Mental Voices Africa – Festus (Swahili)

In October 2019, Rooted in Rights collaborated with Mental Voices Africa through the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment to offer a storytelling advocacy workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. These advocacy videos were scripted, filmed, and edited all on mobile phones by the participants in a matter of days! These advocates have lived experience and are working to reduce stigma, improve access, and develop community for people with mental health disabilities.

Content note: Mention of suicidal feelings

Festus Maronga, is from Gachie, Kenya. He’s a student at Kenyatta University studying Diploma in Theatre Art and Film Technology. He loves writing poems and acting. He’s passionate about Child Rights and Mental Health.

Studying Theatre Arts has helped him create awareness on Mental Health through the poems and plays which he writes and presents in public places like churches and other social gatherings.

He is currently working on a documentary film on his journey about overcoming Mental illness. He hopes to get many parents to understand that at some point they can cause Mental problems to their own children and to know how they can get help in case of a problem.

This video is a product of a mobile phone storytelling workshop conducted by Noela Luka, Chairperson Mental Voices Africa, and Allexa Laycock, Editor Rooted in Rights. Initially supported by The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment.

The Professional Fellows program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the Institute for Community Inclusion for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston and Humanity and Inclusion.

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