Akili Supa Initiative

A rolling national campaign activating youth leadership, storytelling, and policy advocacy for mental health across five regions of Tanzania.

Akili Supa youth engagement

Movement Overview

The Akili Supa Initiative amplifies youth voices through creative campaigns, essay competitions, and regional convenings. By highlighting positive coping skills and advocating for inclusive services, young people lead the charge in destigmatizing mental health.

  • Active in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, Mwanza, and Zanzibar.
  • Combines online storytelling, school outreach, and pop-up wellbeing hubs.
  • Guided by a youth advisory council that co-designs every activation.

Core Components

Awareness Campaign

Weekly social media challenges, radio spots, and student-led photo stories that normalize conversations around anxiety, depression, and seeking help.

Essay Competitions

Secondary and university students submit reflections on resilience and systems change, with top entries receiving scholarships and mentorship.

Webinars & Dialogues

Monthly online forums pair mental health experts with youth advocates to share practical coping tools and policy insights.

Student Engagement Labs

On-the-ground workshops in partner schools, integrating art, debate, and peer learning to inspire local action plans.

Impact to Date

6,500+

students and young professionals engaged through events and digital activations.

45

youth stories amplified on radio, podcasts, and campus showcases.

18

partner organizations collaborating on resources, scholarships, and advocacy.

Get Involved

For Students

  • Submit an essay or poem to the next Akili Supa Awards (call for submissions opens 15 May 2025).
  • Join a virtual webinar or host a peer discussion using our downloadable toolkit.
  • Volunteer as a campus ambassador to coordinate local activations.

For Partners

We welcome sponsorship of prizes, facilitation of regional events, and amplification of youth voices through media and networks.

Book a Slot Message Us

Resource Hub

Explore stories, policy briefs, and mental health tools curated through Akili Supa. New content drops at the end of every month and is free to download.

Visit the Resource Library