How summer activities impact student development

According to a noteworthy study conducted by Danylenko et al. 2021, which involved 1,054 students, 62 per cent of children engaged in educational activities during the summer, 24 per cent participated in business activities, nearly 40 per cent took part in hiking trips and 23 per cent attended a children's health camp.
The type of summer activity chosen influenced the indicators of students' physical development as follows: educational activities were associated with a decrease in body length and left arm strength, whereas business activities, hiking trips and attendance at a health camp were associated with increased weight gain. These findings highlight the developmental impact of summer activities on students.
Recent research has consistently shown significant gaps in students' academic skills, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics. Despite these concerns, the summer break represents a valuable period during which students can recover both physically and mentally from the cumulative fatigue of a full academic year.
Moreover, for many children, it provides opportunities to engage in enriching activities such as attending camps, travelling and visiting educational spaces, such as museums, parks and libraries, either with their families or through participation in structured learning programmes.
In an article published by the Varthana team on May 29, 2023, on varthana.com (What Students Need to Know About Summer Break and Getting Ready for School), the authors outline several ways students can make the most of their summer break:
1. Learn New Skills: Summer offers students a chance to reflect on their goals and develop personal and academic skills. Popular options include learning new languages for future academic and career benefits, as well as improving English proficiency to support learning in other subjects.
2. Access Educational Resources: Teachers can support students by recommending books, videos and educational platforms such as Study.com and National Geographic Kids, which can help students brush up on and enhance their knowledge.
3. Engage in Environmentally Friendly Activities: Summer is ideal for teaching sustainability. Students can participate in eco-friendly initiatives such as beach clean-ups, tree planting, kitchen gardening, conserving water and electricity, reducing plastic use and exploring alternatives.
4. Explore and Learn: Visiting historical sites during the break enhances students' understanding of history by connecting classroom knowledge with real-world experiences and can significantly enrich their learning.
5. Strengthen Family and Social Bonds: With more free time, students can reconnect with parents, grandparents and friends, building strong relationships and learning valuable life lessons from close family members.
In conclusion, the appropriate use of free time in the summer can have a positive effect on children and help them cope with stress after the school year.
Wellness and recreation during the summer help improve and strengthen the physical and psychological health of children and restore their vitality. In addition, organised recreation for schoolchildren during the holidays creates conditions for the development of their creative abilities and helps prevent neglect.
The formation of healthy lifestyle habits among young people should be a primary goal. Active forms of summer recreation and health improvement, such as school and suburban camps, summer language camps and hiking trips, should be further developed.
More attention should be paid to the forms and methods of organising summer vacations for school-age children, updating their content and improving the technologies of medical, psychological and pedagogical support (Danylenko et al. 2021).

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Observer

6 days ago

• Observer

How summer activities impact student development

According to a noteworthy study conducted by Danylenko et al. 2021, which involved 1,054 students, 62 per cent of children engaged in educational activities during the summer, 24 per cent participated in business activities, nearly 40 per cent took part in hiking trips and 23 per cent attended a children's health camp. The type of summer activity chosen influenced the indicators of students' physical development as follows: educational activities were associated with a decrease in body length and left arm strength, whereas business activities, hiking trips and attendance at a health camp were associated with increased weight gain. These findings highlight the developmental impact of summer activities on students. Recent research has consistently shown significant gaps in students' academic skills, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics. Despite these concerns, the summer break represents a valuable period during which students can recover both physically and mentally from the cumulative fatigue of a full academic year. Moreover, for many children, it provides opportunities to engage in enriching activities such as attending camps, travelling and visiting educational spaces, such as museums, parks and libraries, either with their families or through participation in structured learning programmes. In an article published by the Varthana team on May 29, 2023, on (What Students Need to Know About Summer Break and Getting Ready for School), the authors outline several ways students can make the most of their summer break: 1. Learn New Skills: Summer offers students a chance to reflect on their goals and develop personal and academic skills. Popular options include learning new languages for future academic and career benefits, as well as improving English proficiency to support learning in other subjects. 2. Access Educational Resources: Teachers can support students by recommending books, videos and educational platforms such as and National Geographic Kids, which can help students brush up on and enhance their knowledge. 3. Engage in Environmentally Friendly Activities: Summer is ideal for teaching sustainability. Students can participate in eco-friendly initiatives such as beach clean-ups, tree planting, kitchen gardening, conserving water and electricity, reducing plastic use and exploring alternatives. 4. Explore and Learn: Visiting historical sites during the break enhances students' understanding of history by connecting classroom knowledge with real-world experiences and can significantly enrich their learning. 5. Strengthen Family and Social Bonds: With more free time, students can reconnect with parents, grandparents and friends, building strong relationships and learning valuable life lessons from close family members. In conclusion, the appropriate use of free time in the summer can have a positive effect on children and help them cope with stress after the school year. Wellness and recreation during the summer help improve and strengthen the physical and psychological health of children and restore their vitality. In addition, organised recreation for schoolchildren during the holidays creates conditions for the development of their creative abilities and helps prevent neglect. The formation of healthy lifestyle habits among young people should be a primary goal. Active forms of summer recreation and health improvement, such as school and suburban camps, summer language camps and hiking trips, should be further developed. More attention should be paid to the forms and methods of organising summer vacations for school-age children, updating their content and improving the technologies of medical, psychological and pedagogical support (Danylenko et al. 2021).

