About TAHMEF
Built for Tanzanian youth. Designed for government delivery and community replication. Engineered to scale across Africa.
Our Mission
We are a HealthTech nonprofit on a mission to provide stigma-free mental health support to Tanzanian youth, improving their wellbeing through digital services that governments and communities can replicate across Africa.
Why We Exist
In Tanzania, more than 60% of the population is under 25, yet there are only ~1.3 mental-health workers per 100,000 people. An estimated 1 in 7 youth struggle, and roughly 80% go untreated — costing countries 3–5% of GDP every year.
Meet the Team
Our governing board brings together medical, technical, financial and public-health expertise — united by one mission: stigma-free mental health care for every Tanzanian youth.
Chairperson
Medical doctor and health teach entrepreneur with over 8 years of experience in the Tanzanian public health sector and global health initiatives, including work with renowned international organizations like the Merck KGaA Global Health Institute.
Vice Chairperson
10 years in IT systems management, digital finance, network support engineering and ICT operations. He is skilled in IT planning, project management, infrastructure upgrades, troubleshooting, and ITIL standards, with a Master’s in Internet Computing and Network Security from Loughborough University (UK).
Treasurer
Grants and Financial Management, with 8+ years experience in Fundraising and Impact Management.
Secretary
A medical doctor and public health enthusiast with 6+ years of experience, currently serving as the Medical Officer in Charge at the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG)in Simiyu Region, Tanzania.
Vice Secretary
A medical doctor with 6+ years of experience, formerly a medical officer at the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government Tanzania (PO-RALG) in Ruvuma Region. Currently pursuing a Masters of Medicine (MMed) at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences.
Our Theory of Change
We integrate early detection, intelligent routing, and system-wide learning across digital, community, and government channels. The result: a coordinated platform that prevents and detects risk early, routes support intelligently, and produces decision-grade data.
01 — The Need
African youth mental-health needs are rising sharply, yet most never receive support because care is scarce, stigmatised, and unaffordable. Root causes include poverty, family violence, academic pressure, weak school-based and community-based mental health systems, cultural stigma, and digital access barriers in rural and low-income areas.
The result is avoidable school dropout, unemployment, and long-term economic loss. Our primary beneficiaries are youth aged 15–25 in underserved schools and communities. Our enablers are parents, teachers, CHWs, HCWs, community leaders, and trained peer supporters.
02 — The Work
A toll-free helpline, SMS line, and mobile app — the system's intake, screening, and routing engine. Enables early detection, triage, self-help, follow-up, and referrals while generating real-time data for supervision and planning.
Train and supervise CHWs, teachers, community leaders, HCWs, and youth peers to offer first-line mental health support in schools and communities. Improves early detection and reduces burden on clinical services.
Awareness campaigns and school-based initiatives to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking behaviour among youth, families, and communities. Shifts cultural norms and improves mental health literacy.
Co-design training modules, reporting standards, and supervision systems with government to ensure outcomes are measured and supported by national data systems for decision-making.
03 — Inputs
Technical
Helpline, SMS, mobile app, AI-supported screening, case management, dashboards, APIs.
Human
Youth lived experience, Youth Advisory Board, ToTs, program & technology teams.
Institutional
Government partnerships, school networks, regulatory & referral frameworks.
Financial
Catalytic & philanthropic funding, early earned revenue from licensing.
Evidence
Research, MEL systems, national & sub-national data infrastructure.
04 — Outputs
Youth Services
Workforce
Government Integration
Technology & Data
05 — Outcomes
Short-term · 1–2 years
Long-term · 3–10 years
In the field
Every part of TAHMEF — from the AHADI app to school sessions and ToT pipelines — is co-designed with Tanzanian youth, frontline workers, and government partners.
10-Year Target
70% engaged through discreet digital platforms, the rest through community-based support, fully integrated into national systems — leading to a generational shift in mental health care access and attitudes.
Safeguards & Equity
Risks & Mitigation
Gender & Equity Lens
Our Values
We own our commitments, speak candidly with care, and honour confidentiality — laying the groundwork for deep trust and effective teamwork.
We unleash creativity and curiosity to design scalable solutions, relentlessly turning fresh ideas into measurable improvements in youth mental health.
We lead with compassion and an equity mindset, prioritising our own mental health and that of the communities we serve, so everyone can thrive together.
