Leading with Compassion: 2iE’s Commitment to Mental Health and Institutional Wellness

Leading with Compassion: 2iE’s Commitment to Mental Health and Institutional Wellness

 

Returning with Purpose: A Deepening Engagement

From January 19th to 23rd, 2026, Solid Minds Counselling Clinic returned to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, for our fourth visit to the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE)—one of our valued Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners. While previous engagements focused on scholars and technical teams supporting scholar well-being, this visit marked a powerful shift: for the first time, 2iE’s senior management team—its full “Comité de Direction”—participated in a dedicated, day-long mental health in the workplace workshop.

This milestone moment came as part of our broader program aimed at “Supporting Mental Health and Wellness among Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Alumni, and Partner Organizations”, and signaled a deepening institutional commitment to integrating mental health and wellness into leadership practice and campus culture.

Leadership at the Center: When Visionaries Show Up

The full-day workshop brought together over 12 senior leaders, including the Director General, Professor El Hadji Bamba DIAW, the Secretary General Professor Hamma YACOUBA, and heads of key departments shaping the strategic direction of 2iE. Their presence was not only symbolic—it was visionary. For many institutions, conversations about mental health remain in the realm of student services or staff welfare committees. At 2iE, leadership stepped forward.

As Prof. DIAW shared:

“Mental health has long been an unclear and under-discussed concept in our context. But after today’s session with the Solid Minds team, we now see its relevance not only for individual well-being but also for the overall success of 2iE. As senior leaders, we carry the responsibility for both daily operations and the long-term vision of this institution. Supporting mental health in the workplace isn’t optional—it is essential. We are fully committed to applying what we’ve learned and strengthening our collaboration with Solid Minds to build a healthier, compassionate, and more resilient institution.”

His words encapsulate the growing realization that institutional resilience depends on a culture of psychological safety, empathy, compassion and proactive mental health support.

Building a Culture of Care: A Week of Holistic Engagement

Beyond the historic leadership workshop, the Solid Minds team facilitated a week-long series of sessions with diverse stakeholders within 2iE.

We met with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program technical team, who play a central role in the daily well-being of scholars. We also held focused discussions with the Transitions team to explore how emotional and psychological readiness can be embedded into 2iE’s post-graduation support model. The alignment between academic preparation and mental resilience is critical, and we left inspired by 2iE’s openness to further developing this area through shared learning and collaboration.Our team also facilitated group sessions with students and Scholars supported by the Mastercard Foundation Scholar Program, creating safe spaces to reflect on emotional well-being, stress management, and self-care practices. A particularly meaningful session was held with students with disabilities, reaffirming our joint commitment to inclusivity and personalized support.

Planting Seeds of Sustainability: Peer Support in Action

A standout feature of this visit was our two-day workshop for scholars and students interested in becoming peer support leads (“pair aidants”). Building peer support systems is a vital step toward creating a self-sustaining culture of care among students. When students are equipped to recognize signs of distress, offer psychological first aid, and refer peers to appropriate services, institutions become more compassionate and responsive.Through interactive training, students explored what mental health is and the role of peer support in:

• Detecting early signs of mental distress
• Providing emotional first-line support
• Creating inclusive and judgment-free zones
• Bridging connections with the Student and Academic Affairs Departments for timely professional help

Here are some insights shared by participants: 

“Spaces like this, where open dialogue is encouraged and every voice is respected, are essential. The ability to share our views, questions, and ideas without judgment support ongoing connection, reflection and continuous learning.”       Chabi Soubo FARIDATOU— A peer supporter in her third year of technological bachelor’s degree on renewable energy systems and energy efficiency.

“In engineering, we understand that pressure is part of the journey. This training also served as an important reminder of the support systems and services the institution has put in place to support our well-being.”   Kabore B. ABDOULAYE — Master’s student (Year 2) in Water Engineering, Sanitation, and Hydro-Agricultural Development, and Students Guild President at 2iE.

Solid Minds will continue to offer technical guidance and mentorship to this growing network of peer supporters. We believe strongly that student-led initiatives—when supported and resourced—create lasting change.

Why Engaging Senior Leadership Matters

At Solid Minds, we’ve long understood that mental health isn’t only a student matter—it’s a strategic matter. Leadership holds the power to shape values, unlock resources, and drive systemic transformation. That’s why 2iE’s engagement with mental health at the highest level was so inspiring.

When leaders prioritize wellness, they:

• Normalize conversations about mental health
• Break stigma across the institution
• Empower teams to intervene early and compassionately
• Align institutional values with a culture of care

This model of top-down commitment paired with grassroots action is one we hope to advocate for and sustain across our broader partner network.

Shared Vision, Shared Responsibility

Our engagement at 2iE is part of a wider Mastercard Foundation-supported program, currently spanning 36 universities globally, including 24 across Africa and 12 others across Europe, North America, Central America, and the Middle East. At each partner institution, we work to embed mental health and wellness as a cornerstone of scholar success, staff empowerment, and organizational health.What we experienced at 2iE exemplifies what’s possible when commitment meets collaboration. By involving technical teams, scholars, and senior executives, 2iE has embraced a whole-institutional approach to mental health and wellness.Together, we are shaping campuses where mental health is not a reactive service, but a strategic priority intertwined into leadership, operations, and learning environments.

Looking Ahead: Deepening the Roots

We are deeply grateful for the openness, hospitality, and vision demonstrated by 2iE during this visit. From senior-level dialogue to peer support design, the partnership has laid a strong foundation for deeper integration of mental health and wellness into university life.

As the journey continues, Solid Minds will focus on:

• Supporting the development of campus-wide wellness strategies
• Expanding leadership and staff training
• Strengthening peer-led support systems
• Sharing best practices across the Scholars Program network

The week in Ouagadougou reaffirmed our belief that well-being must start at the top, but live at every level. When leadership leads with compassion, institutions become stronger, communities feel safer, and individuals are empowered to live out their full potential.

You can learn more about our work with Scholars and partner universities, visit: https://solidminds.rw/mental-health-and-wellness-in-educational-settings/

 About 2iE:

The story of 2iE is one of a shared Pan-African vision. It began with two emblematic institutions: EIER (Inter-State School of Rural Equipment Engineers), founded in 1968, and ETSHER (School of Higher Technicians in Hydraulics and Rural Equipment), established in 1970.In 2001, the two schools merged to form the EIER-ETSHER Group, aiming to pool expertise, optimize resources, and enhance the impact of engineering education in Africa.Following a major institutional restructuring, the EIER-ETSHER Group became the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE Foundation) in 2006. Its ambition was clearly stated: to train highly qualified engineers and support their professional integration in order to meet the emerging needs of African economies.In 2008, the Government of Burkina Faso renewed the headquarters agreement of the 2iE Foundation, granting it the status of a diplomatic enclave and recognizing it as a public interest organization. Since 2012, 2iE has also benefited from a headquarters agreement with the Government of Cameroon, further strengthening its regional presence.Ten years later, in 2018, the institution officially adopted the name Institut 2iE, in line with Burkina Faso’s legal requirements.Today, 2iE is recognized as a strategic actor in African development, committed to education, research, and innovation in the fields of water and sanitation, civil engineering, electrical and energy systems, computer science, artificial intelligence and innovation, environment, and entrepreneurship.

Visit https://www.2ie-edu.org/ to learn more.