About 230 teachers from schools across Viti Levu are expected to receive training this year through the Kimaya Brighter Minds program, with around 3,000 students set to benefit from the initiative.
Experts from India, where the Brighter Minds program originated in 2014, will conduct the training aimed at enhancing students' concentration, memory, confidence and overall cognitive development.
Speaking at the second annual Kimaya Brighter Minds Charity Golf Tournament at the Natadola Bay International Golf Course, Kimaya Brighter Minds Trust Chairman Damend Gounder says the initiative aims to equip children with tools and methods to improve cognitive functioning, build confidence and achieve personal excellence.
He says the Trust's support has extended beyond teacher training to assisting boarding students through the provision of essential supplies.
Meanwhile, Vaturu District School Headteacher Anaseini Qeleca says students at the school have shown greater confidence, improved concentration and increased participation in class since becoming part of the Brighter Minds program.
Qeleca says the school had been looking for ways to help students become more focused, confident and engaged in their learning when it was introduced to the program.
She says teachers underwent training through the Kimaya Brighter Minds Trust and were equipped with techniques and tools aimed at improving students' concentration, memory, confidence and emotional wellbeing.
Qeleca says the school has since seen improvements in classroom participation, better focus during lessons and noticeable progress in students' learning.
She says students have become more attentive and motivated learners, adding that the program stands out because it focuses not only on academic performance but also on developing important life skills.
Qeleca also acknowledges the support provided to the school's boarding facility, which caters for students travelling from remote communities located 30 to 40 kilometres away.
She says maintaining the boarding facility is often challenging due to limited resources, but donations of beds and food rations through the Kimaya Brighter Minds Trust have improved the wellbeing and comfort of students who call the facility their home away from home.
