From a very young age, I carried a deep longing to see a world free from suffering, for animals, for nature, and for people. Growing up in Tanzania profoundly shaped me. I witnessed the harsh realities of poverty, yet I also saw the immense wisdom, resilience, and creativity within the communities.

I felt a deep commitment to raise awareness that lasting change comes from those living the realities of poverty, through their own ideas, leadership, and dignity. This conviction became my compass for the next 33 years and led to the founding of Sawa World in 2007. The organization’s mission is simple: a more equal world, shaped by solutions from the people themselves.

Through Sawa World, the team and I have witnessed the extraordinary impact of locally led solutions. Nearly 1 million people in Uganda and other countries have benefited from our approach, lifting themselves out of poverty through income-generating and eco-enhancing innovations driven by local youth leaders. We call this the “Spark Effect,” a wave of local change ignited by the ideas and leadership of young people living in poverty. It’s a powerful movement, solving poverty from the ground up—and it works!

However, there is still much work to be done to create an equitable world. I firmly believe that international aid cannot, and will not, eradicate poverty. The international aid sector must have the humility to step back. We need to demand sound governance from the most affected countries and work towards a fair international trading system, one that breaks free from post-colonial structures and fosters an equitable and regenerative global economy. Only then can we address the root causes of poverty in the Global South.

Stepping back from Sawa World in May 2025 is not an end; it’s a celebration of what we’ve built and a moment to honour the incredible team carrying this work forward. My dream for Sawa World was always to spark possibility, nurture it, and then step aside so others can take it even further. Watching the team in Uganda carry the torch fills me with deep pride. They embody the vision that ignited this journey: Solutions From Within.

Sawa World will continue to expand the Spark Effect, growing a movement rooted in local dignity for the most marginalized regions of the world.

Forever grateful for this incredible journey, with love, always.