Niah Foundation Bridging Basic Needs and Mental Health Awareness

Niah FoundationNiah Foundation began as a spark of passion during Chenaniah Bamishile's university years, driven by a deep commitment to mental health awareness and support for children with special needs. The Green Hearts Initiative—a social media campaign that launched open conversations on campus—was our first step in reducing stigma and sharing real-life experiences.

Expanding beyond the campus, we addressed immediate community needs by renovating schools, distributing food, and providing healthcare while integrating mental health education. Today, Niah Foundation stands as a beacon of hope, connecting communities with affordable resources to foster holistic wellness. Our Mission: To bring mental health awareness into every African home and promote the inclusion of special needs individuals into systems across the continent. Our Vision: To be the foremost voice and movement on mental health in Africa.

WHAT WE LEARNT

Working on the Niah Foundation project taught us the value of listening to community voices and the transformative power of mental health education. Every challenge was an opportunity to innovate and connect.

• Community Engagement: Working with a foundation means interacting with a bunch of people which could be draining although it improved my official lingo.

• Adaptability: A busy founder means not a lot of time to review so be ready to make changes quick and work on their schedule.

• Content Pipeline: Make sure to inform clients to begin gathering content for the website immediately after commission or else you may be stuck making changes for months.