Empowering Kenyan Youth: An Interview with Clarissa Soehnchen, Founder of We!Masomo

In the heart of Kenya’s rural communities, a digital revolution is quietly empowering young people with vital knowledge about their bodies and health. At the forefront of this movement is Clarissa Soehnchen, a researcher specializing in software and systems engineering and healthcare innovation, and the founder of We!Masomo—a digital platform dedicated to accessible sexual and reproductive health education.

Clarissa’s doctoral research, completed at the University Witten/Herdecke in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Software and System Engineering (ISST), focused on e-learning solutions to improve healthcare education in resource-constrained regions, including initiatives like We!Masomo in Sub-Saharan Africa.?

Fresh from submitting her PhD, she spoke with us about the inspiration behind We!Masomo, the challenges she faced, and her vision for the future.

Can you share what initially sparked the idea for We!Masomo?

The inspiration behind We!Masomo came during my time at a big four consulting firm, where I had the opportunity to volunteer with Learning Lions, an organization that's also part of the Be That Girl Foundation ecosystem. While working as a fundraising volunteer, I witnessed firsthand the critical need for health education in rural areas of Kenya. Many girls lacked knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their bodies, especially regarding menstrual hygiene products and contraceptives. This realization motivated me to create a platform that empowers youth with comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education.

What unique challenges within Kenya's context is your platform addressing?

Kenya is an interesting case. On one hand, there's significant advancement in digital accessibility and 5G coverage, and on the forefront of digitalisation compared to other African countries. On the other, there's a lack of fact-based, stigma-free education on sexual and reproductive health due to cultural stigmatization and misinformation.?

Adolescents may have access to educational content but often lack the essential knowledge needed to ask the right questions, identify reliable sources, and contextualize information on sensitive topics like sexual health. Our platform focuses on reducing stigma by providing every young person with comprehensive education that is both easy to understand and accessible. We cover essential topics like contraceptives, menstruation, rights and consent, male sexual health, and parenting and pregnancy guidelines in an informative as well as vaccination information to eliminate misinformation and increase awareness, in an accessible format to empower the youth.

How does We!Masomo complement traditional education around sexual health?

We are a digital tool — a web-based application available on the Android app store. Our platform is dedicated to providing accessible and stigma-free education for people aged 12 to 25. We offer reliable information at their fingertips 24/7 because we believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn about their health in a supportive environment. By providing interactive features and multimedia content that are free and easily accessible, we create a resource that complements traditional education methods.

How did you ensure that the platform would resonate culturally and socially with its audience?

While at the consulting firm, I transitioned to a government-funded research institute for software and system engineering, where I pursued my PhD. We!Masomo is deeply grounded in my doctoral research, which allowed me to take research-driven approaches on how we can cross-culturally implement digital e-learning platforms—especially on highly sensitive topics with significant cultural stigmatization.

Initially, we started with She!Masomo, focusing solely on female sexual and reproductive health. However, through various iteration phases and testing with targeted audiences in Kenya's rural areas, we quickly identified the importance of including both men and women in the conversation. We adjusted our content accordingly and measured this with scientific research methods to ensure we resonated with our audience and reflected the social dynamics of the communities we serve.

Congratulations on submitting your PhD! How has your academic journey influenced We!Masomo?

Thank you! It's been quite a process. I didn't talk about it much, so many people weren't aware I was pursuing a PhD. My academic journey has been instrumental in shaping We!Masomo. Transitioning from consulting to academia allowed me to delve deeper into research on how we can serve broader communities in rural or underserved areas through e-learning. My PhD focused on implementing cross-cultural, functional e-learning platforms in underserved communities, which directly informs our work at We!Masomo.

What feedback have you received from users regarding the platform?

We've witnessed powerful examples during our workshops and initial iteration phases. In some cases, participants lacked knowledge on basic topics such as proper condom usage, and still held a lot of misinformation and myths are areas about SRH. Limited resources and incorrect knowledge mean the youth makes uninformed choices. Through our sessions, we aim to clarify these misunderstandings and empower participants to make safer and more informed health decisions, especially concerning their rights and consent in intimacy.

For those unfamiliar with the challenges, what does it mean to educate on rights, consent, and condom usage in these communities?

In many rural communities, both parents and teachers lack information about certain SRH topics. As a result, youth don't know who to ask, leading to misinformation on basic issues—for example, myths such as that using a condom can cause cancer or misunderstandings about female genital mutilation and its impact on childbirth.

We!Masomo targets these gaps by providing easily accessible, straightforward information. Our mission is simple: to create a safe space where young people can ask questions and feel comfortable seeking information they might not otherwise know how to access.

