In the heart of Africa’s biggest slums, thousands of vulnerable children, youth, and families face extreme poverty, violence, and mental health challenges. With limited access to psychosocial support, many suffer in silence, struggling with trauma, depression, and anxiety. Studies show that teenagers who grapple with mental health issues such as depression, impulsivity disorder, and conduct disorder are highly likely to engage in criminal behaviour as compared to those who do not. Mental health is at the centre of many criminal activities that teenagers in the slum engage in. Many teenagers come from troubled families and “they are very stressed about the fights they witness at home; they do not have anyone else to turn to, most of the time, except the gangs.”
We are launching a Psychosocial Support Project in public schools to provide much-needed counseling, group therapy, and community healing programs. Through trained professionals and dedicated volunteers, we aim to offer a safe space for emotional healing, mental health education, and empowerment.
Scope of activities
1. Capacity Building for Teachers and Staff
- Organize workshops on trauma-informed teaching practices.
- Train school staff in identifying signs of mental health challenges in students.
- Develop peer-support groups for teachers to share experiences and solutions.
2. Student-Centered Psychosocial Support Programs
- Conduct regular counseling sessions for students experiencing stress or trauma.
- Implement peer mentoring programs to promote peer-to-peer support.
3. Community Engagement
- Train the community on Mental Health First Aid on how to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance use challenges.
- Encourage community dialogue sessions to reduce stigma around mental health.
- Involve local leaders and organizations in promoting psychosocial well-being.
4. Safe Spaces for Emotional Expression
- Create safe spaces where pupils can express themselves and rebuild resilience, including art therapy workshops run by local artists where the target group can express their emotions and experiences through drama, painting, sculpture and drawing.
5. Monitoring and Referral Systems
- Develop mechanisms for early identification of students needing specialized support.
- Collaborate with mental health professionals for referral and follow-up.
- Build partnership with local health clinics and other organizations to provide pupils with primary healthcare and feminine hygiene products.
Fundraising initiative is underway to finance the entire one year project.
