community foundationsBlog — CivSource-Africa

Periods Are Power: Empowerment Through Art and Local Giving

Periods Are Power is a community-led campaign by Dwona Initiative that used art, sport, and local giving to challenge menstrual stigma and advance menstrual justice. Held from 25 November to 10 December 2025, in alignment with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the campaign reframed menstruation from a private burden into a public conversation about dignity, education, and gender equality.

Through an art exhibition and fundraiser, Dwona mobilized female artists, athletes, and advocates to turn silence into story and shame into pride, reminding communities that periods should never interrupt a girl’s education or limit her confidence. The campaign also demonstrated the strength of local philanthropy, raising approximately $2,245 in cash donations and $5,890 in pledges, showing what is possible when communities collectively invest in solutions they believe in.

Beyond fundraising, the campaign opened doors for collaboration and long-term impact. During the exhibition launch, Dwona Initiative and CivLegacy Foundation, as Co-Leads for GivingTuesday Uganda, formalized a partnership with Rotary Uganda, strengthening a shared commitment to local giving and sustainable development.

This story highlights how creativity and collective action can shift culture and create real change: a future where girls menstruate with dignity, stay in school confidently, and pursue their dreams without barriers.

Read the full story to explore the campaign highlights, reflections from contributors, and the role of local giving and partnerships in building sustained menstrual justice.

Ednah RebeccahFebruary 4, 2026

The G-Community Gathering

On 7th December 2025, Katwe Kinyoro in Kampala hosted The G-Community Gathering, a locally led day of connection and collective renewal supported by Galui Foundation. For several hours, the community moved to a different rhythm: children played freely, neighbours sat together with ease, meals were shared, and conversations unfolded in a space shaped by trust and belonging. What may look like “simple moments” were, in truth, the building blocks of resilience.

At the heart of the gathering were chessboards, used not just for play, but as tools for strategy, patience, learning, and leadership. Voices from partners and community leaders reflected a powerful shift: children were not treated as passive beneficiaries, but as active participants shaping their futures. As a community foundation, Galui Foundation convened parents, elders, youth leaders, educators, social impact actors, and fellow community foundation leaders, creating a safe space to listen, reflect, and recommit to community-led solutions.

This story captures what community philanthropy looks like in practice: people showing up, contributing what they can, and choosing collaboration over isolation. The impact cannot be fully measured in numbers, but it was visible in children who felt safe and seen, parents who felt supported, and a community reminded that transformation is possible when we act together.

Read the full story for reflections from the day, quotes from community leaders, and the principles guiding Galui Foundation’s place-based approach to lasting community change.

Ednah RebeccahFebruary 4, 2026

Reflections on the GROW¡ Phase of the Community Foundations Incubation Program

Over six weeks, CivSource Africa guided 10 community foundations in Uganda through the GROW¡ Phase of the Community Foundations Incubation Program, a leadership, mentorship, and coaching journey designed to strengthen community-rooted institutions. The cohort engaged six interconnected modules on self-awareness, institutional identity, community-centered programming, financial stewardship, and legacy planning, all aimed at helping leaders align personal purpose with organizational vision.

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A highlight was the closing session, “Know Your Legacy,” led by Hon. Dr. Miria Matembe, who reminded participants that true legacy is measured by daily values and impact, not titles. As these community foundations advance to the Masterclasses on legal frameworks, grantmaking, and resource mobilization, the program continues to build a stronger community philanthropy movement in Uganda, one led by self-aware, accountable, and visionary leaders.

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Ednah RebeccahDecember 4, 2025

The path to legitimate and credible Community Foundations.

The path to legitimate and credible community foundations goes beyond passion – it demands a strong grasp of legal and regulatory requirements. In November 2025, community foundation leaders gathered for a legal compliance masterclass that transformed anxiety into clarity, revealing compliance not as a bureaucratic hurdle but as the structure that protects impact, trust, and long-term sustainability. Guided by Counsel Peter Magelah, participants unpacked evolving laws governing non-profits in Uganda, explored why due diligence and transparent reporting matter, and recognised legal literacy as a strategic advantage for bold, accountable leadership. This session reframed compliance as a core pillar of governance, empowering community foundations to operate with confidence, protect their reputation, and plan for lasting impact.

Ivan MuguyaDecember 3, 2025

Why Every Community Foundation Needs a Strategy?

Community foundations are powerful engines for local giving and social change, but in today’s fast-changing environment, goodwill alone is not enough. That’s why CivLegacy Foundation convened a strategy development masterclass, led by Dr. Joyce Tamale, to help community foundation leaders clarify their purpose, focus their limited resources, and build resilience. The session underscored that a clear strategy brings direction, strengthens credibility with donors and boards, unites stakeholders around shared goals, and enables foundations to stay agile in volatile contexts. As CivLegacy’s Programs Manager, Catherine Mutesi Mugabo, noted, strategy becomes truly impactful when stakeholders own the process.

Ivan MuguyaDecember 3, 2025

Learning Never Stops: A Lesson in Legacy and Leadership

As part of the GROW Program for Community Foundations, participants recently had the rare opportunity to learn from Hon. Dr. Miria Matembe, affectionately called “Mama Miria.” What was planned as a leadership session became a living masterclass on legacy. She reminded us that leadership is not about titles, but about the footprints we leave in people’s lives through consistency, service, and courage. For some in the room, her words evoked memories of meeting her as schoolgirls; for others, it was a first encounter with a woman whose voice has shaped Uganda’s women’s movement for decades. The session affirmed a powerful truth: movements don’t die, they evolve, and our task is to keep pouring into the next generation.

Ivan MuguyaDecember 3, 2025