{"id":3175,"date":"2025-07-20T13:55:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T17:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yci.org\/herstart\/?post_type=blog&p=3175"},"modified":"2026-03-20T14:07:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:07:55","slug":"partner-innovation-spotlight-gejja-women-foundation-shes-getting-technological","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/yci.org\/herstart\/story\/partner-innovation-spotlight-gejja-women-foundation-shes-getting-technological\/","title":{"rendered":"Partner Innovation Spotlight: Gejja Women Foundation & ‘She\u2019s Getting Technological!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
Written by: Edii Rose Mason & Ay\u00e9l\u00e9 Atiwoto, HerStart International Fellows in Uganda<\/strong><\/h5>\n

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 \u2013on both organizations and the communities they collaborate with.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>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<\/strong> to have a greater impact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Game-Changing Opportunity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Based in Mpigi, Uganda, the mission of Gejja Women Foundation<\/a> 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.<\/strong> 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\u2019s backing, Gejja is overcoming more of these hurdles and achieving even greater impact.<\/p>\n

When we spoke to Marjorie, CEO and Founder of Gejja Women Foundation, she couldn\u2019t be more enthusiastic about the collaboration within HerStart:<\/p>\n

\u201cPartnering with YCI has been a game-changer for Gejja. Thanks to their support, we\u2019ve launched our first-ever digital literacy workshop series, gained access to international fellows and significantly expanded our outreach. YCI\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"

Gejja, YCI, participants and community members at a ‘She’s Getting Technological’ event<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

<\/h3>\n

The Pursuit of Gender Equality <\/strong><\/h3>\n

YCI\u2019s 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.<\/strong> With their expertise in women\u2019s economic empowerment and business development, Gejja was a natural fit for HerStart, and our partnership has become a powerful force for change in Uganda.<\/p>\n

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. \u201cBeing a mentor in the HerStart program has been incredibly rewarding,\u201d shared Barbra, a Gejja staff member and HerStart trainer. \u201cYCI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to coaching, Gejja has benefitted from YCI\u2019s HerStart International Fellowship<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0program, 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<\/strong> that will support HerStart goals, advance the unique goals of partners and support organizational learning and innovation. This cross-cultural collaboration has enriched Gejja\u2019s work and broadened its impact.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em>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\u201d. <\/em>\u2013 Gorret, Gejja staff and HerStart trainer<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rapha\u00ebl, 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.<\/p>\n

“Being part of this program has been incredibly fulfilling. Working alongside organizations like Gejja Women Foundation and seeing the direct impact on women\u2019s lives is powerful. I\u2019ve learned so much from the community here \u2013 it\u2019s a true exchange of knowledge.”<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 <\/em>Rapha\u00ebl, HerStart International Fellow<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Through the HerStart Fellowship program, Canadian volunteers like Rapha\u00ebl are directly contributing to building an organizational culture of learning, resilience and innovation<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"

HerStart Fellows and an entrepreneur collaborating together in YCI’s Uganda office<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Power of the Partnership Innovation Fund<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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 \u2018She is Getting Technological\u2019<\/strong>. This project aimed at reducing the digital gender divide by boosting digital literacy and technology confidence for women<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

YCI\u2019s Partner Innovation Fund provided Gejja with $8,000 CAD to run this pilot project with a focus on the annual theme of \u2018Innovation\u2019. 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The impact of the workshops was even more remarkable. A pre- and post-survey revealed an 89% increase in participants\u2019 confidence using smartphones and other digital devices.<\/strong> For women in rural Uganda, these skills are not just empowering \u2013 they\u2019re transformative, opening up new economic opportunities and improving access to essential services.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Looking Ahead to a More Resilient Tomorrow<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBy combining YCI\u2019s expertise in youth empowerment with Gejja\u2019s grassroots approach to community development, we\u2019re creating programs that drive sustainable growth. We\u2019re not just changing lives today; we\u2019re laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and resilient future.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u2019s no way to predict how far our combined impact will extend, both in Uganda and around the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Click here to learn more about our partner Gejja Women Foundation <\/em>and their unique approach to women’s economic empowerment, health and rights.<\/em><\/a><\/h5>\n
<\/h5>\n
Click here to learn more about<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>the HerStart International Fellowship program for Canadians and how you can drive<\/em>\u00a0gender-transformative ideas forward.\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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