On June 25, I had the honor of joining a powerful session hosted by the Africa Health Collaborative, where we discussed a topic that resonates deeply with me—Mental Health and Identity for Students Studying at Home and Abroad.

As someone who has walked the challenging road of youth leadership, academic pursuit, and navigating identity in shifting spaces, this conversation was not just professional—it was personal.

Why This Conversation Matters

Students across Africa and the diaspora are facing mounting pressures: academic performance, cultural expectations, rising unemployment, and uncertainty about the future. Yet, in many spaces, mental health is still an afterthought. This session allowed us to name and unpack that reality.

I shared stories—some my own and others gathered over the years—about anxiety, burnout, the weight of community expectation, and that quiet but very real feeling of being “in between worlds” that many African students abroad often describe. These aren’t just statistics. They’re lived experiences.

African Roots, Global Solutions

During the session, I also drew from our work at Stowelink Foundation, where we’ve spent nearly a decade building youth-led solutions around mental health and wellness.

We discussed how African practices—like community storytelling, spiritual grounding, and peer support systems—can serve as powerful mental health tools when thoughtfully integrated with modern approaches like digital support platforms and safe virtual spaces.

Because, truthfully, when we talk about academic success, we must also talk about emotional survival. Mental health isn’t a luxury. It’s foundational.

What We’re Doing at Stowelink

This session aligns with our ongoing mental health efforts through:

• Promoting mental health literacy in schools and universities.
• Creating youth-led mental wellness campaigns to challenge stigma.
• Co-designing safe spaces—both physical and digital—where young people feel seen and heard.

What’s Next?

I’m deeply grateful to the Africa Health Collaborative for spotlighting this topic and creating space for African-led solutions. As we move forward, Stowelink will continue standing with students, wherever they are, to ensure no one feels alone in their mental health journey.

To every student navigating pressure, identity, and uncertainty—know this: your story matters, your struggle is valid, and you don’t have to walk alone.

Let’s keep talking, growing, and healing—together.