World Mental Health Day

This World Mental Health Day, we recognise the importance of listening to children and involving them in creating school environments where they feel safe, heard and supported. Globally, around 1 in 7 adolescents aged 10–19 experience a mental health condition (WHO, 2025).

During a field visit to Eswatini, we consulted children, teachers, parents, community members, social workers and police. Bullying came up as an important issue, raised by children and teachers themselves. So we started there.

Ngwenya Central Primary School ran a whole school anti-bullying initiative with our support. Children led the work, developing practical tools to prevent and reduce bullying. The head teacher reports improved learner behaviour, stronger peer relationships, greater parental involvement and a more positive, safe learning environment.

We took everything we learned from the children and created the Anti-bullying poster and the A Mazing Treasures storybook – download them now!