The first time I visited Nyaka in rural Uganda in 2015, I was struck by the warmth, resilience, and hope of the people. Since then, I’ve had the good fortune to return eight times - photographing, filming, and witnessing firsthand the extraordinary impact Nyaka is making.

Nyaka, founded in 2001 by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri, was in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic that ravaged his home village and own family in rural Uganda. Jackson stepped up, first starting a small school and next taking a holistic approach to address every basic need for his community including the education and care of orphaned and vulnerable children, support for elderly women, a farm for food, a clean water system, a library and a health clinic. Nyaka has grown in many ways such as; developing a program that combats sexual violence and more recently has opened a micro-finance bank for the whole community to get banking services and low interest loans to enhance their livelihood.

Nyaka has transformed entire communities and of all that it does, the most powerful force I’ve seen is the Nyaka Grandmother Program.

Starting with just a few women that volunteered to take in the most vulnerable orphaned children from Nyaka’s first school, the Grandmother Program spread from village to village throughout Southwestern Uganda, each neighborhood forming their own Nyaka Grandmother Group. These groups of grandmothers meet on a regular basis, share company, conversation, seeds, skills, and stories. They receive support and revolving funds from Nyaka for the women to receive loans to start small businesses. Each group has a formal leadership structure, bookkeeping and together the grandmothers decide on the distribution of funds and also who will receive other Nyaka resources, new homes built, tools for farming and essential assets like rainwater tanks. Most importantly, these women take in the vulnerable or orphaned children of their communities to join their family, to live with them and to care for them. The Nyaka Grandmother Program has grown to over 23,000 women that care for over 92,000 children. 

Over the years I’ve seen these Nyaka Grandmothers receive support, start businesses, pay back loans, help other grandmothers and raise children, some of whom have grown to be successful adults that are now caring for and supporting the women that raised them. My fundraising goal is to raise $100 for 100 Nyaka Grandmothers. Every $100 loan helps a grandmother start a business, whether it’s raising animals, farming, making crafts, or opening a small shop. These loans get repaid, then passed on to help another grandmother. One gift can uplift generations.

In 2018, I attended a small gathering of Nyaka supporters in NYC and the idea was brought up to have Nyaka become a charity partner of the NYC Marathon. One dedicated person in attendance had a connection with a founder of the marathon, and was able to get us in, that same year. Starting with a team of just five runners, we’ve now grown to 21, and I’ve had the exciting role of being the “Coordinator” for Team Nyaka. This year I decided it was time to step up to fundraise and run myself in addition to organizing the team. Every year at the NYC Marathon, the experience is magical, watching every type of person take one step or stride at a time, through all five boroughs of the city, toward the same goal of crossing the finish line in Central Park. It’s inspiring and energizing to see 50,000 runners and millions of spectators come together with the commonality of participating in an event that is all about positivity, health, triumph and compassion.

I am thrilled to this year be in the river of runners that I’ve previously cheered on from the sidelines.

Thank you infinitely for your contribution to my fundraiser. Through Nyaka, every dollar makes a massive difference and changes lives in Uganda.

Together, let’s raise $10,000 to support 100 grandmothers and their families.

With Gratitude, 

Matt Stauble

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Additional Information:

100% of funds go directly to Nyaka’s programs in Uganda

All donations are 100% Tax Deductible. Upon donating, you’ll receive an email with tax deduction information. Nyaka is an official US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - Nyaka Inc #35-2153719

If it works better for you to donate in a different method than this fundraising page, you can donate to Nyaka in any way and it will still be credited toward Matt’s fundraiser. This includes mailing in a check to Nyaka, donating on Nyaka’s website and all funds transferred through Donor Advised Funds or Family Foundations. Donate and include a note that it’s to be credited to Matt Stauble, or contact Matt to help you make the donation: mstauble@nyakaglobal.org

Contact Matt if you know of a company or organization that may be interested in being a sponsor of Team Nyaka for this year’s NYC Marathon.

Learn more about Nyaka: nyakaglobal.org