Nephrologist and kidney researchers in collaboration with kidney patients and NierNieuws organize a playful teaching program at Radboud University Medical Center to raise awareness for kidney disease.
Children (ages 10-11) will learn what the kidneys do and how to take better care of the organ, in addition to some fun ‘experiments’ including building a kidney. The importance of reducing salt in the diet will also be explored by comparing different salines in a playful way. To emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy kidney, a kidney patient will talk to the children about the impact kidney disease has on her life. Finally, to symbolize kidney function even further, we will create an outdoor ‘living nephron’ of about 40m consisting of all participating children who will stand in the shape of a nephron. Water buckets filled with ‘waste’ balls will be transferred via the legs of the children (urine side) from the start of the nephron (filter unit; glomerulus) throughout the entire nephron ending up in an inflatable toilet.
With this program we hope to raise more awareness for kidney disease and teach children the importante of these beautiful organs!
