Empower a Girl: For Self-Reliance

An healthy child: a key factor to quality education

Children and young people who receive a good quality education are more likely to be healthy, and those who are healthy are better able to learn.

Globally, according to the research conducted by a team of Kole Intellectual Forum, it revealed that: learners face a range of challenges that stand in the way of their education, their schooling and their futures. A few of these are related to their health and well-being. Estimates show that some 1 in 3 learners face physical violence in school and 73 million children live in extreme poverty, food insecurity and hunger. Pregnancy related complications are among the leading cause of death among girls aged 15-19, and the study has also further communicated that, lack of physical activities have also contributed to poor performance in schools.

UNESCO who works to promote the physical, mental health and well-being of all learners in and through their education by reducing health-related barriers to learning, such as gender inequality, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), early and unintended pregnancy, violence and discrimination, and malnutrition on the other hand has this to say that:

The link between education to health and well-being is clear and is that, education develops the skills, values and attitudes that enable learners to lead healthy and fulfilled lives, make informed decisions, and engage in positive relationships with everyone around them. Poor health can have a detrimental effect on school attendance and academic performance. Health-promoting schools that are safe and inclusive for all children and young people are essential for learning.

Kole Intellectual Forum has a number of contributions to according to the details they've towards health matters with physical exercises as part of their strategies to deal with health condition of their students.

Storytelling to boost student’s mindset

During leisure time, instead making the students to remain idle: Kole Intellectuals Forum has designed a format that encourages their students to be utilizing their leisure moment for storytelling, whereby they engage in telling narratives (reading, watching compelling shows) or creating one's own (writing, oral traditions), in deed this has been important to the students of KIFA because of several reasons, that includes:  

• Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being: Immersing oneself in a story provides a mental escape from daily anxieties and worries, which significantly reduces stress and promotes relaxation. This "time away" is crucial for recharging mental and physical energy, leading to better overall mental health.
• Cognitive Development: Engaging with storytelling activities, such as recreational reading, improves concentration, memory retention, and focus. It keeps the mind active and engaged, and exposure to new ideas and complex narratives can stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Fostering Empathy and Social Skills: Stepping into the lives of diverse characters through stories allows individuals to gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives and experiences, which cultivates empathy and improves social and communication skills in real life.
• Personal Growth and Self-Discovery: Storytelling is a fundamental human way of making meaning out of lived experiences. Utilizing leisure to engage in this process (e.g., through journaling or creative writing) helps individuals develop a sense of self, build resilience, and create alternative, more positive narratives of their own identity, especially when dealing with challenging experiences.
• Enhanced Communication Skills: Regular engagement with well-structured narratives improves one's writing style, vocabulary, and overall clarity of communication. For those actively creating stories, it provides a fun and engaging way to practice speaking and writing skills.
• Stimulating Imagination: Storytelling, in its various forms, stimulates imagination, which is an enjoyable activity for all ages and helps people to think outside the box.