With a shared vision of empowering young women, creating sustainable livelihoods & challenging gender norms, this partnership has already proven to be a powerful force for good.
Partner Innovation Spotlight: Gejja Women Foundation & ‘She’s Getting Technological!’
By Edii Rose Mason & Ayélé Atiwoto | Uganda
Written by: Edii Rose Mason & Ayélé Atiwoto, HerStart International Fellows in Uganda
In April 2024, a transformative partnership formed between Youth Challenge International (YCI) and Gejja Women Foundation (Gejja), marking the beginning of a new chapter in empowering women and creating lasting change for women in rural Uganda through the HerStart program. The collaboration is already making a significant impact –on both organizations and the communities they collaborate with.
This partnership is a perfect example of how meaningful partnership between two organizations can lead to enhanced outcomes. By combining goals, resources and expertise, we are removing silos and increasing efficiency to have a greater impact.
A Game-Changing Opportunity
Based in Mpigi, Uganda, the mission of Gejja Women Foundation is to uplift marginalized rural women and girls. It is a community-driven organization that provides employment and empowerment programs to address the lack of opportunities for girls and women, particularly those in rural and marginalized communities. The organization has already empowered over 250,000 women and girls through their innovative programs, helping them overcome barriers related to menstrual hygiene, education, food security and economic independence. But like many non-profit organizations, challenges like consistent, flexible funding and outreach in rural communities have at times hindered growth and scaling of impact. Now, with YCI’s backing, Gejja is overcoming more of these hurdles and achieving even greater impact.
When we spoke to Marjorie, CEO and Founder of Gejja Women Foundation, she couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the collaboration within HerStart:
“Partnering with YCI has been a game-changer for Gejja. Thanks to their support, we’ve launched our first-ever digital literacy workshop series, gained access to international fellows and significantly expanded our outreach. YCI’s training, resources and unwavering commitment have not only strengthened our organization but have also empowered the women we serve to take control of their futures.”
Gejja, YCI, participants and community members at a ‘She’s Getting Technological’ event
The Pursuit of Gender Equality
YCI’s HerStart program is fostering the next generation of women entrepreneurs, supporting them to build livelihoods that contribute to the 3Ps of sustainable business: people, planet and profit. With their expertise in women’s economic empowerment and business development, Gejja was a natural fit for HerStart, and our partnership has become a powerful force for change in Uganda.
Through the partnership, Gejja staff have received training to become mentors and coaches for women social entrepreneurs. With this new level of expertise, they have been able to expand their own women-led start-up project, supporting local women to increase their economic independence and generate positive impacts in both their families and larger communities. “Being a mentor in the HerStart program has been incredibly rewarding,” shared Barbra, a Gejja staff member and HerStart trainer. “YCI has equipped us with the tools to effectively guide women in starting their own businesses. The increased visibility within the community has also been a major benefit.”
In addition to coaching, Gejja has benefitted from YCI’s HerStart International Fellowship program, which recruits, trains and deploys skilled Canadian young professionals to complete volunteer placements in HerStart countries, currently including Tanzania, Ghana and Uganda. During their placements, HerStart Fellows collaborate closely with YCI country teams and partners like Gejja to provide knowledge, skills and resources that will support HerStart goals, advance the unique goals of partners and support organizational learning and innovation. This cross-cultural collaboration has enriched Gejja’s work and broadened its impact.
“We highly recommend the HerStart International Fellowship program because it fosters cross-cultural learning. The fellows bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, and their diverse backgrounds and expertise have introduced new approaches and strategies, such as innovative tools for documentation and measuring impact. Their energy, passion, and commitment have strengthened our programs”. – Gorret, Gejja staff and HerStart trainer
Raphaël, a recent Research and Learning Fellow in Uganda from Gatineau, Canada, has been instrumental in organizing and facilitating workshops. His work included designing learning strategies, supporting training sessions and documenting success stories to inspire broader engagement.
“Being part of this program has been incredibly fulfilling. Working alongside organizations like Gejja Women Foundation and seeing the direct impact on women’s lives is powerful. I’ve learned so much from the community here – it’s a true exchange of knowledge.” – Raphaël, HerStart International Fellow
Through the HerStart Fellowship program, Canadian volunteers like Raphaël are directly contributing to building an organizational culture of learning, resilience and innovation. As another example, their efforts have helped increase the number of women in the community applying for the HerStart Catalyst Fund grants, a testament to the growing confidence of local women going through the HerStart program.
HerStart Fellows and an entrepreneur collaborating together in YCI’s Uganda office
The Power of the Partnership Innovation Fund
Another collaborative element is the Partnership Innovation Fund. This unique funding initiative, exclusively for partners within HerStart, supported Gejja to launch its first-ever digital literacy workshop series, called ‘She is Getting Technological’. This project aimed at reducing the digital gender divide by boosting digital literacy and technology confidence for women. The 4 interactive sessions focused on how to use social media and digital tools for business ideation, testing and implementation and included a tech innovation competition.
YCI’s Partner Innovation Fund provided Gejja with $8,000 CAD to run this pilot project with a focus on the annual theme of ‘Innovation’. The funding supported critical costs such as logistics, facilitators, supplies and community outreach. The results were impressive: the initial target of 108 participants for the workshop was exceeded, with 156 women attending.
The impact of the workshops was even more remarkable. A pre- and post-survey revealed an 89% increase in participants’ confidence using smartphones and other digital devices. For women in rural Uganda, these skills are not just empowering – they’re transformative, opening up new economic opportunities and improving access to essential services.
Looking Ahead to a More Resilient Tomorrow
As the partnership continues to evolve, both YCI and Gejja are excited about the future and the impact they will realize together. Stella Lukwago, Country Manager for YCI Uganda, shared her optimism:
“By combining YCI’s expertise in youth empowerment with Gejja’s grassroots approach to community development, we’re creating programs that drive sustainable growth. We’re not just changing lives today; we’re laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and resilient future.”
With a shared vision of empowering young women, creating sustainable livelihoods and challenging traditional gender norms, this partnership has already proven to be a powerful force for good. As both organizations continue to collaborate and innovate together, there’s no way to predict how far our combined impact will extend, both in Uganda and around the world.