Urgent Support Needed for Families Affected by Devastating Terrorist Attack in Uganda

Women from Hope for Rural Women during their beekeeping project.

Uganda was recently struck by a horrific terrorist attack that targeted Lhubiriha Secondary School in the border town of Mpondwe. The attack, carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), resulted in the loss of at least 37 lives, with the majority being innocent students. This tragedy has deeply impacted the Rockflower community, particularly three members of our partner organization, Hope for Rural Women, who have tragically lost their children to this senseless violence.

The ADF, known for its history of violence in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has caused immense suffering over the years. According to a congressional report, the armed rebel group has razed schools, villages, and U.N. outposts, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians between 2014 and 2022. With ties to ISIL (ISIS), the ADF has utilized the volatile eastern DRC as a base for launching attacks, further destabilizing the region.

The recent attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School marked one of the deadliest incidents in Uganda since the twin bombings in Kampala in 2010. The tragedy claimed the lives of innocent students, leaving behind grieving families and a shocked community. The impact has been particularly devastating for our partners in the Kasese district of Uganda, whose children have been taken from them too soon.

Recognizing the urgent need for support, Rockflower has sent funds to Hope for Rural Women to assist in covering the immediate needs of the affected families. However, the road to recovery will be long and arduous. The families who lost their children in the attack require ongoing support to help them cope with the emotional and psychological trauma they have endured.

Hope for Rural Women’s director, Juliet said, “I am equally devastated by what I saw on the ground here... It was horrible, here 41  innocent students being killed, majority burnt beyond recognition and scores abducted. Yes the women need support especially the 3 women who lost their children in the attack. DNA tests to match relatives of those who were burnt beyond recognition will be carried out. More prayers are needed.”

At this critical time, we stand in solidarity with our partners in Uganda. It is imperative that we come together as a global community to support the affected families and help rebuild their lives. By providing financial assistance, emotional support, and access to necessary resources, we can help these women, their families, and the community heal from the profound impact of this terrorist attack.

KYID is Championing Rights for Individuals with Dwarfism & HIV/AIDS in Uganda

Rockflower partner, Kinyamaseke Youths in Development (KYID), is making significant progress in advocating for the rights and well-being of individuals with dwarfism and HIV/AIDS. Dwarfism, a condition that affects adult height, and the challenges faced by those living with it have long been neglected and stigmatized. KYID aims to change this narrative and create a more inclusive society for marginalized groups through their work.

KYID recognizes the unique challenges faced by individuals with dwarfism. They are often subjected to discrimination, stigma, and misconceptions, leading to their marginalization within communities. Moreover, poverty, limited access to education, employment opportunities, and public infrastructure further exacerbate their vulnerability. KYID is committed to addressing these issues and ensuring the rights and potential of individuals with dwarfism are acknowledged.

The project undertaken by KYID was initiated during an HIV/AIDS training session for the community when a person with dwarfism stood up to share their story and the challenges they faced. It became clear that there was a lack of awareness and a great deal of discrimination faced by individuals with dwarfism regarding HIV/AIDS. Motivated by their experiences and challenges, KYID embarked on a mission to provide support and create awareness.

One of the key activities conducted by KYID was a comprehensive two-day training program on the causes, transmission, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Participants were equipped with the necessary knowledge to protect themselves and others from the disease. Moreover, they were empowered to become advocates within their communities, spreading awareness and challenging harmful stereotypes.

KYID also facilitated a dialogue with 30 local and cultural leaders to discuss the rights of individuals with dwarfism. The objective was to debunk myths and misconceptions while increasing understanding and support for their inclusion. By engaging influential leaders, KYID aims to foster a broader societal change and promote the rights of individuals with dwarfism.

To reach a wider audience, KYID organized a radio program focused on raising community awareness about the rights and freedoms of people with dwarfism. The program emphasized the legal framework and international conventions pertaining to the rights of persons with disabilities. The response from the community was positive, with many expressing sympathy and recognizing the need to support individuals with dwarfism at all levels.

