Nivishe Foundation

What Nivishe Foundation does

Nivishe Foundation is a Kenya-based non-profit organization founded in 2019 that delivers community-led mental health programs to marginalized populations, principally operating from the Nivishe Center in Kibra, Nairobi. The organization structures its work around four pillars: Maternal, Child and Adolescent Mental Health (encompassing Her Healing Journey, Binti Wellness Circles, the Child and Adolescent Well-being Program, and Play for Healing and Learning); the Nivishe Institute for Mental Health Learning and Research (fellowships, community capacity building, and knowledge production); Systems Change covering health, justice reform, and policy advocacy (including the Criminal and Health Justice Nexus Program); and Community-centred Healing and Innovation (creative expression, the Digital and Innovation Lab, and Safe Healing Spaces).

The foundation's service stack combines trauma-informed, in-person facilitation by a network of 370+ trained fellows with a set of proprietary content and digital tools. Notable technical components include the Brain Wave Mental Health Chronicles interactive comic series for children aged 6-12, the Kiswahili Mental Health Lexicon for stigma reduction, Virtual Reality-based mental health education, the WhatsApp Institute for mobile maternal mental health delivery, and the Play for Mental Wellness Fellowship. Programs are delivered free of charge through safe spaces embedded in schools, churches, community centers, and a refugee camp, with no commercial pricing model.

Nivishe is funded entirely through grants and donations from institutional partners including USAID, the African Development Trust, YALI, Echoing Green, and Dovetail, with strategic alliances spanning Mental Health Africa, Kenya Health Foundation, Nairobi City County, Voluntas, IREX, and Basic Needs Basic Rights Kenya. The organization reports quantified outcomes such as 88% of mothers showing reduced depression and anxiety, 89% improved parenting scores, 40,000+ community members directly reached, and a fellow network spanning 10 African countries. Leadership is headed by Founder and Executive Director Amisa Rashid, with a Board of Directors chaired by Nadia Ahmed.

Name

Nivishe Foundation

Legal name

Nivishe Foundation

Website

https://nivishefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nivishe Foundation is a Kenya-based non-profit delivering community-led, trauma-informed mental health programs to marginalized populations, including young mothers, children, adolescents, and refugees, through a network of 370+ trained fellows across 10 African countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Wellness & Resilience Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD), Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)

Keywords

• Community mental health
• Trauma-informed care
• Maternal mental health
• Mental health fellowship
• Psychosocial support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Donor Funding: Nivishe Foundation operates as a non-profit organization funded through grants and donations from funding partners including African Development Trust, USAID, and other international development organizations. The organization does not generate revenue from service delivery but relies on charitable contributions to sustain operations.
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations support the foundation's mental health programs and community initiatives. The organization accepts donations through its website to support operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Nivishe Foundation is a nonprofit mental health organization that delivers free, community-based mental health programs to marginalized communities in Kenya, focusing on maternal, child, and adolescent mental health. It operates the Nivishe Center in Kibra, trains local fellows through flagship fellowships, runs culturally grounded programs such as Her Healing Journey, Binti Wellness Circles, and Play for Healing & Learning, and advocates for trauma-informed mental health policy. Digital tools include a WhatsApp Institute, VR experiences, and the Brain Wave Mental Health Chronicles comic book series.

Product overview

Nivishe Foundation operates as a mental health nonprofit organization with a multi-program portfolio organized around four pillars: Maternal, Child & Adolescent Mental Health; Nivishe Institute for Mental Health Learning and Research; Systems Change (Health, Justice Reform and Policy Advocacy); and Community-centred Healing and Innovation. The organization's programs include Her Healing Journey (HHJ) for maternal mental health, Binti Wellness Circles for adolescent girls, the Child & Adolescent Well-being Program, Play for Healing & Learning (with Brain Wave Mental Health Chronicles comics and Safe Play & Healing Spaces), the Nivishe Mental Health Fellowship (flagship Pan-African fellowship) and Nivishe Thematic Fellowship for Refugees and Displaced Youth, Community Capacity Building, Research and Knowledge Production, Criminal and Health Justice Nexus Program, Policy and Advocacy for Mental Health Justice, Healing through Creative Expression, Nivishe Digital & Innovation Lab (using VR and AI tools), and Safe Healing Spaces. The organization also produces publications including mental health comic books and annual reports. All programs are delivered through community-based approaches without a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Play for Healing & Learning (PHL): An innovative, trauma-informed approach using play, storytelling, and community support to help children heal, learn, and thrive for children aged 5-12 in marginalized, refugee, and crisis-affected settings.
• Nivishe Institute for Mental Health Learning
• Brain Wave Mental Health Chronicles
• Sauti ya Dada