Times of Oman

15-04-2025

• Times of Oman

Kidneys for cash: Inside a global organ trafficking network

Nairobi: Twenty-two-year-old Amon Kipruto Mely thought that by selling his kidney, he would start a new, better life. Life in a village in western Kenya, had been hard for him after the COVID pandemic. He's been struggling to find a steady income, moving from one job to the next — at a car dealer, a construction site and elsewhere. Then, one day, a friend told him about a quick and easy way to earn $6,000 (€5,300). "He told me selling my kidney would be a good deal," said Amon. It sounded like a stroke of fortune, but it led him into a dark network of exploitation, desperation and regret. This report is the result of a months-long collaborative investigation conducted by German media outlets Der Spiegel, ZDF, and DW, who together traced the paths of organ sellers and buyers, analyzed documents, spoke with whistleblowers and medical professionals, and uncovered how an international network — spanning from a hospital in Kenya to a shadowy agency that attracted organ recipients from Germany — exploited vulnerable people at both ends: The young, desperate for money, and the old, desperate for a life-saving organ. Amon Kipruto Mely was introduced to a middleman who organised transport to Mediheal Hospital in the city of Eldoret, western Kenya. There, Amon says he was received by Indian doctors who handed him documents in English, a language he didn't understand. A syndicate preying on vulnerabilities of the young and poor He was not informed of any health risks, he said. "They did not explain anything to me. The one who had taken me pointed at people around us and said: Look, they all donated, and they are even going back to work." After the operation, he was only paid $4,000 instead of the promised $6,000. From it, he bought a phone and a car that quickly broke down. Soon after, his health worsened. He became dizzy and weak and eventually fainted at home. At the hospital, his mother, Leah Metto, was shocked to learn that her son had sold his kidney. "They are making money through young children like Amon," she said. Amon's story appears to be one of many. Willis Okumu, a Nairobi-based researcher of organized crime at the Institute of Security Studies in Africa, has spoken with several young men who told him they had sold their kidneys in the town of Oyugis, 180 kilometers (112 miles) southwest of Eldoret. "For a fact, this is organized crime," he said. Okumu estimates that up to a hundred young men in Oyugis alone may have sold their kidneys, many of whom suffer from health issues, as well as depression and psychological trauma. "I don't think they're going to reach 60," added Okumu, whose own work on the issue was published in January year on Enact, a project implemented by Interpol. DW spoke to four young men in Oyugis who say they sold their kidneys for as little as $2,000. They recounted how, after their surgery at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret, brokers asked them to recruit new donors for a $400 commission each. Donor turned recruiter: A chain of exploitation "There's a legal gray area that this syndicate is exploiting," Okumu explained. "There's no law that prevents you from actually donating your kidney for money and you cannot be prosecuted for that," he said, referring to information he received from the transnational organized crime unit at the Kenyan police. What is allowed, according to Kenyan law, are organ donations to relatives or for altruistic reasons. Speaking to DW on the condition of anonymity, a former long-time Mediheal Hospital employee revealed that the buying and selling of transplants started many years ago. Initially, recipients came from Somalia and donors from Kenya. But then, in 2022, recipients started to come from Israel and, as of 2024, from Germany. The donors for these well-paying customers are flown in from countries including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan or Pakistan. The source said that donors were asked to sign documents stating they were relatives to recipients they never met and consenting to a kidney removal without being informed about potential health risks while some of them were not even old enough. "Because of the language barrier, they just sign," the former employee said. Shift to a more lucrative market Ever since the switch from Somali recipients to Israelis and Germans, business has been booming, he added, with each recipient paying up to $200,000 for a kidney — a figure corroborated by multiple sources. The former hospital employee told DW that an agency called "MedLead" was in charge of acquiring international donors and recipients. On its website, MedLead claims to provide kidney donations within 30 days that are "according to organ donation law" and that the donors are promised to be "100% altruistic." On its Facebook page there are testimonial videos of people thanking MedLead for its help getting them a new kidney in Eldoret, Kenya. The most recent video on the site shows Sabine Fischer-Kugler, a 57-year-old woman from Gunzenhausen, Germany, who has been suffering from a kidney disease for 40 years. After a first replacement kidney stopped working, she was desperate to find a second one. But the waiting list for a new kidney in Germany is long; it can take eight to ten years. In Germany, only kidneys of deceased people who explicitly agreed to organ donation may be used for transplants, and there are not enough donors for the more than 10,000 people awaiting a kidney. Shortage of organ donations at home fuel desperation to look abroad Sabine Fischer-Kugler only met her donor briefly, she said — a 24-year-old man from Azerbaijan. The contract claimed he was not being paid, though Fischer-Kugler said she paid between $100,000 and $200,000 to MedLead. "Maybe I'm a bit selfish because I wanted this kidney, and most importantly, the contract looked all right. But it's clear. The operation isn't as clean as it looks." Under German law, paying for an organ is illegal, and offenders can face up to five years in prison. The man behind MedLead is an Israeli citizen called Robert Shpolanski who, according to a 2016 indictment by the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court, has been accused of having performed "a large number of illegal kidney transplants" in Sri Lanka, Turkey, the Philippines and Thailand, together with a man called Boris Wolfman who allegedly headed the ciriminal network. Wolfman was accused of already having been involved in illegal transplantation activities elsewhere. 'It's a little fishy. You're not supposed to pay but you pay' Shpolanski denies any connection with Wolfman. In an email to Der Spiegel, ZDF and DW, MedLead stated that it has no involvement in locating donors, that all donors are 100% altruistic and that MedLead has been operating transparently and in full compliance with the law since its foundation. The investigative team went undercover in Eka Hotel in Eldoret, just a kilometer from Mediheal Hospital, to speak with foreign patients awaiting transplants. Some are visibly frail, traveling with family members. One Russian woman, who was waiting for kidney surgery for her husband, said, "Nobody gives their kidney for free." A 72-year-old Israeli man undergoing dialysis at Mediheal hospital said, "It's a little fishy. You're not supposed to pay but you pay. The story is that it's an old cousin of mine that somehow came to be in East Africa at the same time as me." At his age he would have no chance of receiving a kidney in Israel, he said. Back in Nairobi, Dr. Jonathan Wala, head of the Kenya Renal Association, has treated several patients who returned with post-surgical complications. "We have reports of Israeli patients who come back with severe infections, some with kidneys that have basically died." His colleagues rang the alarm to Kenyan authorities about unethical transplants taking place at Mediheal Hospital. Multi-million dollar business protected from 'the top' In 2023, Kenya's health ministry commissioned an investigation into Mediheal Hospital and found that donors and recipients were often not related. Some high-risk transplants were conducted, such as on cancer patients or the extremely elderly. Almost all procedures were paid in cash. The report recommended that "the allegation of organ trafficking must be investigated by relevant authorities." Despite these alarming findings, the report was never made public, and no action was taken. A local private investigator in Eldoret, who has tracked the illegal transplant trade, said at least two other hospitals are also involved. But, he said, if he investigated these cases, "my life would be in danger." "There are very powerful people who may be involved." Does it go up to the top of government? "Yeah." The founder and chairman of the Mediheal Group is Swarup Mishra. The Indian native is a former MP and is said to have good relations with Kenyan President William Ruto. Despite persistent organ trafficking accusations, the president appointed him chairman of the state-owned Kenya BioVax Vaccine Institute last November, a role that allows Mishra to represent Kenya as a contact person for the World Health Organization and foreign government officials. Mishra did not respond to repeated interview requests and left a list of questions unanswered.

