From September 3–5, 2025, 29 young leaders from six Eastern African countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, to take part in the 2025 Young Leaders Conference, a key milestone of the Sawa Project, jointly implemented by the Kofi Annan Foundation, MCW Global and the Africa Alliance of YMCAs, funded by Wellcome.
The Conference, which is built on the model of the “Young Leaders Conferences” developed by MCW Global, brought together young mental health professionals, community organisers, and advocates from Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda to strengthen their leadership, advocacy, and collaboration skills in addressing mental health challenges across the region.
“Mental health is not just about cure; it is about prevention, resilience, and ensuring that young people grow up healthy, happy, and productive,” said Dr Jebet Boit of Kenya’s Ministry of Health.
Building leadership and community resilience
Over the course of three days, participants explored the regional mental health landscape, sharing their lived experiences and discussing cultural and systemic barriers to care. Interactive sessions, leadership workshops, and advocacy-focused training equipped them with the tools to design and implement local initiatives—from awareness campaigns to outreach programmes—that increase access to services and reduce stigma.
“Leadership means resilience and continuous learning. It is about service to humanity, making leaders, and stirring vision,” shared Beth Omondi, a participant from Kenya. “Leadership begins when you’re brave enough to speak your pain. Storytelling builds empathy, challenges norms, and amplifies silenced voices,” added Ruth Nazzinda from Uganda.
“Leadership begins when you’re brave enough to speak your pain. Storytelling builds empathy, challenges norms, and amplifies silenced voices.”
Participants also took part in a field visit hosted by Integrative Wellbeing at a local school in the Kasarani neighbourhood in the suburbs of Nairobi, connecting their discussions to real-world examples of community-led mental health support.
A collective call to action
Distinguished speakers, including representatives from governments, NGOs, academia, and community organisations, underscored the urgent need for investment in youth-led mental health efforts.
“In East and Southern Africa, one in four young people live with depression or anxiety, yet fewer than 30% can access care,” noted Laurean Rugambwa Bwanakunu, Africa Regional Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy at the IFRC. “We must act now, investing in services, combating stigma, and empowering young people as agents of change to build a healthier, more resilient Africa.”
“In East and Southern Africa, one in four young people live with depression or anxiety, yet fewer than 30% can access care.”
The conference concluded with the launch of the Eastern African Mental Health Network, a collaborative platform to strengthen regional advocacy, share resources, and support innovation through webinars, grants, and mentorship.
Looking ahead
The 2025 Young Leaders Conference marks the first in a series of activities under the Sawa Project, a multi-phase initiative designed to foster youth-led mental health advocacy. Participants will continue to engage through Vision Planning Webinars (September–October 2025) to learn how to translate ideas into concrete action, receive micro-grants to implement community-led projects with mentorship support (January–June 2026) and join advocacy efforts on a local and global level (June-October 2026).
Reflecting on the event, Maud Roure, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programmes at the Kofi Annan Foundation, highlighted the project’s broader significance: “We believe that peace begins with the well-being of individuals and communities. By empowering young leaders to address mental health, we are strengthening the foundations of more peaceful, inclusive societies.”
