Footpath For Mental Health
Mental health issues aren't talked about much in our community. Young people, especially men and boys, are often silent about what they're going through, and as a result there have been more suicide cases among young people. We organized a “Footpath for Mental Health,” bringing together scouts and non-scouts to climb a mountain 1,567 m above sea level as one way of building resilience and sharing struggles. Through the footpath, young people were able to connect and build a supportive community
We mobilized young people in our community to take part in the Footpath for Mental Health. Surprisingly, many non-scouts joined the hike up Zomba Mountain. Through the journey up the mountain, conversations opened up naturally, and by the time we came back down, participants had begun forming a supportive community. The event showed that when young people are given the right setting, they are willing to connect, listen, and support one another.
Hiking Zomba Mountain taught me that resilience is built in the small moments. Every drop of sweat, every deep breath, every step we took at 1,567 meters above sea level proved that we could push through discomfort when we did it together. If we could conquer the mountain as a group, then the heavier emotions we face in real life feel less overwhelming too. It reminded me that togetherness turns individual struggle into shared strength.
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