In 2020, as the pandemic triggered global lockdowns, the rural community of Kirinda, Uganda, found itself cut off from food supply chains, leaving families on the brink of starvation. Responding to an urgent plea from Sylvia Namukasa, founder of the KYEMPAPU Community Center, our founder, Laura Cunningham, stepped out of her comfort zone to send immediate financial aid to the community. While the initial food and soap bundles provided a vital lifeline, temporary relief was not enough—together, Sylvia and Laura planned a foundation with the aim of permanent self-sufficiency and educational support.

In November 2022, with the legal backing of the Kirinda Local Council, Kaleeba, Inc. helped purchase two acres of land dedicated to community agricultural production. By clearing the soil and planting crops, the community began cultivating its own food security. However, a garden can only grow as far as its water supply. During the grueling dry seasons, families would gather unsafe drinking water at the Kyoga river, or had to pay for expensive water outsourced by water trucks. Kaleeba funded permanent water storage tanks, brought and mounted by local hands, and water became accessible for all.

By removing the exhausting, daily burdens of food and water scarcity, children can slowly make their way into the classroom. At Kaleeba, Inc., we believe that local communities already possess the strength, brilliance, and work ethic to thrive—they just need partners willing to say "yes" when the rest of the world says "no." We stand side-by-side with KYEMPAPU, and the people of Kirinda, proving that when you invest directly in human dignity, an entire community can rise.