During their initiatives, an emerging issue came to light as a person living with albinism shared her challenges. Albinos, another group of people with disabilities, face discrimination and even violence due to harmful cultural beliefs. KYID intends to address these concerns and work towards safeguarding the rights and well-being of individuals with albinism as well.

KYID's efforts are commendable as they strive to create an inclusive society where all individuals, regardless of their disabilities, are respected, supported, and empowered. By advocating for the rights of people with dwarfism and HIV/AIDS, KYID is paving the way for a more equal and accepting Uganda.

Mategemeo Women Association Expanding the Local Fruit & Vegetable Industry

Rockflower has agreed to fund Mategemeo Women Association to purchase 3 fruit blenders to make juice and two solar dehydrators to preserve vegetables for the dry season. The organization has continued to actively engage local and global stakeholders and work together to support vulnerable women and girls who need support to uplift their lives.

Over the past few years, Mategemeo has worked to create a Revolving Loan Scheme to fund women owned small businesses in the region. The fund has been highly successful and they have been able to provide business training to 120 successful, women owned businesses and micro-loans to more than 200. The fund continues to grow alongside the businesses that it funds and the local economy.

In a recent meeting, local fruit and vegetable vendors requested supplies to improve their offerings. Fruits and vegetables are abundant in the market and their value is relatively low in their raw form. However, processed fruit and vegetable products like juices and dried products are much less common and therefore more valuable. The vendors see an opportunity to increase their profit, provide products that aren’t currently available locally and decrease food waste with a few additional tools.

The members of Mategemeo have been able to pool their own resources to partially fund the project and Rockflower has agreed to fund the remainder. Collaborating to bring new products to the market, eliminate food waste and create sustainable business opportunities for women is a true example of the Currency of Mind in action.

Scaling Up Flicker of Hope's Bio-Briquette Work

Rockflower is pleased to announce that following the success of their project, Promoting Smokeless Fuel & Sustainable Incomes for Women, Flicker of Hope will be scaling this project and bringing it to new communities. Flicker of Hope aims to organize and empower vulnerable rural populations in drought prone areas of Kenya, with an emphasis on women and children, by helping them to build sustainable livelihoods and to empower the communities to become self-reliant.

They will follow the same two-fold strategy to bring smokeless bio-briquettes and cookstoves to the Boose Village, one of the poorest communities in the county and will work to reduce deforestation, utilize untapped resources, increase public health, and provide income to rural women through the  production of smokeless bio-briquettes. The briquettes are made primarily from brush and bushes, which until now have not been utilized as a resource and also inhibit forest growth. Currently, the main sources of fuel are firewood, charcoal and kerosene. The first two produce smoke which is both unhealthy and contributes to pollution, and kerosene is often in short supply.

This phase of the project will employ 400 women to produce the briquette charcoal from wood waste and farm debris as an alternative energy source to fuel homes, institutions and businesses in villages and towns. This energy source will be a more affordable option for families and businesses and will help rehabilitate land through agroforestry and promote the planting of trees on farms.

This project is in line with Kenya’s national priorities for environmental preservation. Flicker of Hope will provide education around the local effects of deforestation and climate change as well as the benefits of utilizing bio-briquettes instead of burning wood in homes. They will also create entrepreneurial opportunities for women in rural villages who may not have other sources of income. 

Overall, Flicker of Hope aims to solve multiple problems with one simple, innovative solution. The organization is scaling their reach and to empowering more women to gain income, while aiding in public health, reforestation, replenishing watersheds and tapping an underutilized natural resource. 

A Year in Reflection: UWADS’ Impact in 2022

Uganda Women Advocacy and Development Services (UWADS) has been working to give women and girls a voice and promote agency regarding gender, economic well being, education, leadership and decision making since 2009. Their mission is to train, sensitize and empower women so that they are able to influence and make decisions that affect their lives. To date UWADS has helped over 500 women across three communities. Recently, the organization provided an end of year report for 2022 as well as an update on the first few months of this year.

