Introduction
A week ago, students, teachers, and community members of all ages flooded the streets of five major counties in Kenya for a historic charity walk. The unified message was clear: We must do something about the mental wellness of our teachers.
KEWOTA’s Background in Supporting Teachers’ Welfare
The walk, dubbed “10k Steps For My Teacher: Walk for Teachers’ Mental Wellness,” was organized by the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA). KEWOTA is Kenya’s and Africa’s leading welfare organization for women teachers. The organization works to enhance the living standards of women in the teaching profession by providing avenues for professional, economic, and personal development. With over 80,000 members across the country, KEWOTA has supported thousands of women teachers and young girls, coordinated major change-driven programs, and partnered with industry leaders both locally and internationally.
Data-Driven Research Leading to the Walk
The Kenya Women Teachers Association reported that over the past three years, close to 60 teachers have committed suicide due to mental health challenges. As an organization deeply concerned with the welfare of teachers, this alarming information prompted KEWOTA’s leaders to find a solution to halt this disturbing trend.
Through its networks in rural areas, KEWOTA identified several leading causes of the high suicide rate among teachers, which are directly related to mental health issues:
- Alcohol and substance addiction
- Work transfers separating teachers from their families
- Stigma
- Lack of counseling and professional help
- Underlying health issues
- Workload pressure
The Solution
After careful consideration and numerous brainstorming sessions, the leaders of KEWOTA conceived the idea of establishing a wellness center for teachers. According to KEWOTA’s CEO, Madam Benter Opande, the wellness center will be professionally operated, fully resourced, serene, and state-of-the-art. It will encompass various facilities such as counseling centers, recovery and rehabilitation centers, training, and other health and fitness amenities. The center will also offer a peaceful environment for nature walks and meditation.
A facility of this nature requires substantial financial resources to develop. Therefore, KEWOTA launched a fundraising campaign to support this vision, leading to the inception of #10KStepsForMyTeacher. KEWOTA organized the campaign, which included a 10 KM charity walk featured in Nairobi, Machakos, Nakuru, Kiambu, Migori, and Kisumu.
To KEWOTA’s surprise, the campaign attracted significant support from teachers, students, parents, corporations, and non-profits. People of all ages and walks of life participated in the historic walk, which was covered by major news channels in the country. This widespread participation highlighted the pressing issue of teachers’ mental wellness and demonstrated a readiness among people and corporations to support the cause.
A Can of Worms
The response to the campaign was overwhelming, particularly from the teachers themselves. KEWOTA’s conversation about teachers’ mental health was met with overwhelming gratitude and emotion from the teachers, who felt a long-awaited relief for solutions. KEWOTA’s research revealed a critical situation. Teachers, who are expected to be pillars of society, are also human beings who can become overwhelmed and burned out. Many teachers reached out to the organization, seeking help and thanking KEWOTA for this bold move. Prior to this, the issue had not been sufficiently addressed, and KEWOTA succeeded in creating the necessary awareness.
Continuing the Conversation
While the solution may not be immediate, KEWOTA has started an important conversation, demonstrating that addressing this issue is possible. Continuous awareness and support will ultimately lead to happy, mindful teachers, positively impacting our children and the nation.
It is crucial to keep this conversation going. Let us continue to discuss the mental health of our teachers, partner with KEWOTA for support, eradicate stigma, encourage teachers to speak up and seek professional help, and champion the mental wellness of our teachers.
KEWOTA’s support line remains open, and contributions, proposals, and partnerships are welcome. Furthermore, the walk organized by KEWOTA was the inaugural event of a series of annual walks for teachers’ mental wellness, with expectations for next year’s walk to be even bigger and more impactful.
To partner with KEWOTA as individuals or corporations, reach out through info@kewota.co.ke or 0784321321.
To support the Teacher Wellness Initiative, you can contribute through MPESA, paybill number 4135329, with your name as the account number.
For more media and links about the walk, please see below:
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WALK - VIDEOS AND PICTURES
CAPTURED BY ADFAST MEDIA TEAM
NEWS COVERAGE
PHOTO GALLERY
