Hosted by Sonita Mbah. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

Wycliffe Ngoko Oloo is on a mission to support vulnerable young people to share what's on their hearts.

As team leader at the Kenyan organisation Kitbag Africa International, Wycliffe convenes sharing circles on soccer fields, in classrooms or under trees – anywhere he can find where people can gather.

"I have seen young people drop their masks and speak their truth," Wycliffe says. "I have seen widows laugh after years of silence, and this is always beautiful."

In this inspiring conversation with Sonita Mbah, Wycliffe describes how his own struggle with financial hardship, relationship difficulties and lack of meaningful work gave him first-hand experience of the kind of challenges facing so many young people in east Africa.

"We have a saying in my culture that says that a community cannot truly prosper when its neighbor is still in pain. And this wisdom aligns deeply with my vision, which is healing hearts and transforming communities," Wycliffe tells Sonita. "That's why I really love this work so much, because this work is not just about trauma and mental health. It is about restoring dignity."

Sharing how his engagement with Pocket Project Practice Groups has shaped his approach, Wycliffe describes how he has integrated Kenyan cultural resources into his approach, including the proverb that, "when a wound is opened to the light, it begins to heal."

Infused with warmth, wisdom and hope, this episode opens a window into a grass-roots collective healing initiative that shows what becomes possible when innovation and African wisdom traditions combine.

For more dialogues at the intersection of inner transformation and outer action, register for the free Climate Consciousness Summit 2025, brought to you by the Pocket Project, which runs online from November 14-20, 2025.

Further Resources:

Kitbag Africa International

The ACE Study in Sub-Saharan Africa

Pocket Project Africa Practice Group

Pocket Project Practice Groups

About Wycliffe Ngoko Oloo:

Wycliffe Ngoko Oloo is a trauma-informed community healer, football coach, and founder of Kitbag Africa International (KAI). He creates safe spaces for healing through sport, play, and dialogue, and advocates for trauma and mental health among children, young mothers, widows, and grassroots communities. Trained in Somatic Experiencing, Wycliffe uses culturally grounded resources like the Kitbag to promote emotional resilience and wellbeing across Kenya and beyond.