Since RTT’s official launch in September 2023, we have made significant strides in mental health advocacy, education, and direct interventions. Our journey so far has been marked by impact, resilience, and adaptability, as we continue to reach and transform lives. Here’s how we’ve made a difference:
1. Monthly Fellowships & Panel Discussions (Nairobi CBD)
RTT kicked off with monthly in-person mental health fellowships in Nairobi’s Central Business District. These two-hour sessions featured expert-led panel discussions on critical mental health topics, with interactive Q&A sessions that provided attendees with direct access to expert advice and peer support. Within just three months, we had successfully reached over 1,200 individuals, engaging them in meaningful discussions on topics such as trauma healing, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
However, the high costs of securing a venue became a significant challenge, forcing us to pause the physical meetings. But this challenge birthed a new, scalable solution—a shift to online workshops.
2. The RTT Parenting Gallery – A Transformational Online Initiative
Recognizing the profound influence of parenting on mental health, RTT launched the Parenting Gallery, an online initiative that rapidly gained traction. Within just four months, we reached over 2,000 parents and 500 teenagers, equipping them with tools for conscious parenting, child development, and mental well-being.
This initiative featured highly esteemed guest speakers, including Prof. John Brown Ikenye, a renowned expert in psychology, alongside journalists, teachers, and experienced parents. Key topics covered included:
- Conscious parenting – Understanding the emotional needs of children.
- Parental burnout – Strategies for mental and emotional balance.
- Child development challenges – Supporting children through different growth phases.
- Sexual grooming awareness – Protecting children from exploitation.
- Social media and the brain – Helping parents navigate digital-age parenting.
- Parent-child bonding & validation – Strengthening emotional connections.
At RTT, children are at the heart of our mission. Esther’s own experiences with childhood trauma fueled her commitment to ensuring every child grows up in a safe, emotionally healthy environment. Educating parents became a core pillar of our work, because we believe that a well-informed parent raises a mentally strong child.
3. Online Workshops & Trainings
RTT expanded its reach through online mental health workshops, covering a diverse range of critical issues. Within months, we hosted targeted training sessions that impacted over 1,000 individuals, focusing on:
- Mental health and leadership for mega-church leaders
- Women’s mental health and resilience
- Youth and mental health awareness
- Single parenting and emotional well-being
- Addiction and recovery strategies
These interactive sessions provided expert insights, real-life case studies, and actionable solutions to address mental health struggles within families, workplaces, and communities.
4. Physical Training in Schools—Empowering Teachers, Parents & Students
Understanding the mental health challenges faced within school environments, RTT initiated physical training sessions for teachers, parents, and students across Nairobi.
- Within just two months, we successfully trained educators and students in five schools.
- Our sessions provided capacity-building for teaching staff, equipping them with tools to identify and address mental health concerns in their classrooms.
- Topics covered included stress management, emotional intelligence, and mental wellness strategies for students.
5. ‘Give Me My Mind’ (GM-3) – University Mental Health Missions
RTT established ‘Give Me My Mind’ (GM-3), a dedicated initiative to support university students’ mental health. Recognizing the alarming rise in stress, depression, and suicidal ideation among students, we carried out nine intervention sessions within three months at Kenyatta University and Moi University.
- Impact: Over 2,000 students reached, with free counseling services, safe spaces to express their struggles, and guided sessions on tackling academic and personal pressures.
- Research: RTT also conducted studies to identify prevalent mental health issues among university students, shedding light on key factors such as academic pressure, financial stress, and social isolation.
6. Mental Health Talks at Conferences – Women & Youth Empowerment
RTT has been honored to take the stage at women’s and youth conferences, sparking conversations on mental health, resilience, and empowerment.
- Through our dynamic sessions, storytelling, and expert-led discussions, we have impacted over 1,000 individuals, providing them with practical tools to navigate emotional well-being and mental resilience.
7.Mental health Policy change
In August 2023, Kenyan citizen Bob Ndolo, CEO of Bridge Connect Consultancy, petitioned the Kenyan parliament to ban TikTok, citing concerns that the platform promotes violence, explicit sexual content, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behavior, posing a serious threat to the cultural and religious values of Kenya. The petition also highlighted potential mental health risks, including addiction, anxiety, and sleep deprivation among the youth.
RTT Radiant Throne Themes, as a mental health organization, supported the petition by applying the Memorized Behavior Theory to emphasize how repeated exposure to inappropriate content can shape neural pathways, influencing behavior and mental well-being. RTT advocated for content that fosters positive cognitive development and emotional health, aiming to protect the younger generation from harmful information that could lead to maladaptive behaviors and mental distress. When RTT appeared before the National Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee, the organization shifted its position from calling for a total ban to advocating for strict regulation. RTT argued that while TikTok can serve as a source of income and creativity with proper oversight, if left unregulated, it will continue to expose youth to explicit sexual content, unhealthy competition, cyberbullying, body image insecurities, low self-esteem, desensitization to violence, and social validation dependency, all of which contribute to declining mental health.
The parliamentary committee ultimately rejected the petition for a total ban, citing concerns over freedom of expression and media. Instead, they recommended regular compliance checks on TikTok’s operations to ensure adherence to community guidelines and protect users from harmful content.
8. Official Registration with the NGO Board
In December 2024, RTT achieved a major milestone—official registration with the NGO Board, granting us the authority to expand our mental health initiatives beyond Nairobi. This certification marks a new era of growth, outreach, and impact, allowing us to bring mental health resources to more communities across Kenya.
The Road Ahead
RTT’s impact since September 2023 has been nothing short of transformative. With each milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to mental health advocacy, education, and intervention. But this is just the beginning. As we move forward, we envision scaling our initiatives, partnering with more institutions, and establishing wellness centers where individuals can access free therapy and counseling.
At RTT, we believe mental health is not a privilege—it’s a right. And we won’t stop until every individual, from childhood to adulthood, has the support and resources they need to live a mentally healthy life
