Healthnutz
Project Overview
What? Healthnutz was launched in 1997 with the primary focus to enable, educate and encourage learners from previously disadvantaged communities’ to participate in physical activity. The vision was to develop a programme that was sustainable in its ability to instil a love for physical activity at a young age and at the same time improve learner performance in the classroom.
Where? Healthnutz is managed by Community Health Intervention Programmes (CHIPs), which is an initiative of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) in Newlands, Cape Town. Healthnutz currently works in the following communities:
Athlone, Blue Downs, Claremont, Eerste River, Hangberg (Hout Bay), Heideveld, Kensington, Mfuleni, Mitchell’s Plain, New Crossroads, Philippi, Salt River, Stellenbosch, Strandfontein and Surrey Estate. Outside of Cape Town: Op-Die-Berg, Koue Bokkeveld, East London and Durban.
Outcomes? They currently have 1030 foundation phase participants and 26 coaches/teachers. The average age of their participants is 7 years old and 17.8% of these are male and 82.2% are female. Their intent is to add a segment to the Healthnutz Programme, Healthnutz Prep, targeting preschool children (age 4-6 years). There is a big need amongst this age group for focussed preparation for entry into primary school. Healthnutz Prep will aspire to train preschool teachers to promote physical activity and gross motor development, whilst mastering basic numeracy and literacy skills. Healthnutz Prep will incorporate and apply the most recent learnings of research currently being conducted in this area by ESSM, their research partner.
Contact Healthnutz
Juandre Davids
(Project Manager)
Cape Town: Athlone, Khayelitsha, Stellenbosch and Strandfontein
Tel: +27 21 659 5608