Are these topics something the community is open to learning about?

Statistically, we see that girls often drop out of school when they enter secondary education, usually due to early child marriage or teenage pregnancies. Many don't realize they have options—they can finish school, pursue opportunities, and make informed choices about their futures. By providing education, we aim to build their confidence in making these decisions.

What challenges did you face in building We!Masomo, particularly regarding technology access and cultural considerations?

Developing We!Masomo came with its share of challenges, especially in finding the right local team in Kenya and addressing cross-cultural and technical aspects. Designing the platform required a deep understanding of our target end users to meet their needs effectively. We faced complexities in incorporating the flexibility for cultural diversity, as our platform, while focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, could also be implemented in places like India.

Technical challenges included internet coverage, smartphone capabilities, and building trust with our audience. To make our platform more personal, we introduced fictional characters—Linda and Leo—who guide users through the platform as a big sister or brother, helping to gamify the learning process.

How does gamification work within the platform?

Ideally, we aim for a fully gamified learning approach. Currently, we're primarily text-based and video-based, utilizing comic figures like Leo and Linda. We play with colors and have interactive questions within our e-learning platform. Users can complete courses and receive certificates upon completion. While we're on the right track, we plan to enhance gamification further to make learning even more engaging.

What partnerships have been crucial to We!Masomo's success?

From the beginning, we collaborated with local community centers to test our platform. Then, Be That Girl Foundation came on board as one of our biggest supporters. We wouldn't be where we are today without them. They've provided not only donations but also network and infrastructure support, helping us receive feedback and scale our operations. Their connections have led to meaningful collaborations, mentorships, and workshops that have been transformative for us.

Can you elaborate on how these partnerships have practically benefited you?

Specifically, we've been connected with agencies, which provided mentorship and workshops on improving our external communication and storytelling. Be That Girl has supported us both on a larger scale and operationally, offering feedback on content and cultural aspects. They've also connected us with other NGOs working for vulnerable youths in their portfolio, strengthening our partnerships and expanding our reach.

How has your background in development cooperation and international relations shaped your approach to social entrepreneurship?

My background has been foundational. My experiences in Kenya, combined with my consultancy background, gave me a deeper understanding of local contexts and the practical challenges of creating sustainable impact—and measuring it. Social impact is important, but it must be quantifiable. Pursuing my PhD allowed me to bridge theory with practice, focusing on creating solutions that are both impactful and sustainable. Being proactive, taking action, and asking for help when needed have been invaluable strategies. This mix of academic, professional, and practical insights, along with being present in Kenya, has shaped We!Masomo's approach.

What advice would you offer to young changemakers passionate about using technology for social change?

My main advice is to never hesitate to ask for help. Reach out to others and network. I met Ottavia and Be That Girl Foundation through Learning Lions. Don't be afraid to seek advice and receive feedback — even critical feedback. When establishing a platform like ours, it's important to test, iterate, and try different approaches, adapting quickly to real-world settings.

How do you measure the impact of We!Masomo to ensure effectiveness?

We measure our impact through several key performance indicators, including tracking application downloads, platform accessibility, and the level of user interactions. Our WhatsApp outreach has been a game-changer, as it's often free for many users, allowing them to contact us individually through the application. Workshops play a crucial role as well; they provide detailed feedback on the specific information we're providing, allowing us to adjust our content accordingly.

We've also conducted research to measure our social impact, verified through different iterations and prototypes in my PhD studies. Using scientific research methods, we've consistently scored positively on usability scales, indicating a significant influence on users' behavioral intentions.

Which trends in digital health education are you most excited about, and how do you see We!Masomo adapting to these shifts?

It's quite interesting—We!Masomo originally started by focusing solely on pregnancy, but through testing, we realized there was a greater need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, including contraceptives, menstruation, and cervical and breast cancer.

We're excited about expanding digital learning opportunities in the healthcare sector, particularly in improving vaccination distribution and raising awareness about cervical and breast cancer. We aim to educate community health workers by providing training and certification through our platform. With new viruses emerging, increasing awareness in these areas is crucial.

Do you think there's anything we've missed in our discussion?

I believe it's essential to emphasize the importance of finding the right partners. We!Masomo is incredibly grateful to Be That Girl and Ottavia for their unwavering support. We don't take it for granted; it's highly appreciated. There's still much work to be done—we need to build local collaborations and partnerships, increase gamification, and create meaningful impact in local communities to empower young girls and boys to make informed health decisions.

Thank you, Clarissa, for sharing your journey and insights.

Thank you so much. It's been a pleasure discussing this with you. It's always a learning experience for me as well.