Rural Smiles Foundation

🌐 Introducing SpaceUG.org A new digital home for Uganda’s civil society! 📣 Report civic threats 🤝 Connect with activists 📚 Access legal + advocacy tools 🛡️ Stay safe, stay informed Built by & for changemakers. Visit 👉 spaceug.org @OxfaminUganda @JanSadek @EUinUG @kahsairudebeck @SwedEnvoyUganda @BelgiumInUganda @usmissionuganda @IrlEmbUganda #SpaceUG #CivicPowerUG #ProtectCivicSpaceUganda

We’re heading to Amsterdam! As part of the first cohort of the @NetHope_org Connected AI grant program, we’ll be sharing our experience implementing AI in SpaceUG’s Threat Monitoring Module. Learn more about the program: lnkd.in/p/dTk2tycY #NetHopeGlobalSummit

New Partnership Announcement! We are pleased to announce that Rural Smiles Foundation has signed a one-year Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement with The New Africa Fund, effective 13 October 2026. This partnership strengthens our international fundraising opportunities and creates new pathways for mobilizing philanthropic support for locally led development. 🤝 We appreciate The New Africa Fund for welcoming us into its fiscal sponsorship network and look forward to advancing sustainable, community-driven impact. 🔗 Read more: ruralsmiles.org/rural-smiles… #RuralSmilesFoundation #NewAfricaFund #FiscalSponsorship #LocallyLedDevelopment #AfricanPhilanthropy

Today, Rural Smiles Foundation brought together the first cohort of youth leaders from Bunyoro and Tooro for the Western Region Youth Climate Action Workshop. We discussed local climate challenges, Uganda’s climate policies, and practical approaches to circular and regenerative agriculture. The conversations showed how much experience young people are already bringing to climate action in their communities. During the workshop, we also unveiled a pilot seed grant fund of 5,000 United States dollars to directly support youth-led groups in Western Uganda that are already implementing practical climate initiatives. We want this support to help promising local work grow and reach more people. We are grateful to the youth leaders who participated and shared their experience; to the @GayoUganda (Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO)-Uganda) and @YCCUganda (Youth Climate Council Uganda) teams @ssenono_robert and Bernadette Natukwasa, and to the partners @farmradio (Farm Radio International - Radios Rurales Internationales) thank you for supporting our engagements. We look forward to building on today’s conversations together. hashtag#YouthClimateAction hashtag#WesternUganda hashtag#ClimateResilience hashtag#YouthLeadership

📢 Call for Proposals Rural Smiles Foundation is offering flexible seed grants of USD 500 to youth-led groups implementing practical climate and environmental projects in Western Uganda. Groups do not need to be formally registered but must demonstrate basic organization and previous climate or environmental work. Applications open on 1 October 2026 and close on 31 October 2026. Learn more and apply: ruralsmiles.org/call-for-pro…

Yesterday, Rural Smiles Foundation participated in an online capacity-building session on the National Apprenticeship and Graduate Volunteerism Program, implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. The session strengthened our understanding of how host institutions can provide structured, meaningful and well-supervised opportunities for recent graduates to gain practical workplace experience, professional mentorship and career-building skills. As Rural Smiles Foundation continues to strengthen our programmes and organisational systems, we are exploring opportunities to host graduate volunteers across areas including communications and digital media, programme support, monitoring and evaluation, community health, digital rights and climate resilience. We are committed to ensuring that any graduate placement we host is more than additional manpower. It should be a genuine learning opportunity where young professionals can build practical skills, confidence, professional networks and experience that supports their transition into employment. We appreciate the @Mglsd_UG (Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development) for creating this platform and supporting institutions to contribute to youth skills development and employability. #YouthEmployment #graduatevolunteerism #𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #Uganda #YouthEmpowerment #workbasedlearning

From applications to action: Western Uganda’s young climate leaders are coming together. Following a competitive call that attracted 247 applications from across Western Uganda, @RuralSmiles has completed the selection of participants for the first Youth Climate Action Workshop, bringing together young people from the Bunyoro and Rwenzori (Greater Tooro) sub-regions. 📅 26 September 2026 ⏰ 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM 📍 Misericordia Hotel, Rugondora Street, Karuguuza, Kibaale District The workshop will create a practical learning and networking space where young people can strengthen their understanding of climate change, climate governance, locally led action, circular and regenerative approaches, and their role in advancing climate solutions within their communities. Participant selection considered not only the strength of individual applications, but also fair geographic representation across districts, gender balance, community engagement, and the potential for participants to share learning through their organisations, groups and local networks. As the Western Regional Host of the @YCCUganda, Rural Smiles Foundation is committed to strengthening a connected network of young climate actors who can turn knowledge into meaningful community-level action. We are delivering this workshop in partnership with @GayoUganda @YCCUganda @farmradio We look forward to welcoming the selected participants to Kibaale. #YouthClimateAction #ClimateLeadership #WesternUganda #YouthLeadership #ClimateAction #LocallyLedClimateAction #Bunyoro #Rwenzori #ClimateJustice #RuralSmilesFoundation @UNDPUganda @OxfaminUganda @NLinUganda @SwedeninUG @BelgiumInUganda

