Mindful Change Foundation

The Mindful Change Foundation (MCF) is committed to supporting the local promotion of social psychiatric projects that aim to improve the care of people with mental and epileptic illnesses and psychosocial disabilities. It offers professional and financial help. Wherever possible, we cooperate with other organizations active in this field.

MCF is currently active in two regions of West Africa: In the area surrounding Bouaké, the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, we are supporting the SAMENTACOM project in collaboration with the Mindful Change Foundation-Côte d'Ivoire (MCF-CI), the local university, and the National Programme for Psychiatry. In the area around Piéla in Burkina Faso, MCF supports the non-profit organisation Yenfaabima e.V., which was founded in May 2015.

Specifically, the foundation participates in the conceptual development of the projects, their technical support and funding. This support includes the training of health workers and other relevant groups in the treatment of mental and epileptic diseases, outreach supervision, logistics (vehicles, etc.), supply of medication, coordination, organisation and evaluation of the projects. In individual cases, the foundation is involved in essential humanitarian health promotion measures (repairing wells, improving hygiene, financing necessary medical treatment, etc.). 

Social-psychiatric work also includes a commitment to the destigmatisation of mental illnesses and to tolerance of disease-related behaviour.

The foundation also promotes exchange and cooperation between humanitarian, therapeutic and human rights organisations and self-help organisations. It supports all efforts to research the situation of the people affected and to draw their attention to it. This includes public relations work at national and international level.