AISA’s Wellbeing for All vision is:
To promote and foster the implementation of evidenced-informed child protection, SEL, and DEIJ strategies in member schools that ensure that teachers, students and their school communities feel safe, supported and able to flourish.
The growing prevalence and severity of mental health difficulties experienced by both educators and students in our international schools is an issue of significant concern for AISA. AISA is increasingly aware of the need to mitigate and redress the high levels of psychological distress experienced by substantial numbers in our community.
AISA’s Wellbeing for All programme is designed to help educators, school leaders and co-professionals develop teaching and learning environments and practices that better support student mental wellbeing. It also addresses educator wellbeing by encouraging educators, school leaders and co-professionals to develop a greater awareness of and ability to manage stress and promote their own wellbeing. Wellbeing for ALL is AISA’s umbrella programme for everything we do to advance the safety and wellbeing of school communities.
AISA is grateful to the Wellbeing for ALL Design Team which supports the design, implementation, and monitoring of this strategic initiative. The members of the Team are:
Our Wellbeing For All programme is a key strategic priority for AISA, which is why we are committed to offering world-class professional learning; the aim of which is to equip your school to implement initiatives that foster the mental health and wellbeing of your entire school community.
AISA has partnered with the Truman Group who provide consultation groups for two key school roles, the Head of School and School Counsellors. Though the focus of these groups is different, both provide a safe space for peers to connect, support one another and develop knowledge and skills in these vital leadership roles.
These groups are now fully subscribed, but if you would like to go on a waitlist, contact chanel@aisa.or.ke
The AISA-NESLI Online Staff Wellbeing Toolkit is a self-paced, low-cost programme for schools that enables educators, school leaders and co-professionals to take a proactive approach to their own wellbeing, as well as supporting the wellbeing of their school community. With over 85% of AISA participants responding that they would recommend this programme to their colleagues, why not offer this to your most valuable asset, your staff?
Click here to find out more about the AISA-NESLI Staff Wellbeing Toolkit
Our professional learning programme provides educators, school leaders and co-professionals with opportunities to build their knowledge, skills, and resources to implement programmes and initiatives that support the wellbeing of their students.
AISA’s virtual workshops are a cost-free and convenient way for members to hear from leading experts from around the world and within our own community.
See AISA's Learning events
As educators, we know that relationships are at the heart of good teaching and learning. This is why AISA continues to develop ways that we, as life-long learners, can connect and learn together in ways that are fun and engaging. Here are some opportunities for you to connect and learn:
A Practice Group is a group of people who share a passion for a topic, and connect regularly to share information and support each other in their practice. AISA Practice Groups educate by sharing information and best practices through peer-to-peer learning and provide support through relationship building and collaboration. Practice Groups are organised around a number of key AISA programme areas that also promote culturally responsive practice and equity through a shared learning framework that leads to sustainable, systemic change.
This year AISA will be offering Wellbeing for All Practice Groups in the areas of:
Each group will meet monthly for 1 hour with the group setting clear learning goals and objectives and shared expectations for how the Practice Group will function.
Click here to join an AISA Practice Group.
AISA is starting a Book Club that will focus on books that have a Wellbeing for All theme. The purpose of the book club is to provide another space for our community to connect and learn about issues that matter to us. We hope this will be a fun way to stretch our learning by engaging with each other in conversation…and hopefully a few laughs. Even if you can’t read the book, you are most welcome to join.
Click here to find out more about the AISA Book Club
AISA has various online discussion groups for Child Protection, Counsellors, and Wellbeing Leaders that connect, problem-solve, and share resources. Click the below button to join.
Or, to find out more about any of these opportunities, contact Chanel at chanel@aisa.or.ke
JOIN AISA's WELLBEING DISCUSSION FORUM
AISA has a substantial range of wellbeing resources curated from some of the most respected experts in the field. These resources are easily searchable and downloadable to all AISA member schools’ leaders, educators, programme coordinators, and co-professionals responsible for their school’s wellbeing programme.
Browse our Health and Wellbeing Resources
Unfortunately, events occur within the locale of our schools that are outside of the schools’ control, but which can adversely affect our school communities. Traumatic events that may impact AISA schools can include terrorist attacks, coup d’etat, civil unrest, war, communicable disease outbreak, or natural disaster.
These events can cause significant disruption to a school’s operations which can have adverse consequences for the mental health and wellbeing of staff and the entire school community.
AISA can support schools through this time by offering assistance in the form of funds to have trained counsellors from the region travel to the school to provide direct services to children, staff, and parents. Additionally, AISA’s professional development program will include training on issues such as security, traumatic incident planning, and trauma recovery to equip schools in their planning for such an eventuality.
To find out how your school can access support via the AISA Traumatic Incident Fund, contact AISA’s Child Protection and Wellbeing Programme Manager, Chanel Worsteling, at chanel@aisa.or.ke
AISA is excited to have The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), leading experts in the area of SEL, join our professional learning programme this year.
National Excellence in School Leadership Institute (NESLI)
AISA is working closely with NESLI to provide high-quality professional learning opportunities for leadership teams working in AISA schools. The programmes provide school leaders with the skills, knowledge, frameworks, and confidence to thrive in the complex leadership challenges they face in today’s school environment. NESLI’s professional learning programmes also enable school leaders to benefit from rigorous and evidence-based research.
The Truman Group has come on board to support the wellbeing and professional growth of AISA school heads, counsellors and child protection coordinators through online psychological counselling. The certified and highly experienced consultants at the Truman Group provide counselling on a broad range of issues, including anxiety and depression, trauma, grief and loss, maintaining sobriety, relationship issues, life transitions, and anger and stress management. In addition, the Truman Group also has clinicians on staff who specialize in working with adolescents and children.
International School Counselor Association (ISCA)
The International School Counseling Association provides leadership and advocacy for the profession of school counselling in international schools. ISCA provide resources, professional development, and a collaborative network benefiting student success in our global community. We are dedicated to meeting the unique needs of international school counsellors working at international schools.
AISA Learning Partners are trusted consultants who are world class leaders in their areas of expertise. Listed on our website are consultants that we, or our member schools, would recommend to support your school improvement plans.
See all AISA Learning Partners
The Association of International Schools in Africa is dedicated to serving its members throughout Africa during this challenging time. Please let us know if you require additional or specific information, resources and or support, and we will endeavour to assist you as soon as possible.