International NGO CFK Africa highlights need for more youth-friendly services in slums
NAIROBI, KENYA – CFK Africa, an international nonprofit that empowers youth in slums in Kenya through integrated health and leadership initiatives, is highlighting mental health challenges faced by young people in these communities for World Mental Health Day, celebrated annually on October 10 worldwide.
With youth living in informal settlements in Kenya already struggling to access adequate healthcare, they face even greater challenges in obtaining mental health services. To overcome barriers to care, CFK Africa established a Youth-Friendly Services Centre in Kibera, Africa’s largest slum, where young people can receive vital support and treatment. Additionally, the Centre trains peer counselors to provide guidance and suggest resources.
“The most effective advocate for mental health awareness is someone you already know and trust,” said CFK Africa CEO Jeffrey Okoro, who grew up in Kibera and has seen the mental health challenges people face. “By identifying young people who are already connected to resources and training them, we can spread awareness organically. We have found it’s the most effective way to reduce stigma around seeking help among young people in informal settlements.”
A 2022 nationally representative survey by Shujaaz, Inc. found that six out of 10 young Kenyans reported experiencing mental health issues, with most reporting feelings of depression, anxiety, or panic attacks.
To address these issues, CFK Africa’s Youth Friendly Services Centre, launched in 2018, provides comprehensive physical, mental, and social health services. Over 3,500 youths visit the Centre’s doors every year. The Centre provides counseling for stress, depression, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as issues like peer pressure and teenage pregnancy. These services were shaped by a baseline survey conducted among youth in Kibera to ensure their relevance and impact.
“We can see the results from young people who have come in,” said Victrine Oluoch, a counselor at the Youth Friendly Services Center. “Just having a name to put on a problem and learning some basic coping skills can make such a profound difference.”
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About CFK Africa
Founded in 2001, CFK Africa is an international nonprofit that empowers youth in slums in Africa through integrated health and leadership initiatives. Using a participatory development approach, the organization works directly with community residents to develop and implement sustainable programs. Operating in 25 informal settlements across East Africa, the organization is set to launch an innovative youth development and public health network throughout Africa as it approaches its 25th year of service in Kenya. For more information, visit www.cfkafrica.org.