🌍 World Health Day 2025: Prioritizing Mental Health for Healthier Homes and Stronger Communities

Today, as the world comes together to commemorate World Health Day, we are reminded that health is not merely the absence of disease—it is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. At Kianda Foundation, we recognize that true transformation begins from within, and over the years, one lesson has become crystal clear: mental health matters—deeply and urgently.

Happy Fanikisha benficiaries.

The Silent Struggle in African Homes

Poor mental health in many African homes remains an invisible, silent killer. It quietly robs individuals of peace, joy, and, in the worst cases, their will to live. In many families, emotional pain is kept behind closed doors, masked by silence and swept under the rug. It’s possible to share a home with someone for years and yet remain completely unaware of their inner turmoil.

In a culture that often avoids “the elephant in the room,” mental health is still a conversation many shy away from. But at Kianda Foundation, we believe it is time to change the narrative.

Introducing Counseling into Fanikisha: A Bold Step towards prioritizing mental health.

In 2021, in response to the emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, we took a bold and necessary step by integrating professional counseling services into the Fanikisha Program. The pandemic had left deep scars—many of them invisible. Some of the challenges faced by the women in the program went beyond what even seasoned mentors could support.

Group councelling session during Fanikisha

So, we turned to the experts.

Today, a trained team of 12 counselors offers psychoeducation, individual and group therapy sessions, transforming the lives of our beneficiaries from the inside out.

“I used to harbor self-hatred and felt invisible within my family. But counseling taught me to speak kindly to myself. Now, I feel liberated—I smile more, stress less, and even my business is thriving. I’m helping others too, and I feel younger.”— Jane, Fanikisha Program beneficiary

Jane's story is not unique. It's echoed in the lives of many women who now stand taller, live freer, and lead with newfound hope.

The Power of Mentorship and Mental Wellness.

Fanikisha’s strength lies in its holistic approach—combining skills training, mentoring, and now, counseling. Our mentorship program is grounded on three key pillars:

1. Personal Well-Being

2. Family Well-Being

3. Financial Well-Being

   
   

We’ve seen firsthand how personal and family challenges, often rooted in unresolved emotional wounds, hold women back from fully engaging in income-generating activities. That’s why we take prioritizing mental health seriously—not as an afterthought, but as a foundational part of empowerment.

Group councelling session during Fanikisha

Through mentorship and counseling, women are developing critical self-leadership skills, rebuilding their confidence, and setting healthy personal boundaries. They’re not just managing businesses better—they’re managing life better.

Real Change: From Households to Communities.

The impact ripples far beyond the individual. When a woman heals, a family is restored. When a mother finds hope, a child’s future is secured.

“Kianda Foundation has really helped my mother. I didn’t think I’d go to high school, but because of the Fanikisha Program, she grew her business and is now able to pay my fees.”— Joram, son of a program beneficiary

What began as personal transformation has evolved into community transformation. Many graduates of the Fanikisha Program now serve as local leaders, advocating for women’s rights, education, and wellness in their villages.

Investing in Mental Health for Long-Term Impact.

Fanikisha councellors

To strengthen our counseling efforts, we partnered with Serein Education Centre to equip mentors with basic counseling skills and emotional intelligence. We've also collaborated with Tangaza University, whose team of counselors provide ongoing support through individual therapy and group sessions. The results? Life-changing.

From Cecilia’s rediscovered self-worth to Joyce’s newfound peace (stories we’ll share soon), the impact is tangible and deeply moving.

This World Health Day, let’s remember: caring for mental health is caring for life.

At Kianda Foundation, we will continue to invest in the minds, hearts, and lives of the women we serve—because healthier minds build stronger homes, and stronger homes create thriving communities.

Mental health is not a luxury. It is a necessity. And it is our shared responsibility.