Psychosocial Development and Response Organisation

17/04/2026

On 15th and 16th April 2026, something important took shape in Kenya. PDRO hosted the second cohort of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (Wrap) training and for the first time Seminar I was facilitated by Kenyan facilitators. This milestone was made possible through the support of Jim Bollinger and Certified Kenyan WRAP facilitator Charles Ogutu.

From the very beginning, one message grounded the room:
YOU ARE THE EXPERT OF YOUR OWN WELLNESS.

15 participants gathered people with lived experience of mental Health, caregivers, staff, and board members. They came not as separate categories, but as people sharing one purpose:
TO UNDERSTAND WELLNESS NOT AS SOMETHING PRESCRIBED, BUT SOMETHING LIVED AND DEFINED FROM WITHIN.

They NAMED WHAT KEEPS THEM WELL in daily life simple, practical actions shaped by their values, beliefs, and realities. They built PERSONAL WELLNESS TOOLBOXES, discovering that many of the tools they needed were already within reach.

They then asked deeper questions:
WHAT DOES “WELL” LOOK LIKE FOR ME?
WHAT HELPS ME STAY THERE?
From these reflections, they began shaping their DAILY MAINTENANCE PLANS, realizing that wellness is sustained not by big moments, but by SMALL, CONSISTENT CHOICES.

Participants then explored what to do when things get worse, developing their CRISIS PLANS identifying support systems, what helps them feel safe, and actions to take when they are unable to cope. They also reflected on POST-CRISIS PLANNING, recognizing recovery as not just managing difficult moments, but REBUILDING AND RESTORING WELLNESS AFTERWARD.

This was more than a training it was a shift. A reminder that recovery is PERSONAL, POSSIBLE, AND POWERFUL.

Let’s continue to CENTER LIVED EXPERIENCE, BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY, AND EMPOWER EVERY PERSON TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR WELLNESS.

THE WORK IS NOW AND IT STARTS WITH ALL OF US.

Regional Leadership Center East Africa
Kenya Community Development Foundation

05/04/2026

Caregiving is love… but burnout is real.

On 3rd April, as we marked World Autism Awareness Day, we honored the quiet strength of caregivers.

Those who give so much of themselves, often at the cost of their own wellbeing. Through Expressive therapy 🎨 with dance, movement, and games they laughed, released, and began to refill.

Because mental wellness matters for caregivers too.

This was made possible by Faraja Initiative Organization with the support of Psychosocial Development and Response Organisation Arthur for Others Organization , Young stars, Vimme, National council of Persons with disability, Advent Med and Dental

Curious about how caregiving can impact mental wellness? Take a moment to go online and learn more — understanding the burden is the first step toward supporting those who care for others.

31/03/2026

A Day That Truly Mattered

On the 28th, we engaged children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers through art therapy, expressive therapy, and mindfulness.

Not just activities
But a safe space for children to feel joy, and for mothers and fathers to feel seen, supported, and understood.

Organized by Arthur for Others Organization Faraja Initiative Organization Art For Children Foundation & PDRO

With support from SCCAN (gift hampers for 50 child living Cerebral Palsy & snacks for 110 participants) and Worldwide Travel Options

Because behind every child is a family that needs care too.

20/03/2026

💚 Built by love. Held by family.
Every step = a victory ✨
Every smile = a win 💙
no one walks alone I am family, I am strength, I am love.

10/12/2025

Two of our board members have completed the KCDF ‘Mobilising Support’ training! Kenya Community Development Foundation
Armed with new skills in community engagement and advocacy, we’re ready to empower more voices, drive change, and strengthen our mission to support youth, mental health, and inclusive communities. "

18/11/2025

On the 13th and 14th of November 2025, two of our Lived Experience Expert Speakers Wains Mwangi Sylvia Mumbi participated in the Shamiri Summit, bringing a powerful lived-experience–based perspective to the discussions. Their contribution helped ground the summit in real stories, real challenges, and real solutions.

05/11/2025

Excited to share that Our Lived Experience speaker Sylvia Mumbi and Wains Mwangi will be speaking at the Shamiri Summit

Every young person deserves to feel safe, seen, and respected —even in digital spaces. As we embrace technology in mental health care, we must center trust, consent, and human connection.

This conversation isn’t just about data; it’s about dignity, hope, and building systems that care as much as they cure.

Let’s shape a future where innovation protects, empowers, and uplifts our youth.

Shamiri Institute

🎟️ Get your tickets at https://summit.shamiri.institute/

19/09/2025

In Early September, our team walked into the training room with curiosity and questions. We knew we wanted to create lasting change, but we often struggled with one challenge how to rally support right here at home.

The Change the Game Academy Mobilizing Support training by Kenya Community Development Foundation changed that. For five intensive days, we learned not just about fundraising, but about something deeper,how to connect with people’s hearts, how to turn ideas into movements, and how to build the kind of partnerships that sustain impact long after the funding ends.

Today, as the Academy team visited our organization for the first mentorship session, something powerful happened. We weren’t just talking about theories we were reflecting on our own journey, shaping strategies that fit our community, and seeing how every small step can spark collective ownership.

06/09/2025

Sept 1–5 — PDRO joined Kenya Community Development Foundation Mobilising Support Training (Cohort 17). Over five intensive days we sharpened practical skills in advocacy, stakeholder mapping, negotiation, campaign design and monitoring & evaluation.We have already identified priority issues and started building a plan to mobilise community members, engage duty-bearers, and track outcomes. These new tools will strengthen PDRO’s ability to influence local decisions, attract partners, and sustain community-led peer- led Mental Health and wellness solutions.

06/09/2025

05/09/2025

Mental health touches us all.

Whether it is friend struggling in silence, a young person battling stigma, or a family searching for support we’ve all seen how mental health challenges affect lives in Nakuru.

Yesterday , PDRO joined the Nakuru C weounty Government Department of Health and fellow stakeholders to take action. Together we:

1.Mapped out who is working in mental health across the county
2.Shared what each of us is already doing
3.Laid the foundation for the Nakur Mental Health Technical Working Group a space where collaboration can replace isolation, and voices with lived experience can shape real solutions.

This is more than a meeting. It is the beginning of a stronger, united response for mental health in Nakuru county because when we work together, we can build a community where no one is left behind.

04/09/2025

Nakuru Regional Office | Advancing Disability Inclusion

Yesterday, the Nakuru Regional Office hosted representatives from Psychosocial Development Response Organisation and Arthur for Others Organisation – Nakuru for a crucial engagement on strengthening the rights and inclusion of persons with Cerebral Palsy (CP).

The discussion focused on mental health for caregivers, awareness on the Disability Act 2025, and alternative communication tools for individuals with severe CP—affirming our shared vision of a society that upholds dignity and equity for all.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to moving beyond symbolic inclusion by institutionalising equity through joint programming, civic education, and policy advocacy. Discussions also emphasised the urgent need to mainstream mental health support for caregivers, many of whom carry the emotional and financial burden of care in silence.