Reflections from the Launch of Community Foundations Cohort 3

The launch of Community Foundations Cohort Three marked another important step in strengthening community philanthropy in Uganda. Bringing together 11 organizations from diverse communities, the initiative reflects a growing commitment to building institutions that are rooted in local realities, shaped by community trust, and able to sustain change from within. At a time when external funding systems are becoming more uncertain, community foundations continue to show why local leadership, generosity, and collective responsibility matter so deeply for the future of development.

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The Dream Walk Xperience 2026 transformed the streets of Katwe and Kisenyi into spaces of possibility as children walked alongside professionals from different fields, asking questions about education, careers, success and the futures they hope to build. Through conversations, mentoring, games, vision boards, chess and the Dream Wall, the experience brought young people closer to people already living some of the dreams they imagine, reminding us that sometimes helping a child believe in what is possible begins simply by walking beside them and listening.

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Community foundations remind us that lasting development begins with people before resources, trust before targets and relationships before budgets. The Dream Walk 2026, co-convened by Galui Foundation, CivSource Africa and CivLegacy Foundation, brought this principle to life by placing children, community relationships and local giving at the centre of the experience. Through walking, listening, mentoring and fundraising for the Children’s Education Fund, the initiative showed how trusted local leadership, rootedness in place and a culture of giving can help communities protect their people while building the foundations for long-term transformation.

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Community foundations are increasingly shaping the future of locally led philanthropy across Africa. Community Foundations in Africa: A Landscape Analysis explores how these institutions are strengthening local resource mobilisation, deepening community ownership, building sustainability and creating spaces where communities can exercise greater power and agency.

The report offers valuable insights for funders, philanthropy networks, policymakers and practitioners interested in strengthening community-led development and building a more locally rooted African philanthropy ecosystem.

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EduCycling Africa has launched a bold 10,000-kilometre cycling campaign to champion early childhood literacy across Uganda. Built around the belief that raising a reader is a shared responsibility, the initiative encourages families to read together, expands access to children’s books in villages, and mobilises volunteers to nurture a lasting reading culture.

By turning cycling into a vehicle for advocacy, the campaign shows how familiar community resources can be redirected toward social change. From a parent giving fifteen minutes to read with a child, to a volunteer managing a village book point, it reminds us that philanthropy can begin with small, consistent acts that communities can own and sustain.

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What does it take for a community foundation to find its feet? A recent visit to Otalwa Development Initiative offered a simple but powerful answer: people willing to carry it.

From donated space and furniture to volunteered time, energy and ideas, Otalwa’s journey is already being shaped by the community around it. These acts of generosity may appear small, but together they tell a much bigger story about ownership, patience and what it means to build something meant to last.

Read More: Follow Robert Ninyesiga’s reflection on Otalwa’s journey and the community helping it grow.

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The GROW¡ Tailored Phase session, “Know Your People to Grow Your People,” held under the Community Foundations Incubation Program, invited community foundation leaders to reflect on the relationships, trust, and people-centered practices that sustain strong institutions and rooted communities. Facilitated by Chris Nsubuga, the session explored how leaders can better understand their teams, strengthen internal culture, build trust, and nurture meaningful relationships with the communities they serve. Through practical tools, honest reflection, and shared learning, participants were reminded that sustainable impact begins with knowing people well, listening intentionally, and creating spaces where teams and communities feel seen, valued, and connected to the work.

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The journey of Thobi Pa Lwak began beneath a red umbrella on a gifted piece of land, with a plastic table, a laptop and a shared determination to build something rooted in the community. Today, its rising walls, gate and perimeter posts signal a community foundation slowly taking permanent shape.

Sarah Pacutho reflects on “the interval”: the demanding space between vision and completion, where construction may pause, but the work continues through bursaries for girls, books for the community library and plans for a community hall. It is a story of patience, collective sacrifice and the gradual building of an institution that belongs to the people. Read More:

A leader’s brand is built through trust, consistency, and the experiences people remember long after an interaction ends. During the CivLegacy Community Foundation Program, participants explored how personal reputation, storytelling, and leadership identity shape the institutions they represent.

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For two days in March, 430 girls from communities across the region took part in the Watoto Wasoka Women’s Derby 2026. Competing in the Under-13 and Under-15 categories, the girls demonstrated skill, confidence and determination in a space created intentionally for them. For many, it was their first experience of a structured tournament and a chance to see that the game could belong to them too. With support from communities, coaches and partners, the event provided meals, water, equipment and recognition for every team. The derby showed that the talent and ambition already exist; what girls need is consistent access, encouragement and opportunities to keep growing.

Read more about how the tournament is creating new possibilities for girls through sport.