Three Innovations Win €2.6m Challenge for Sub-Saharan Parental Support

The winning teams, including EKISIL CBO, Heights and Minds, Atou Nutrition, and StrongMinds, each received €200,000 to scale their operations. EKISIL CBO operates solar-powered hubs in Ethiopia that integrate health screenings, trauma counseling, and digital learning for displaced mothers. In Senegal, the MindUp Tawfekh Keur Jaboot project provides a community-led environment combining childcare with nutrition advice and health services for parents.

StrongMinds focuses on the mental health of refugees in northern Uganda by utilizing trained community volunteers to lead six-week group therapy sessions in Dinka and Arabic. These organizations were selected for their ability to leverage local ecosystems to address the specific vulnerabilities faced by parents in underserved regions. The initiative, managed by Challenge Works and backed by the Van Leer and LEGO Foundations, seeks to address the global gap in parental support infrastructure.