The Healthier Kids programme (formerly known as Healthy Kids Programme) is a global programme that reflects Nestlé’s commitment to fostering healthy living habits among our young ones through a community-based approach. It is an unbranded programme involving multi-stakeholder partnerships and is already being implemented in more than 80 countries.
In Mauritius, the key partners are the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology and the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE). The MIE has been leading the development of educational resources and activities since the start of the programme in 2015. From Grade 2 in 34 Primary Schools in 2016, the programme has been expanded to reach out to Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5 in all Government and Roman Catholic Aided primary schools in Mauritius since 2019.
Scaling up of Healthier Kids Programme: 2016 to date
Locally, the programme has been conceptualised as a school-based educational programme to promote sustainable lifestyle choices for a healthier nation and planet. The scope of the programme has broadened since 2022. Thus, in addition to the focus on nutrition and physical activity, the programme now also includes elements of sustainability, more specifically solid waste management through the ‘RE’ component that includes Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
The programme involves the development and use/implementation of relevant resources/activities for Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5 pupils, their parents, and the Holistic Education primary school teachers/educators on selected concepts addressed in Grades 2, 3, 4 & 5 of the Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum as well as the curriculum for The Arts and Values & Citizenship Education (VACE). This programme is in no way an ‘add-on’ to the work of teachers and pupils. In fact, it facilitates the teaching and consolidation of selected concepts/topics in the Holistic Education Programme of the primary school curriculum through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach.