Shamiri Institute
Geography:
AFRICA
Type:
GRANT
Mission
Training peer providers to improve youth mental health in Kenya.
The Problem
Globally, 250 million young people (aged 10–19) struggle with a mental health problem, and nearly 45 % of the youth global burden of disease stems from these issues. In Kenya, almost half of high‑school students report elevated symptoms of anxiety or depression, yet over 80 % face a treatment gap due to stigma, high costs, and a shortage of trained professionals. When left unaddressed, these challenges diminish academic performance, social support, and economic opportunity, limiting young people’s potential.
The Solution
Shamiri Institute trains 18‑ to 25‑year‑olds—called Shamiri fellows—to deliver brief, evidence‑based, group therapy in schools and communities. These lay providers lead sessions on growth mindset, gratitude, and value affirmation in groups of 6–15 peers, meeting weekly for four weeks with homework in between.
Their tiered care model ensures:
Near-peer group delivery by Shamiri fellows
Clinical supervision from psychology-trained supervisors
Referral to expert psychologists or psychiatrists when needed
By embedding mental health support in schools via trusted local youth, Shamiri eliminates stigma, lowers cost, and maximizes cultural fit—making mental healthcare accessible and acceptable.
Defined Outcomes and Impact
Shamiri’s outcomes are rigorously tracked through gold‑standard randomized trials and real‑world implementation:
In large RCTs, reductions in depression (d ≈ 0.35) and anxiety (d ≈ 0.37) were sustained up to seven months post‑intervention, with academic and social gains too.
Single‑session digital pilot reduced depressive symptoms with effect size d = 0.50—surpassing many traditional psychotherapies.
Now serving over 135,000 youth total, with 100,000 served annually through Shamiri Hubs and partners—and a goal to reach 1 million youth per year by 2027.
Their cost‑effectiveness is exceptional: delivering meaningful improvement for under US $7 per youth (projected to drop to $5 by 2026) with an average cost of $48.25 per clinically significant outcome.
The Giving Opportunity
Shamiri Institute is preparing to scale across Sub‑Saharan Africa and beyond. Your support can accelerate trusted local mental‑health delivery through evidence‑based systems backed by rigorous science.
Use of funds:
Expand Shamiri Hubs and partner network in underserved regions
Recruit, train, and supervise more Shamiri fellows
Research, evaluation, and innovation on scalable intervention tools (e.g. digital, life-skills variants)
Expected outcomes:
Greater access to stigma‑free mental healthcare for youth
Reduced prevalence of depression and anxiety
Improved school engagement, social connectedness, and academic performance
Sustainable model embed within educational ecosystems
To learn more or contribute, visit shamiri.institute or email impact@uicharitable.org to learn how you can support this organization through your UI Charitable Donor Advised Fund.