About Us
Who We Are
The Thriving Teens Foundation seeks to empower adolescents and young people locally in Kenya and regionally in Africa, through Advocacy, Mentorship, and Research. Our main focus is on Adolescent Health, Rights, Education, and Empowerment.
Our commitment is that every adolescent should not only survive the transition from childhood to adulthood but should thrive in it. We aim to promote their overall health and well-being, with special focus on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We aim to create effective customized solutions for the unique challenges faced by the African adolescent, who may also have other special needs. Our solutions are acceptable, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and culture-sensitive; reflecting the diversity of our country Kenya, and the African continent at large.
Our Vision
Ensuring adolescents in Africa thrive through the transition to adulthood.
Our Mission
We seek to improve the adolescence experience for girls and boys across Africa through advocacy, education, mentorship and research. We are committed to upholding the right of adolescents to health, safety, nutrition, education and protection from harmful practices. We seek to generate and use data to develop local solutions to adolescent challenges, especially in special circumstances, through working with partners with a common goal.
A Word From Our Adolescent Health Champion, Ms. Victoria Rubadiri:
“It is amazing how easy it is to take certain privileges for granted when you are oblivious to them, such as being able to take care of your own menstrual hygiene as an adolescent who may be differently abled.”
Board of Management
Tom Mshindi
Board Chair
Mr. Tom Mshindi is a communications expert in media and development communication. He is a communications and business management graduate, previously worked as the Editor-in Chief at the Nation Media Group, Senior Editor at the Standard Media Group and other leading media houses in Uganda and Tanzania. He worked for UNICEF as an, and as the chief of communications for the UNICEF Nigeria office. His work at the UN and as a consultant for the International Planned Parenthood Association and the World Bank fostered a strong interest in children and adolescent health.
Dr. Lisa Noguchi
Board Member
Dr. Noguchi, CNM, PhD, is an infectious disease epidemiologist and certified nurse-midwife with over 20 years of experience in maternal newborn health, research, and program implementation in the U.S., Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. She supports COVID-19 response activities for maternal newborn health services within the USAID-funded MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership Project and preparations for the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference by the Jhpiego Secretariat of AlignMNH.
Dr. Chris Barasa
Board Member
Noel Murunga
Board Member
Noel Museshi is a bubby civic leader passionate about Global Health advocacy, with a keen focus on adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health. A graduate in Public Health from Kenyatta University and a UN
Academic Impact Millennium Fellow, she is propelled into action by a commitment to servant leadership.
She is a Program Coordinator at Reproductive and Sexual Health Programme for Kenyan Teenagers (RESPEKT)
where she designs sexual and reproductive health training materials and strengthens capacity building and
advocacy activities for adolescents within the country.
Dr. Nelly Bosire
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Nelly Bosire, MBChB, MMED (Obs/Gyn), is the Founder of Thriving Teens Foundation. She is a practising obstetrician & gynaecologist, a doctor for over 17 years, with a passion for adolescent health. She is an expert in Health Governance, Policy and Advocacy. She has worked as a Technical Consultant in legal and policy framework for SRHR, for various local and multinational organisations. Currently, she is a Technical Outcome Lead for KEPRECON. She takes a keen interest in the transition of children with chronic medical conditions from childhood, through adolescence, to adulthood with regard to reproductive health. She is also a health columnist.
Technical Advisory
Dr. Wangeci Mbuthia
Board Member and Programme Director
Dr. Wangeci Mbuthia, MBChB, MMED (Obs/Gyn), is a practising obstetrician and gynaecologist, a doctor for the past 16 years, with special interest in adolescents with HIV and AIDS. She serves as the course director for the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) training in the Institute of Family Medicine (INFA-MED), Kenyan chapter. She has a keen interest in continuous medical training and research that informs and updates healthcare professionals especially in resource poor settings on evidence-based local solutions with the aim of reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.
Dr. Dan Odallo
Technical Advisor
Dr. Dan O. Odallo, MPH, PhD. is a Senior Program Advisor with Kenya Paediatrics Research Consortium (Keprecon), with specialisations in Program Management, Advocacy and Social Science Research. He is trained in Demography, Public Health (epidemiology) and Peace and Conflict Studies. Dr. Odallo worked as a Senior Population officer in the Government of Kenya, the Country Representative of the Johns Hopkins University (JHU/PCS), and as a UNAIDS program officer in South Africa
Dr. Conrad Wanyama
Technical Advisor
Dr. Conrad Wanyama is a specialist paediatrician, currently working as a Research Officer with the KEMRI-Wellcome-Trust Research Programme, Kenya. He has worked as a clinical consultant in the LIFE (Life-saving Instruction for Emergencies) project. Previously, he has also worked as a clinical and emergencies instructor for Gertrudes Garden Children’s Hospital. He currently serves as a technical working group member for the MInistry of Health’s development of the Adolescent Health Policy.
Dr. Job Makoyo
Technical Advisor
Dr. Job Makoyo is a public health specialist with an MBA in Healthcare Management. He is also a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Expert and has a special interest in Quality Improvement. He currently serves as the Deputy Country Director for Jacaranda Health. previously, he served as a the Director, programmes and Operations in marie Stopes, Kenya; Technical Lead, Quality of Care, Wish2Action, IPPF; and Senior Manager, Quality Assurance and Service Delivery at PSI
Dr. Yubrine Moraa Gachemba
Technical Advisor
Dr. Yubrine Moraa Gachemba is a subspecialist in training, currently pursuing her fellowship in cardio-obstetrics and cardiac imaging at … . She holds a posgraduate diploma in cardiology and is a specialist physician. She is very passionate about cardiac medicine throughout the entire spectrum of health,
Secretariat
Wanjiru Mwangi
Project Manager
Wanjiru Mwangi is a highly committed and results-oriented professional with a background in Planning and Management. She is experienced in baseline surveys, feasibility studies and monitoring and evaluation; in various sectors, including environment, infrastructure, business, human health resourcing and public service.
Nelvin Agwata
Communications Officer
Ms. Nelvin Agwata, BSc. believes in the power of technology, leveraging various products to equip adolescents with knowledge with regarding their health. She works with children as the Chief Operations Officer, Petu Pazuri, a childcare and after-school programme service provider in Nairobi.
Mercy Weru
Executive Secretary
Mercy Wangu is a dynamic individual with a diverse skill set spanning from civil engineering, administration , to online working. With a background in civil engineering, she brings a strong analytical mindset and problem-solving abilities to any project. Her experience in administrative roles has honed her organizational and communication skills.
Joyce Imusarit
Project Officer
Ms. Joyce Imusarit is a passionate advocate for adolescent moms, with a focus on the “Return to School” policy. From her own experience, she believes that every adolescent mom, given a chance, can excel in life, through the power of education.
Wamuyu Mwangi
Project Officer
Ms. Wamuyu Mwangi is committed to advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights of all persons, especially adolescents and young adults. She is a computer science expert, an experienced peer educator and social media adviser.