HOW MENTAL HEALTH IS AFFECTING MOST OF THE LEARNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY
BEHIND THE SMILE Every morning, 11-year-old Mutua walked into school with a smile on his face. He was the kind of child teachers loved—quiet, respectful, and always finished his homework on time. To his classmates, he seemed calm and composed, the boy who never caused trouble. But what no one knew was thats Mutua' sm ile was a mask he wore every day to hide what he was truly feeling. At home, things were difficult. His parents fought often, sometimes over money, sometimes over nothing at all. The house, once filled with laughter and bedtime stories, had turned cold and silent.a to Mutua young to understand all the complexities, simply felt the weight of it all pressing on his small shoulders. He began to feel anxious all the time—his stomach would hurt before school, and he’d often get headaches, but he told no one. He didn’t want to be a burden. Over time, mutua sparkle began to fade. He stopped joining in games during recess. He became more withdrawn ...
