothes, and more more. Pictures to come!

Class 2 have begun talking about Martin Luther King Jr.; an important and historic African without a doubt. We have talking about his works:

"I can change the world with my own two hands.

Make a better place with my own two hands.

Make a kinder place with my own two hands."

The importance of hands!

This has prompted much discussion, as Class 2 are VERY inquisitive. It has also led nicely into our spiritual education and the importance of hands: giving, hugging, touch, helping/kindness, etc. We have come to the conclusion that hands are very important, both practically and symbolically!

It has also been a very physical week! The children had a wonderful time practicing their teamwork on Monday with Philip as they learnt about relay races. This was not only great physical exercise, but taught them about timing, anticipating someone else's moves, how they had to rely on each other and work together. Tuesday we began swimming, which was great fun. Some of the children have never been in a swimming pool before; so confidence building is what is is all about right now. However, some of the children are already able to use a float and get to one side of the pool to the other in their own style! Our horse riding on Wednesday had to be postponed as supplies were being delivered to the stables. This however didn't stop us having a nice walk to go and see the baby rabbits! Friday saw us finish with a little yoga and relaxation.

Student's in the school yard

Finally, the children have not just been creative with their minds... they have made "trees of life" for the wall, learnt about the Kenyan flag, made hand pictures to go with our works from Martin Luther Kind, and much more!

"Trees of Life"

The above photos are snapshots of our week. Please feel free to post any questions, comments, or ideas! They are always gratefully received.

Asante, Sarah.

Education Program Update - Fist Half-Term at Kanzi Academy!

We are very happy to annonce that we will be having the Head Teacher at Kanzi Academy - Sarah Morton - contributing to weekly Education Program updates from our Kanzi Academy school, which is located at Campi ya Kanzi! Our Kanzi Academy program is extremely unique, and we are excited to share their lates updates in the coming weeks!

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I have just completed my first half term as the new Kanzi Academy Head Teacher, so this is my first contribution to the blog. Out first half term was full of fun, learning and getting to know each other. As the new head teacher, it is not only my job to ensure that we deliver a first class curriculum, but also to empower the children to find their own work ethic, leadership qualities and of course, being where we are, to work in harmony with environment that we are in.

Kanzi Academy is certainly unique. Not just because of its amazing cultural and environmental richness, but because of the way the children learn and progress.

Every child is an individual. As such, it is vitally important that they are able to express their views, opinions and maintain their identities. this is turn, leads to them being able to maximize their full potential.

We offer a broad-based curriculum, teaching: English, Maths, Kiswahili, Science, Social Studies, Geography, History, the Arts, Spiritual Education, and PE. The curriculum is an amalgamation of the UK's National Curriculum, the Kenyan Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate. This provides the children with a mixed palate of learning opportunities from which to paint their own unique picture.

Education should not just be about "blindly ticking boxes" of achievement. Whilst the children at the Kanzi Academy are academically very capable, education is about a holistic journey. As such, we engage with our environment and play our part as global citizens; partake in trips and walks, express ourselves through art and different art media as well as explore our physical body and spiritual being through general PE, swimming, horse-riding, yoga, relaxation and meditation.

As a result, I believe that the children are fully engaged in their own journeys and the impact that has on their personal identity. They are been and willing learners, aware of their own needs and areas for development. The children show great compassion and awareness for the needs of others and love to think 'outside the box'. Put simply, they are tomorrow's leaders today!

Now that I have explained the ethos of the school, I will be posting a weekly update with a few more details of what we've been up to, perhaps some comments from the children, and of course some photos. Please feel free to make any further enquiries or ask questions!

Asante and Karibu tena, Sarah.