The SiGMA Foundation has partnered with the Richmond Foundation, an NGO based in Malta that focuses on mental health, to create a joint commitment to mental health, community infrastructure, social care, and empowerment of women. The partnership brings together two organisations that believe that every sustainable humanitarian impact must include the delivery of physical needs as well as the provision of psychological support.
This partnership aims to develop a responsible and long-term collaboration rather than short-term assistance. The partnership will provide support for community-based infrastructure and mental health education and psychosocial care, to create a model that places dignity, stability, and sustainability at its centre for the most vulnerable populations.
Aligning community care with mental health support
The realisation that mental health cannot be separated from community care is the foundation of the partnership. If you provide someone with shelter, safety, and some of the basic resources required to live, but do not work with them on their emotional and psychological needs, you will create many structural vulnerabilities. On the same token, mental health cannot exist on its own in an environment where the basic needs of individuals have not been met.
Through the SiGMA Foundation’s initiatives driven by its community, combined with the Richmond Foundation’s knowledge of Mental Health education, training, and support services, the partnership will create an integrated model that provides a more holistic and person-centred service delivery model. Each of the services delivered through the partnership will give a response to immediate and long-term care needs for all individuals served by the partnership.
Focus on vulnerable young and expectant mothers
This partnership intends to support vulnerable adolescent and expectant mother populations throughout Kenya, many of whom experience social isolation, economic insecurity, and risks of exploitation due to the multiple intersecting challenges they face. Appropriately addressing these challenges requires more than temporary solutions; it also involves the creation of a safe, supportive environment with pathways that lead towards establishing stability.
A central component of this partnership is the importance of supporting teen mothers to help create a better future for them and the families they will ultimately raise. The initiative will provide the support and guidance necessary to increase the resilience and sense of confidence of all mothers involved, and ultimately, the initiative will build more stable villages by developing more resilient family units in the long term.
Core project in Malindi, Kenya
The renovation of a Young Mother’s Home in Malindi, Kenya, is the primary focus of this partnership. The Young Mother’s Home serves as a safe place for young mothers and their babies who have been through difficult situations or have been mistreated or taken advantage of.
The goals of the Young Mother’s Home are clearly laid out. First, it will provide young women and their children with a safe and dignified place to live, which will help to ensure that they are not harmed again. Second, it will allow residents to receive psychosocial support for trauma, emotional stress, and mental health issues. Finally, it will give them an opportunity to create a stable environment where they can start to rebuild their lives with a sense of empowerment and self-esteem.
While shelter is an essential component of this project, it is not seen as an end goal. Instead, it is viewed as the starting point for the recovery process and future stability. The inclusion of psychological care in this type of facility also reflects the overall philosophy of the partnership, which is to treat both physical safety and emotional support as equally important priorities.
Expanding knowledge and capacity internally
The collaboration between SiGMA and the Richmond Foundation has a significant impact on SiGMA internally while providing external support.
The Richmond Foundation will deliver Mental Health First Aid training to selected SiGMA staff. This training will help SiGMA staff identify mental health problems early, respond appropriately, and provide support.
In addition, the Richmond Foundation will conduct mental health talks in a short-form online format for all SiGMA employees. The topics for these sessions will be determined in cooperation with SiGMA’s HR department to ensure they are relevant to SiGMA. These Mental Health Talks will help by informing people about mental health issues and how to reduce stigma, and to create an environment where mental health care is a collective responsibility.
The internal nature of this partnership enhances the credibility of this partnership and allows for the understanding that Mental Health Care is not only externally driven; it is also part of an organisation’s long-term resiliency and responsible leadership.
Perspective from the SiGMA Foundation
Reflecting on the importance of supporting employees in a high-performance environment, a spokesperson from the SiGMA Foundation stated:
“At SiGMA, we work in a fast-paced environment with some of the hardest-working people in the industry. While juggling global summits and constant growth, prioritising mental health has become essential. I’m proud that SiGMA is recognising this and actively supporting the mental health of all its employees.”
This perspective highlights the organisation’s broader approach to psychological care, linking employee support with its external social impact efforts.
A foundation for responsible, long-term impact
This announcement marks the beginning of a partnership built on care, accountability, and sustainability. It is a partnership announcement rather than a project completion update, with further communications expected as initiatives progress. Visuals and additional updates from the Kenya project are anticipated at a later stage as a separate release.
By aligning mental health education, psychosocial care, and community infrastructure, the SiGMA Foundation and Richmond Foundation are establishing a framework designed to deliver meaningful and lasting impact, grounded in respect for the individuals and communities it serves.
For further updates and insights into SiGMA Foundation initiatives, visit the SiGMA website for more information.