In 2022, the team at UWADS sought to uplift women in their communities and combat the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during the year they were also faced with a number of devastating floods in Mbale followed by droughts that only added to the challenges. Despite all of this, they found a way to adapt their work and provide support for the evolving needs of the people that rely on them. In addition to their educational programs, they managed to aid in disaster relief for flood victims by providing food, utensils and blankets to more than 20 households.

This year, UWADS started an education fund with Rockflower’s support that they chose to title the UWADS Tine Education Fund (UTEF) named after Rockflower’s founder, Tine Ward. Through this fund they were able to keep more than 15 students in school. Many of the students are exceeding expectations with their grades and have ambitions of attending university in just a few years.

Education is a key pillar of the work of this organization. In addition to supporting those that attend school, they also seek to provide those without a formal education with practical skills to earn an income. They continued to run bakery trainings and five women from the cohort this year moved on to create their own small businesses selling mandazi, buns, and bagiya rolls. To date 24 women have graduated from the bakery training program and are able to earn an income with this skill. UWADS graduates run two thriving local bakeries and work on training as many other women as possible. 

This year UWADS also trained 40 women in tailoring and are working to secure deals with schools so that the trainees can sew uniforms. In order to support all of these initiatives, the savings and loan program was established to provide seed money for small businesses and allow the community to grow economically. The contributions to the fund come from the profits of small businesses, and this allows for those businesses, and new ones to take out loans as needed.

The high inflation of basic necessities has greatly impacted the area this past year. The cost of food has increased so much that many are struggling to provide food for their families. It has also decreased the profit margins of the bakery program. In response to this challenge, UWADS began training women in raising pigs and poultry on a small scale to create more local food sources. Those without basic education in Uganda struggle to find any type of employment, so UWADS’ vocational trainings are vital to women in poverty.

In 2023, UWADS plans to create a full vocational school for unemployed women. They have already acquired the land and started the brick work for this ambitious project. This will provide a single location for all types of vocational education and allow the organization to expand their offerings. Connecting with neighboring districts and expanding their reach is also a priority for 2023. The team at UWADS has accomplished so much in 2022 and there’s no doubt that they will be able to scale their work and extend their reach this year.

The Impact of The Earthquakes on Syria

PC: CCSD

It’s hard to know where to begin when writing about the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday February 6th. The media has been abuzz with updates, statistics and response efforts. However, over the past few days, the news cycle seems to be moving forward. Currently, the death toll is estimated at over 36,000 people – a number that most of us cannot even fathom. To help conceptualize this, it would be the equivalent of losing the student population of over 70 US high schools in just one week. 

Undoubtedly it will take years to rebuild all of the infrastructure that has been lost. For the embattled territories of Northwest Syria, the earthquake is added to a decade of conflict, obstruction of aid and displacement. There are more than 4 million Syrians depending on aid from the UN and other NGOs and whilst aid to Turkey has greatly increased in the wake of the earthquake, the border situation in Syria has left the Northwest territories with even less humanitarian support. Due to objections from the Russian and Syrian governments, the only route into Syria is by crossing through Turkey. At this time, a UN resolution in place only allows UN agencies to cross the border and provide aid. Outside of these agencies, the folks on the ground, living in Syria are the only people able to provide aid to those in need. For this reason, it is absolutely crucial that we funnel funding toward Syrian based NGOs. Any other solutions to this issue will require widespread political pressure in order to open borders and bring relief. 

Rockflower Partner, Center for Civil Society and Democracy, is one such organization based in Syria working to help with recovery and displacement. On February 6th they issued a statement explaining the devastation and documenting their urgent needs. These include people to help with rescue operations, medical personnel and supplies, food, water and blankets, temporary shelters fit for cold weather, communication support, funding for organizations supporting women and mental health support for those affected. 

