Health (AFYA)

PROMOTING HEALTHY MINDS AND BODIES FOR TANZANIA’S YOUTH

Health is the non-negotiable foundation of wellbeing. Vijana Kesho strengthens health outcomes for children and youth in Tanzania by tackling persistent health challenges and addressing emerging risks, such as the high mental health needs among adolescents. With over 1 in 5 youths experiencing common mental health challenges, urgent action is necessary.

Our Approach: Prevention and Early Intervention

Our Health initiative is directly informed by Pillar 2: AFYA: Afya Njema na Akili Tulivu (Healthy Minds and Bodies) of the SAFARI Wellbeing Framework. We prioritize prevention and early intervention through evidence-informed supports.

Key strategic components include:

Mental Wellbeing: Strengthening prevention and early intervention for mental health, addressing substance misuse, and promoting healthy sleep.

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH): Expanding access to SRH and nutrition education.

Active Lifestyles: Championing daily physical activity and play.

Caregiver & Community Support: Building the skills of caregivers and communities to support healthy behaviors.

Focus Areas (SAFARI Framework)

Access to Quality Health Services: Ensuring children, youth, and families can reach and use quality services, including Sexual Reproductive Health, without stigma and discrimination.

Healthy Lifestyle (Prevention First): Promoting protective behaviours (nutrition, activity, hygiene, safer sex, road safety, substance-use avoidance) and health-supportive settings (WASH, clean cooking, climate-safe schools/clinics).

Mental Health (“Peace”): Fostering peace of mind, positive relationships, and timely support for distress, with safe schools (no corporal punishment), Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and accessible counselling/Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response.

Safe, Healthy Environment: Ensuring households have safe water and improved sanitation; clean cooking; and neighborhoods manage waste and drainage, recognizing that a thriving planet sustains healthy lives.

IMPACT AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE

Through this initiative, we seek to drive key behaviors and outcomes:

Children and youth practice healthy behaviors, peer support, and help-seeking.

Community social action strengthens positive relationships and normalizes early help-seeking among children, youths, and families.

We aim to coordinate coalitions and codify action, strengthening child and youth health, nutrition, and mental wellbeing.

Support our work to strengthen youth health and mental wellbeing across Tanzania

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+255 759 358 243

Service Details

Health (AFYA)

Our Approach: Prevention and Early Intervention

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