Grow
Children learn by planting, watering, nurturing and harvesting.
School gardens • mental health • wellbeing
Growing food.
Creating safe spaces.
Nurturing young minds.
School gardens bring food, hands-on learning and connection into children’s everyday lives. Maggie Kay Foundation works with schools and communities in Kenya to nurture young minds through growing, sharing and caring.
36,000+children reached · Foundation-reported
School gardensfood, practical learning and supportive outdoor spaces
Child wellbeingbelonging, participation and supportive relationships
Learning & ResidencyGrand Burnham Hut • volunteer wellness resort in Kenya
Help the work grow
Our integrated model
A school garden can nourish more than the body.
MKF school gardens are designed as living classrooms and safe, supportive spaces. Children participate in planting, caring for crops and harvesting food while building confidence, connection and practical knowledge.
The wider wellbeing model considers how qualified support can connect with the garden setting. Availability, professional roles and arrangements should be confirmed for each school or activity.
How mental-health support works →How the garden model works
One place. Multiple pathways to wellbeing.
Nourish
Fresh produce strengthens the school food environment.
Feel safe
The garden offers an outdoor setting for calm, connection and trusted relationships.
Talk
Therapists and counselors can engage children in a familiar, less formal setting.
Build skills
Routine, teamwork and visible progress can strengthen confidence and responsibility.
Measure
MKF tracks participation and is strengthening how nutrition, learning and wellbeing outcomes are documented over time.
Safe spaces for children
A place to grow, speak and be supported.
For some children, a formal counseling setting can feel intimidating. A garden creates another kind of environment—one where children can move, work with their hands, participate alongside peers and connect with trusted adults.
Learn about safe spacesWhat makes the model distinctive
Nutrition, education and mental wellbeing are connected.
School Gardens
Locally rooted food-growing spaces that support nutrition and practical learning.
Explore gardens →Mental Health & Wellbeing
A child-centred approach to participation, connection and appropriate support.
Explore wellbeing →Grand Burnham Hut
A restorative highland retreat welcoming people from around the world for nature, reflection, mental wellbeing, learning and community connection.
Explore the residency connection →Learning from the work
Look beyond the first harvest.
Participation, practical learning and children’s experience each tell us something different. Our impact approach explains the questions we ask and why careful reporting matters.
Explore impact & learningFor partners and supporters
Meet the team, read our visitor expectations and find the right route for questions about governance, finances and program information.
Visit accountability & recordsOur work in pictures
From the first seedling to a shared harvest.
Planting, tending and harvesting: everyday moments from our garden work.
Written by our children
A story of food,
hope and community.
Discover Plants Don’t Need Rain—They Need Water, written by The Children of the Maggie Kay Foundation.
Explore our publicationsHelp the model grow
Support food, safe spaces and child wellbeing.
Your partnership can help strengthen gardens, counseling access, safeguarding, training and rigorous impact measurement.