Products and services

• Her Healing Journey (HHJ) Maternal mental health program supporting young and teen mothers through trauma-informed mentorship, psychosocial care, and SRHR education in marginalized Kenyan communities. Delivered free of charge via the Nivishe Center and WhatsApp Institute with reported outcomes including 88% of mothers reporting reduced depression/anxiety and 89% improved parenting skills.
• Binti Wellness Circles Program empowering adolescent girls in marginalized communities through mental health support and wellness circles, with reported 116% increase in social skills and confidence and 69% of adolescents reporting better coping mechanisms.
• Child & Adolescent Well-being Program Mental health and well-being program for children and adolescents in marginalized Kenyan communities, addressing trauma, emotional distress, and learning challenges.
• Play for Healing & Learning (PHL) Model An innovative, trauma-informed approach using play, storytelling, and community support to help children aged 5-12 in marginalized, refugee, and crisis-affected settings heal, learn, and thrive. Has reached 1,200+ children across five vulnerable communities (Kibera, Mathare, Kajiado, Mombasa, Kakuma Refugee Camp).
• Nivishe Mental Health Fellowship Flagship six-month capacity-building program equipping passionate youth leaders across Sub-Saharan Africa with knowledge, counseling skills, and neuroscience education to become mental health change-makers. Has trained 370+ fellows across 10 African countries, reaching 24,000+ community members indirectly.
• Nivishe Thematic Fellowship: Refugees and Displaced Youth Specialized fellowship program training displaced and refugee youth to address unique layers of trauma, loss, and resilience within their communities, equipped with culturally sensitive tools to foster healing. Has supported 500+ displaced youth and families.
• Community Capacity Building Training program equipping teachers, caregivers, social workers, and frontline responders with skills to recognize signs of emotional distress and provide culturally appropriate mental health support in community settings.
• Research and Knowledge Production Community-led research focusing on mental health needs, cultural expressions of trauma and healing, and care access barriers, producing accessible materials such as comics, visual infographics, and audio resources.
• Criminal and Health Justice Nexus Program Program bridging the gap between criminal justice and mental healthcare, providing trauma-informed training for police and prison staff, psychosocial support for incarcerated individuals, and system transformation from punishment to healing approaches.
• Policy and Advocacy for Mental Health Justice Advocacy program pushing for inclusive, trauma-informed mental health laws at local and national levels, shaping policies through technical working committees (including the Nairobi County Technical Working Committee) and amplifying marginalized voices.
• Healing through Play and Creative Expression Program using art therapy, storytelling, music, and other culturally resonant methods for mental health recovery and community cohesion, with 25+ art therapy workshops held.
• Nivishe Digital & Innovation Lab Digital innovation initiative producing comic books, Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, and AI-driven resources to make mental health education more accessible and engaging for communities where traditional services are stigmatized or inaccessible.
• Safe Healing Spaces Trauma-informed spaces at the Nivishe Center in Kibra and within communities, providing refuge, counseling, and community support for marginalized individuals who lack access to mental health services due to financial or social barriers.
• Brain Wave Mental Health Chronicles (Comic Book Series) Interactive comic book series that teaches emotional literacy, resilience, and early literacy skills through engaging stories, relatable characters, and interactive activities (coloring pages, puzzles, games, reflection exercises, mindfulness practices). Distributed as 250+ hardcopy and 800+ digital copies to children and communities.
• WhatsApp Institute Digital platform that brings maternal mental health support directly to mothers' mobile devices via WhatsApp, extending care accessibility through widely available messaging technology. Launched in 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of mothers reported reduced depression and anxiety after program participation
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• IREXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partnership to tackle Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) through a survivor-centered approach, addressing the urgent mental health challenges faced by survivors.
• Basic Needs Basic Rights KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partnership to expand mental health and psychosocial support for displaced communities in Kenya, combining expertise to serve refugees and displaced populations.
• Mental Health AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner working on mental health initiatives across Africa, collaborating on advocacy and program development.
• Kenya Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational strategic partner supporting mental health programs and health systems strengthening in Kenya.
• Global Mental Wellness InitiativemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization collaborating on global mental wellness advocacy and programs.
• Nairobi City CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner collaborating through Nairobi County Technical Working Committee to shape local mental health policies.
• VoluntasmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner supporting organizational capacity and volunteer engagement.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Pact: International NGO operating across Africa and Asia on health, livelihoods, and community systems strengthening. Comparable regional NGO footprint and community-led model, though broader in scope.

Others

• Direct Relief: Global humanitarian aid organization supporting mental health programs in low-resource settings primarily through material and funding support rather than direct service. Thematically adjacent on mental health in fragile contexts.

Direct peers

• StrongMinds: Uganda/US-based nonprofit treating and preventing depression in African communities through lay-counselor-led group therapy. Closest peer — same non-clinical, community-led mental health model serving low-income African populations.
• Africa Mental Health Foundation: Kenya-based nonprofit focused on mental health research, training and community programs in Kenya and East Africa. Closely comparable by geography, non-clinical orientation, and training/research emphasis.
• Mental Health Africa: Africa-focused mental health organization working on advocacy and program development. Listed as a core strategic partner of Nivishe and a directly comparable peer in pan-African mental health advocacy.
• BasicNeeds International: UK-headquartered mental health and epilepsy INGO working with people in low-income countries through community-based programs. Comparable by non-clinical, community-led model and LMIC focus.
• BasicNeeds Basic Rights Kenya: Kenya-based INGO delivering mental health and psychosocial support to refugees and displaced populations. Direct peer on refugee mental health, geography, and beneficiary profile — and a current Nivishe partner.

Broad incumbents

• AMREF Health Africa: Large African health INGO headquartered in Kenya with a much broader health-systems mandate. Mental health is one of several focus areas; relevant as an established regional incumbent operating in the same geography.
• CARE International: Large international humanitarian NGO with psychosocial and mental health programming woven into broader social welfare, gender, and emergencies work. Comparable as a global incumbent addressing mental health within social-services portfolios.
• CBM Kenya: Disability-inclusive INGO with significant community mental health programming in Kenya and East Africa. Comparable by beneficiary focus on marginalized populations and community-based rehabilitation orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nivishef
• Facebookfacebook.com/nivishefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nivishe-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nivishe Foundation