Kitale, Trans Nzoia. Serving five counties.
Afya Care Foundation is a registered Kenyan non-profit working on youth mental health and substance abuse. We counsel, we run recovery programmes, and we go into schools, communities, streets and refugee camps to reach people before a crisis does.
Need someone to talk to? Call +254 741 673 154 or message us on WhatsApp.
Secondary school students standing with an Afya Care Foundation banner and a staff member during a school visit at Friends Namandala
Providing accessible mental health services, substance abuse prevention, and support in Kenya’s youth community.
Secondary school students standing with an Afya Care Foundation banner and a staff member during a school visit at Friends Namandala
About us
Afya Care Foundation is a registered non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to improving mental well-being and combating drug and substance abuse among Kenyan youth. Based in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, we serve five counties: Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Bungoma, Busia and Kakamega. We focus on prevention, raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse, and empowering young people to overcome addiction, live healthily, and reintegrate into society successfully.
Our work extends beyond substance abuse to address mental wellness among young people by providing accessible mental health services, raising awareness, and supporting activities that promote mental health care. This includes counselling, therapy, sports, mental health education, and reducing stigma. As a compassionate organisation, we empower young people to lead healthier lives and help build a society that prioritises mental well-being.
Why this work matters
Mental health care in Kenya is scarce, stigmatised and concentrated far from the communities that need it most. Young people carry much of that burden, and in western Kenya they carry it alongside widespread substance abuse.
Our services
Professional counselling and therapy addressing depression, anxiety and trauma, fostering mental wellness among young people.
Programmes that prevent drug abuse through education, awareness and community engagement.
Support groups for substance abuse recovery, offering a safe space for sharing and mutual support.
Programmes
Six programmes reaching young people in schools, communities, on the street, over the radio and in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
We partner with local organisations and Aspira Integrated Healthcare to deliver mental health counselling, substance abuse education and recreational therapy in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Our work includes outreach sessions, peer support groups, health tracking through electronic medical records, and sports-based healing, all designed to build resilience in displaced communities facing trauma and limited resources.
We visit schools to educate students about mental health, the dangers of substance abuse, and ways to seek help. These sessions create a safe environment where students can share their concerns and learn coping strategies.
Workshops and awareness campaigns held directly in local communities.
Trained young people supporting their own peers.
A weekly show on Radio Simba, every Wednesday.
Reaching young people living and working on the street.
Impact to the community
Figures cover the foundation's work across Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Bungoma, Busia and Kakamega counties.
Youth empowered through the school outreach programme
People reached through community outreach and workshops
In their words
Recorded testimonies from Kakuma Refugee Camp and schools we work with, alongside written accounts from people who came to us for help.
Refugee Life Ross, Kakuma Refugee Camp
The training was incredibly powerful, and it has given us hope while providing a clear way forward to address the issues facing our community.
Kakuma Refugee Camp
I did not even realise I was one of those people dealing with mental health issues until this morning when I heard more about it.
I struggled with alcohol addiction for many years, feeling alone and hopeless. Afya Care helped me find strength I never knew I had. Through their counselling sessions, I was able to stop drinking and focus on my family again. Now I am rebuilding my life and supporting others who are struggling.
John Wanyama
30 years old
My mental health was deteriorating because of peer pressure and stress at school, which led me to start using substances. Afya Care Foundation gave me the support and therapy I needed to recover and rebuild my confidence. Today I am studying psychology so I can help others in similar situations.
Mary Chemutai
22 years old
I had kept my struggles with addiction hidden from my family for years. The support and understanding I received from Afya Care changed my life. They guided me through my recovery journey with compassion and patience, and I am proud to say that I am now six months sober.
Anonymous
Gallery
Photographs and recordings from school visits, community outreach, radio broadcasts and our work in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
Afya Care Foundation partnered with Kongoni TTI to equip teachers with essential knowledge on mental health, substance abuse prevention and student wellness. Together we are building resilient communities from the classroom up.
During our 2025 visit to Nasianda Mixed School, Afya Care Foundation shared vital knowledge on mental health and substance abuse prevention. The sessions encouraged students to build supportive communities for well-being.
Our team visited Friends Namandala Secondary School in 2025 to promote mental wellness and educate students on the dangers of substance abuse. Through talks and interactive workshops, students gained insights to help build a healthy school environment.
Mental health, explained
15 explainers written by our counsellors, on anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, autism and more, including two in Kiswahili. No jargon, no judgement, and no sign up needed.
Partners and funders
Afya Care Foundation delivers its programmes alongside hospitals, media partners and funding organisations.
New Africa Fund
Imani Radio and TV
Aspira Health Global and Refugees for Life Heros
Tuwan Mission Hospital
ARC Waraba Medical CentreA strategic partner supporting community development, mental health and youth empowerment initiatives.
Director of Afya Care Foundation.
A generous contributor supporting mental health and youth empowerment initiatives.
A dedicated partner providing medical resources and outreach programmes.
A dedicated partner providing medical resources and outreach programmes.
Support our work
A contribution supports mental health counselling, substance abuse prevention and recovery programmes for young people in western Kenya. Every contribution, large or small, extends how far the team can travel and how many people they can reach.
Donations are processed securely by PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to give by card.
Donate through PayPalPrefer to talk first, or want to discuss a partnership or grant? Call +254 741 673 154.
Contact us
If you or someone you know needs support, reach out. You do not need an appointment to start a conversation.
Second email: afyacarefoundationkenya@gmail.com
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