People affected by drug abuse and mental illness struggle with various life challenges that puts pressure on the mental wellbeing. This is not limited only to those who are directly affected but also the significant others and other members of the family. The programme therefore adopted a household approach in offering counseling services including family therapy to ensure psychological wellness of the entire family. These services are offered under the auspices of the community counseling centre where the programme mobilizes counselors from the community who in turn offer free services to clients using St. Martin facilities.
Awarness creation
Reduce stigma – The programme creates awareness to members of the general community in churches, welfare groups and community barazas to sensitize the community about mental health.
Promote community support to affected individuals and households – We mobilize the community to support vulnerable beneficiaries to access treatment and meet their basic needs.
Promote preventive measures – We reach out to at risk populations including the youth to sensitize them to adopt protective and preventive measures to reduce the risk of drug abuse and mental illness.
Jaza Kikapu - Fill the Basket
In 2020, we launched Jaza Kikapu (fill a basket) concept to mobilise resources to support poor women headed households. Jaza Kikapu goal is to enhance and promote the unique role played by women on the family, community and societal level by empowering them and creating an enabling environment for their full participation in the development agenda. Women play an indispensable role in community development as weavers of the social fabric and caregivers. It is broadly designed to uplift poor households through the potential of women and hereby enable them to fully participate in the development of the communities.
The project targets 72 primary schools in Laikipia County. In each school, a platform for children to air their views is created through the Children’s Government where children leaders are empowered to become change agents. Children, members of these governments are trained on child rights and responsibilities, meaningful child participation, role of children as duty bearers, lifeskills, public interaction skills and methods of awareness creation.