Mental Wellbeing in Everyday Care for Vulnerable Children

Creating Safety and Belonging for Vulnerable Children

Children who come to Mashujaa in the Making often carry experiences that leave deep and lasting marks. Many have faced neglect, violence, abandonment, or prolonged instability at a young age. These experiences affect not only their physical safety, but also their mental wellbeing, emotional regulation, and ability to trust adults and their surroundings.

For us, mental health is not primarily about diagnoses or labels. It is about safety, stability, and creating the conditions where children can feel secure enough to be children again.

Stability and structure as a foundation for mental wellbeing

A predictable daily routine, access to education, and the presence of consistent, caring adults are essential for children who have lived through uncertainty. When children know what to expect, who will be there for them, and that their basic needs will be met, it creates a foundation for emotional safety and psychological recovery.

Quiet, focused activities — such as playing chess together — can be especially meaningful. These moments encourage concentration, patience, and a sense of control. For children whose lives have often been shaped by unpredictability, such activities offer a calm and safe space where they can experience mastery, confidence, and trust.

Belonging and resilience through movement and play

At Mashujaa, we work intentionally with preventive mental health approaches through structured activities. Our Dance Academy and Football Academy are not simply recreational programs; they are key tools for emotional regulation, social connection, and identity building.

Through dance and football, children are given opportunities to:

• experience achievement and personal growth
• express emotions through movement
• build trust and cooperation with peers
• strengthen self-esteem and a sense of belonging

For many of the children, these programs represent their first experience of succeeding within a safe, supportive, and encouraging community.

The need for strengthened psychological support

While structure, routine, and activity play a crucial role, we also see clearly that many children need additional professional support. Traumatic experiences can have long-term psychological effects, and without appropriate care, these challenges may follow children into adolescence and adulthood.

There is therefore a growing need for:

• increased access to psychologists and mental health professionals
• structured psychosocial support
• early intervention that helps prevent more severe mental health challenges later in life

Early support is not only vital for the individual child, but also for families, communities, and society as a whole.

Creating long-term impact

When children are met with safety, care, and opportunities to develop healthy coping strategies, the impact reaches far beyond the present moment. Improved mental wellbeing strengthens children’s ability to engage in education, build relationships, and move toward independent and meaningful lives.

At Mashujaa in the Making, we work every day to ensure that children are not only protected from harm, but are given the tools, support, and environment they need to thrive. This work is made possible through dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters who believe in every child’s right to safety, dignity, and belonging.

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