Women And Youth Development Solution (WAYDS Tanzania)

WAYDS Tanzania is a national youth-led mental health organization with eight years of experience promoting mental health and wellbeing in Tanzania. The organization centers young people in mental health promotion, advocacy, community engagement, and systems strengthening to improve access to quality, and rights-based mental health services. WAYDS works to empower disabled and non-disabled women, youth, and children by addressing structural and social barriers to health, education, leadership, and economic participation. WAYDS’ work is guided by four strategic pillars: developing ethical and resilient youth leaders; improving access to inclusive and culturally responsive mental health support through community-based approaches; advancing youth-led advocacy to reduce stigma and influence mental health policy and investment; and strengthening a collaborative, multi-sectoral mental health ecosystem across government, civil society, academia, and development partners. These objectives are implemented through three flagship initiatives: the annual Tanzania Mental Health Summit, a national platform for policy dialogue and coordination; the Tanzania Youth Mental Health Fellowship, a leadership and learning program for young people aged 18–35; and Mental Health Huduma, a multi-year initiative strengthening frontline services and integrating mental health into community and local government systems in high-need regions, with plans for scale-up.