Observer

23-03-2025

• Observer

BALANCING HOME, WORK AND WELL-BEING

For many working women, Ramadhan brings added responsibilities, requiring efficient time management to balance work, home and social commitments while maintaining personal well-being. Experts emphasise that while women often prioritise their families, self-care is equally essential. Dr Saleha al Jadidi, Consultant Psychiatrist, highlights that the demands of fasting, household chores and spiritual obligations can lead to fatigue, mood swings and stress. She advises women to delegate tasks, hydrate properly and maintain a balanced diet to sustain their physical and emotional health. Dr Sara Ahmed, an English lecturer, underscores the importance of time management in ensuring 'me time'. She suggests planning Iftar meals in advance, organising household tasks and setting aside moments for self-care. Psychologist Sabah al Azri recommends deep breathing exercises, sufficient rest and seeking emotional support to alleviate stress. Hawra, a working mother, shares her personal approach, ensuring evening walks and weekend rest to recharge. Social worker Naashiah al Kharusi emphasises that spiritual strength derived from worship can help women cope with the challenges of Ramadhan. Leena Francis, Principal, Indian School Al Seeb, advocates for a self-sustainable plan that includes 'me time' to maintain well-being. Experts also stress the importance of simplifying daily routines, delegating household chores, reducing screen time and getting adequate sleep. Dr Faryal, Senior Consultant at Royal Hospital, advises women to focus on nutrient-rich foods, mindful reflection and self-compassion to foster both physical and emotional resilience. By implementing these strategies, women can successfully balance home, work and self-care, ensuring a fulfilling and spiritually enriching Ramadhan.