Scouts Healing Invisible Wounds (SHIW) is a youth-led and youth-serving organization registered in Kenya that uses innovative, evidence-based solutions to address the mental health issues that young people and communities are predisposed to.
We employ non-formal, and experiential approaches to advocate for, and create awareness on mental health, with a keen focus on Promotion of overall well-being and Prevention of mental illness.
Beginning August 2026, SHIW will commence implementation of a project dubbed “Voices Unmuted: Youth-Led Advocacy for Inclusion”, supported by the AU-EU Youth Action Lab. The project will run for twelve (12) months, from August 2026 to July 2027, and is grounded in the commitments of AU Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration 6 on people-driven development and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in decision-making, as well as the African Youth Charter on youth rights to participation, health, and dignity.
Kenya’s mental health burden is significant, with Mental illnesses accounting for 13% of the country’s total disease burden, with depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders disproportionately affecting youth aged 10–24. An estimated 75% of those who need mental health care lack access to it, and existing national frameworks such as the Mental Health Action Plan 2021–2025 and the Mental Health Act 2022 rarely include youth with lived experience in their design or oversight. The Voices Unmuted project directly responds to this exclusion.
HOW TO APPLY
This is an open call for applications. Any young person who meets the eligibility criteria outlined is warmly encouraged to apply, regardless of formal education level, employment status, or geographic location within Kenya.
To apply, please send your application to careers@shiw.org by 10th August 2026 at 5:00 PM East Africa Time (EAT). Your application should include a brief personal statement (no more than one page) highlighting your lived experience of mental illness or psychosocial disability, your motivation for joining the LEC, and any relevant experience in advocacy, community work, or health-related groups. Kindly also attach a short CV or résumé that showcases your experience in line with the LEC related work.
Given the high volume of applications, we anticipate; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a brief conversation. We deeply appreciate every applicant’s willingness to contribute to this work.