NAIROBI, Kenya, 2nd July 2025/ By the point he turned 18, Tom Osborn had already tapped into a strong fact: Africa’s best potential lies in its folks and communities. Drawing from native information and lived expertise, he launched a clear power firm that gained international consideration and earned him a scholarship to Harvard. However as a substitute of remaining overseas, he selected to return dwelling – not out of obligation, however as a result of, as he places it, “The solutions are in the neighborhood. They at all times have been.” His journey is a testomony to the innovation, resilience, and options that exist already throughout the continent.
Now, as co-founder of the Shamiri Institute, Osborn is main considered one of Kenya’s most promising psychological well being interventions, one designed by younger folks, for younger folks and rooted firmly in African methods of pondering.
His story, featured in Episode 4 of the fifth season of the Dreaming in Coloration podcast, gives a strong lens right into a broader dialog about youth management, psychological well-being, and the significance of community-driven improvement. The teachings rising from Kenya aren’t simply native, however carry priceless insights for a world rethinking how sustainable change occurs and who will get to guide it.
Kenya is a younger nation. As of mid-2024, greater than 75% of the inhabitants, roughly 40 million folks, are underneath 35. The median age is simply 19. It’s the form of demographic dividend that economists get enthusiastic about. And throughout the nation, younger individuals are working to show that promise into progress – on their phrases, of their communities, and to drive their futures.
Throughout Kenya, a era of younger folks is moving into a wonderful second, stuffed with chance, energy, and function. They’re extra educated, digitally linked and politically aware than earlier generations. And they’re drawing on their networks, creativity and lived experiences to navigate advanced programs formed by financial pressures, social expectations and restricted entry to psychological well being help. Regardless of systemic boundaries equivalent to a scarcity of execs and chronic stigma, they’re constructing community-led options, championing psychological well-being and redefining what it means to thrive on their very own phrases – and in doing so, are providing fashions for the world.
Osborn’s return to Kenya was pushed by a way of function. As a clear power entrepreneur with GreenChar, he shortly recognised that significant innovation have to be rooted in native realities and powered by group perception. His mom’s well being challenges sparked his early motivation, nevertheless it grew to become clear that lasting change would require greater than ardour. It known as for options grounded in lived expertise, formed with and by the communities they serve.
That’s when psychological well being entered the image.
“Folks had been hurting. However they didn’t have the phrases. And the frameworks we had been utilizing weren’t constructed for them,” he defined.
The Shamiri Institute, which Osborn co-founded, rejects conventional Western diagnostic labels in favour of what works: interventions centered on lived expertise, performance and social context. Delivered via faculties and church buildings, Shamiri’s instruments are low-cost (about $7 per individual per yr), simple to scale and present actual ends in tutorial efficiency, wellbeing and relationships. On the coronary heart of the mannequin is what Osborn calls the “4 Enoughs”:
Ok to indicate measurable impression Large enoughto scale in promising areas like Nairobi and Kiambu Easy sufficient for native supply Low-cost sufficient to make long-term adoption practical
It’s community-led care – grounded, accessible and created with the folks it’s meant to serve. Throughout Kenya, younger leaders are constructing what conventional programs have lengthy struggled to offer. Whether or not driving grassroots local weather motion, increasing digital inclusion or reimagining training, they aren’t ready for change – they’re making it. What they want now isn’t just applause, however entry, funding, and partnership. They want older generations who respect their management, worth their perception, and are able to observe their lead.
Tom Osborn’s story is considered one of expertise formed by humility, pushed by ambition, and rooted in group knowledge. Additionally it is a name to motion for policymakers, funders, and on a regular basis residents to shift their perspective – to see younger folks not as a problem to be managed, however as key companions in progress and a driving power for the change the world wants. Backing their imaginative and prescient and management just isn’t a raffle – it is among the most strategic decisions that may be made.
To listen to extra about Tom’s journey and his daring imaginative and prescient for youth management and psychological well being in Africa, take heed to Episode 4 of the Dreaming in Coloration podcast. Should you’ve ever puzzled what actual, grassroots change seems like, that is it.
Distributed byAfrican Media Company (AMA) on behalf of Bridgespan
Media contact:
Aneni Cebulu
Tribeca Public Relations
Anelec@tribecapr.co.za
The publish Neighborhood first, at all times: Tom Osborn’s imaginative and prescient for a brand new mannequin for Kenyan psychological well being appeared first on African Media Company.
