Student Well-Being
We understand the challenges of growing up and the process of discovering who you are. We have a multi layer system of support for every child to help them on their personal journey.
Joining the Family
Students have several levels of support in the residences, from student dorm captains who act as their old brother or sister to dorm parents who are members of staff. *this image may be moved to residential life.
We welcome students from many countries, cultures, faiths and socio-economic backgrounds. The AKA Mombasa offers them intellectual, social, spiritual and physical growth in a friendly, structured and ethical environment.
Both Junior and Senior Schools have Vice Principals Student Support Well-being who lead the support teams and oversee the implementation of the Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) curriculum as well working with mentors, homeroom and learning support teachers on strategies to support emotional and social wellbeing.
In Senior School students meet their mentor regularly to discuss learning skills, course selection and other academic aspects of student life. A Head of Year leads the mentors in each grade and provides an additional level of support for students who need further support. The Heads of Year work closely with the Vice Principal Student Support and Wellbeing a trained psychologist who also provides individual counselling for students who need it.
In the residences a faculty member acts as a parent and is responsible for the wellbeing of their dorm sons and daughters and together with the mentor provides the students with support. Residential families are close units and they study, eat and socialise together like any other family. Dorm Captains act as big brother or big sister and also give the younger students another family member to lean on.
One of the Student Representative Council (SRC) members focuses on Wellbeing and engages the student body in activities that relate to this, from sending notes of appreciation to organising friendship benches around campus.
Our Health and Wellness Centre has four nurses on campus, one of whom lives in the residences to support the students 24/7. The nurses liaise with local medical specialists as needed. Transport for medical purposes is always available and students are covered by medical insurance to enable them to access private health facilities.
The campus itself is a safe space for students with a specially trained security team watching out for the students and staff 24/7.
See how we are prioritising student wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
[ COVID PAGE ]
Academy continuously ensures well-being of students
Head of Student Support and Well-being for the Junior School, Nuala Alibhai, and Vice Principal of Student Support and Well-being, Minal Shah.
As students continue to learn from home, the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa continues to prioritise their welfare during this difficult time. Being away from the normal school environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic may prove to be a little challenging for some students, which is something the Academy is keen to address and help get through.
To render support, the Academy’s heads of student support and well-being, Minal Shah and Nuala Alibhai, have been actively reaching out to students and their families by establishing communication between students and their mentors to ensure they’re doing well and keeping safe.
“I think this is the perfect time to think and reflect on the value of well-being,” Minal said. “Well-being isn’t something that can be regarded as a ‘by the way, if you have time’ kind of thing, as it is central to all beings. In our context of education, reaching out to students and their families to ensure they’re well is essential. We cannot focus on why math isn’t being done when we’re not considering how our students are coping with the current pandemic.”
Nuala notes that a time such as this can be overwhelming for both children and parents, and can result in fear and stress. “There has been a disruption of familiar routines and a sudden disengagement from their social circle at school and in the community,” Nuala said. “Navigating these changes can be difficult, so we provide additional emotional and psychological support because children who feel safe and supported are in a better position to learn.”
Fostering a close-knit community
Caption: Former residential parent Anusha (centre) and residential students enjoy relaxing on the grass with friends at weekends.
“Being a residential parent at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa was my favourite thing to do during my time there as an Academy Fellow. Every day was filled with loads of laughter, hugs and smiles from all students aged 10 to 18, regardless if they did not live in my residential block or were not a part of my assigned residential family. There are times throughout the experience where I felt more like an older sister to the students by providing them advice on school-related and non-school-related things, consoling them when they missed home, and just chatting about what was going on in our lives. There is really a strong sense of community throughout the residences that you immediately feel, especially during our Wednesday family dinners. When I am assigned for duty on the weekends, I feel the most connected to the residential students. We spend some time off-campus at the movie theatre, on a hiking trail, or the beach, but also on-campus when I am supervising the pool area or basketball court during our sports hour. I will also forever cherish the intimate moments I had with the residential students, especially laying outside on the grass in front of the residences on the weekends before dinner time with a few students. Overall, the residential programme makes you feel a part of a supportive family whether you’re a student or a residential parent.”
Anusha Lalani, (former) Academy Fellow, AKA Mombasa