Youth aged 18–35 from Bunyoro, Rwenzori, Ankole & Kigezi Sub-regions are invited to apply for our Youth Climate Action Workshops. Fill the Expression of Interest form: forms.gle/Xx7CZZGM45Zakywp9 @GayoUganda @YCCUganda @geofreyam

SPACEUG, hosted by Rural Smiles Foundation, is licensed by @UCC_Official to provide Online Data Communication Services under certificate number UCC/ODC/548/305. Register to share community issues and join constructive dialogue: spaceug.org/signup?ref=Space… #SPACEUG #CommunityVoices

We are committed to the lawful, ethical, and rights-based handling of personal data across all our programming, guided by respect for privacy, dignity, accountability, and trust.

We are proud to introduce the dedicated Board Members of the Rural Smiles Foundation, whose leadership, guidance, and commitment continue to shape our mission of sustainably empowering rural communities across Uganda. Our board brings together experience in community development, governance, advocacy, finance, media, and social impact, helping us strengthen our work in health rights, digital rights, economic empowerment, civic space, and renewable energy. We are grateful for their service, vision, and belief in building inclusive, resilient, and empowered communities. #RuralSmilesFoundation #Leadership #CommunityEmpowerment #CivicSpace #DigitalRights #HealthRights #Uganda

We are pleased to release the first quarterly report for the SPACEUG Threat Monitoring & Referral Tool covering January to March 2026. This first report serves as a baseline for future reporting and highlights emerging civic space trends across East Africa, including: • intimidation of civic actors • digital surveillance, online harassment and internet shutdowns • restrictions on civic participation • threats affecting journalists, activists, and community organizers We acknowledge the support of @CIVICUSalliance through the Crisis Response Fund (FSM) for supporting the development of SPACEUG, @DigiDefenders (DDP) / @hivos for supporting the SPACEUG Threat Monitoring Module, and the @accessnow Digital Security Helpline and Incident Response Team for technical guidance and digital security support. Read the full report: ruralsmiles.org/spaceug-rele…

The cancellation of RightsCon 2026 is deeply concerning for civic space, digital rights, and democratic participation globally. At a time when open dialogue, collaboration, and protection of civic actors are more important than ever, platforms that bring together civil society, technologists, human rights defenders, governments, and communities must be protected and strengthened not restricted. As Rural Smiles Foundation, we stand in solidarity with @accessnow @rightscon , the global digital rights and civic space community following the cancellation of RightsCon 2026 in Zambia. We remain committed to advancing civic participation, digital resilience, human rights, and inclusive democratic engagement through initiatives such as SPACEUG. Read our full statement here:ruralsmiles.org/statement-on… #RightsCon #DigitalRights #CivicSpace #HumanRights #Democracy #CivilSociety #InternetFreedom

Rural Smiles Foundation is proud to have participated in the global consultation that informed the “Funding Civil Society Freedom” report by Peace Direct and partners (@CIVICUSalliance @GlobalGiving @adduk @thesharetrust ) The report highlights the importance of flexible, trust-based, and locally led funding for civil society organisations across the Global South. As grassroots actors working on civic space, digital rights, health rights, and community empowerment in Uganda, we believe sustainable change requires shifting power and resources closer to communities. Read the full report here: peacedirect.org/publications… #ShiftThePower #LocallyLed #CivilSociety #FlexibleFunding #CivicSpace #Uganda

We’re open for partnerships 🚀 @RuralSmiles is scaling impact in: ✔ Health systems ✔ Civic space & human rights ✔ Digital innovation (#SpaceUG) ✔ Women’s empowerment 👉 Apply: ruralsmiles.org/partnership 📩 [email protected] #Partnerships #charity @AfroLeadership_

We successfully held a consultative meeting with LC I, LC II & Subcounty Councillors in karama subcounty under our Youth Voices for Peace initiative. The discussions focused on key community challenges, including land disputes, GBV, youth exclusion & misinformation, while co-creating local solutions for dialogue, participation & peace. We remain committed to building peaceful, inclusive & resilient rural communities. #YouthVoicesForPeace #Peacebuilding #YouthParticipation #RuralSmilesFoundation @BalaamBarugahar @UNDPUganda @CivFund_ @NationalSIGUg @Moglsd_UG @EUinUG @SwedEnvoyUganda @JanSadek