Help 23,000 Ugandan Grandmothers Care for Children

Dear Friends of Nyaka,

Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. As we enter the year 2024, I want to take a moment to reflect on our journey so far and share our strategy and goals for the upcoming year.

First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and dedication to the Nyaka mission. Because of you, we have been able to grow stronger and make a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve. Whether you have been with us from the beginning or have recently joined our cause, your contribution is invaluable.

I must apologize for my absence in 2023. I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University. The program was truly transformative and enriching, but it meant that I could not actively engage in fundraising efforts. As a result, Nyaka did not meet our fundraising targets, and we had to make some difficult decisions, including reducing our staff in the USA and pausing part-time staff in the UK and Canada.

However, I am pleased to inform you that despite these challenges, the heart of Nyaka in Uganda continues to beat stronger than ever. In 2023, we were able to reach and serve 23,037 grandmothers who are raising 92,148 orphaned and vulnerable children, and countless community members.

Before we delve into our strategy and goals for 2024, I would like to share with you the top ten (not in any particular order) moments from 2023. These moments represent the incredible work that we have accomplished together: 

1.    The July 2023 Walk Against SGBV - https://youtu.be/17HyVr-8-AI?si=2_mCnUsxCEagDkQe

2.    16 Days of Activism - https://youtu.be/LilVOiK43bU?si=PcsIFK1tFMKlZG7e

3.    Nyaka News series on YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHGqjTaDSOHTDaR6JPAZylPKStc1ZtgA6&feature=shared

4.    Nyaka Founder and CEO at Harvard - We encourage you to read this article on the bottom-up approaches to international development, featuring Nyaka Uganda: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/events/bottom-approaches-international-development-case-nyaka-uganda

5.    MEAL impact statistics - Our Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning team has compiled some top impact highlights that showcase the difference we are making: https://nyakaglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/01.-Nyaka-Impact-Full-Report-18042023.pdf

6.    One-by-One Event in Michigan - Nyaka hosted a gathering of supporters, staff and US board members who came together to celebrate Nyaka's accomplishments and raise funds.

7.    Nyaka Founder and CEO spoke at the UN General Assembly week in September- Watch his inspiring speech here: https://youtu.be/AGFeo1WZcNI?si=cSpw94eFK0D2YVbj

8.    The opening of Nyaka Microfinance Bank - We have established a micro-finance bank to provide financial services to the local community.

9.    Graduation of more students at various levels - We are proud to have graduated students at the primary, secondary, high school, certificate, diploma, and degree levels.

10. Our 5th year of participation in the New York Marathon - We had 21 dedicated runners representing Nyaka in this prestigious event and raised over $148,000. Visit https://nyakaglobal.org/nycmarathon to get involved or run on Team Nyaka this year.

Looking ahead to 2024, Nyaka is focused on innovation, collaboration, and social enterprises. We believe that by embracing these principles, we can create sustainable change and empower the communities we serve. Our goals for this year include:

• Launching the Women to Live program - This initiative aims to empower women financially and provide them with the tools and resources they need to thrive.

• Creating an incubator for youth entrepreneurs - We will build on the success of our graduates and community members to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.

• Leveraging technology in all aspects of our work - We recognize the power of technology in driving social change and will integrate it into our programs and operations.

• Protecting the environment - We are committed to sustainable practices and will work towards minimizing our ecological footprint.

In closing, I want to extend a heartfelt invitation to each and every one of you to be part of our growth and join us in achieving our ambitious targets. By 2035, we aim to serve 200,000 women housing 1,200,000 children, but we cannot do it alone. Your continued support and involvement are crucial to our success.

Once again, thank you for your unwavering dedication to the Nyaka mission. Together, we can create a brighter future for the communities we serve.

Warm regards,

Jackson
CEO and Founder, Nyaka Global

Links:

• http://nyakaglobal.org

Nyaka's Grandmothers joined more than 100 others from around the country for the International Grandmothers' Gathering, which took place in Kampala from October 24th to 26th, 2023. This was a hybrid event organized by the Stephen Lewis Foundation through the Grandmothers' Consortium in Uganda under the theme "Reflect, Rejuvenate, Renew: Grandmothers Rising to New Possibilities."

Our Grandmothers, representing thousands from Kanungu, Rukungiri, and Rubanda districts, connected with fellow grandmothers from other parts of the country. Grandmothers participated in a march to raise awareness about their needs and concerns. During the gathering, one of several held across the continent and in Canada, the grandmothers reflected on current grandmother-led priorities, collectively planned for the future, and shared their needs and concerns with policy leaders to shape the way forward. 

Links:

• Nyaka Website