Meet Afkar: A Mental Health Platform Making a Real Difference!

Founded by TLU student Mohamad Osama Kurdi and Mariam Jamous, Afkar is a nonprofit that’s all about making mental health support more accessible and breaking the stigma, especially in the MENA region. Afkar brings people together through free online guidance sessions and welcoming community workshops, creating safe spaces for anyone who needs mental health support, no matter where they are.

Their mission is to break down barriers to mental health care. Afkar offers free one-on-one support sessions and shares honest, science-backed content on mental health through posts and reels. They’re working to make it normal to talk about mental health and to seek help without any fear of judgment.

Mohamad and Mariam were able to gather 20+ volunteers from all over the world — Syria, China, Nigeria, Morocco, India, and beyond — each bringing unique skills and passion to the platform. They research, design, write, and share resources to make sure mental health information is clear, accessible, and supportive.

Afkar’s posts and guidance sessions have already reached thousands, tackling real-life topics like bullying, family issues, and ways to take care of mental health.

What’s next for Afkar? Well, they plan to register as a nonprofit, welcome even more volunteers, and launch a dedicated mental health app to make support even easier to find.