We have been in touch with CCSD, and their team told us, “The needs are huge, people have lost family and friends, many people have lost all their possessions including paperwork and many homes are unsafe to enter. CCSD’s support is structured and prioritized around a few key areas: humanitarian assistance (tents, food, water, hygiene kits, support for burials), logistical and coordination support, communication assistance (internet support), and psychosocial support.  The weather continues to be extremely cold. Much more help is needed for shelter (tents and blankets) and heat (wood burning stoves or electric heaters), many people are still on the streets. The most vulnerable – children, people with disabilities, and women need more focused support. Children need jackets and warm clothes.  Families with homes intact have taken in IDPs (internally displaced persons) and they need support.”

Despite the global narrative moving forward, Syrians are suffering and they are not receiving anything close to adequate resources to help them recover from this disaster. A recent tweet from Omar D. Foda (@EgyptsBeer) resonates strongly, “People living in the Middle East are not some special species that becomes more immune to tragedy the more they experience it. They are humans who are suffering at levels that are almost inconceivable. To believe otherwise is to justify your cold indifference.” Please make it a priority to support Syrian based organizations like CCSD as they work on the ground, leading recovery efforts.

Updates on Tine Model Girls School’s Three Campuses

One of Rockflower’s earliest projects, the Tine Model Girls School, named by the people of the village after Rockflower’s Founder, Tine Ward, began in 2014 and is operated by Community Services Program (CSP) in Pakistan. Over the course of three very impactful trips to Pakistan, Tine met Siddique Hussain, CSP’s President and through the power of the Currency of Mind™, the idea for a school was born. Creating a school for girls in Pakistan who have historically had little to no access to education has been no small feat. The mission of TMGS is to provide vulnerable students with positive thinking, vocational skills and confidence to realize their dreams, while teaching them the skills necessary to take responsibility for and transform their lives. Today, there are three Tine Model Girls Schools, in Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, and Islamabad, with a combined enrollment of 428 children. CSP’s President, Siddique Hussain recently created a report on the schools on their progress.

The Dhoke Liaquat Campus:

CSP chose to create schools in these three communities based on the lack of available education, specifically education accessible to girls, and on the lack of awareness of the importance of educating girls. This first school was established in Dhoke Liaquat, a rural community in Islamabad where 60% of the population are migrants from other parts of Pakistan who have been relocated due to conflict and natural disasters. These families lacked the resources to send their children to school and told CSP during their initial assessment that their children were more likely to beg in the street for money than to attend school because of the poor economic conditions. They told CSP that if they had an option to give their children an education, they would send their boys and girls to school. Since the creation of the school, 185 students are enrolled from playgroup age to grade 5. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to educate children in-person became an insurmountable challenge. The schools were not equipped for remote learning, so in 2021, they sought a solution to this problem and partnered with Origin Learning Fund to bring remote learning to students at the Dhoke Liaquat campus. Origin Learning Fund’s founder, Tania Rosas, is the creator of O-Lab, an offline app for inclusive and personalized learning designed for at-risk indigenous and refugee children and youths worldwide. The O-lab app is preloaded with educational content, in both the language taught in school as well as a native language and does not require students or teachers to have access to an internet connection, a game changer for those in such remote locations. Rockflower committed to funding the partnership between CSP and the Origin Learning Fund as they launched a pilot project to supply tablets and bring digital literacy and education to underprivileged students in Pakistan while also training teachers on this technology and style of learning. The program has been highly successful, and as more funding becomes available, the program will expand to the other campuses.

The Chack Sharda Campus:

The second Tine Model Girls School is based in the remote village of Chack Sharda, with a population of 1,250 people who work primarily in agriculture and day labor. The nearest existing government school is nearly 4 miles from the village and does not teach girls ages 4 - 8. Although older girls can attend the school, this barrier to early education meant that almost no girls in the village attended school. CSP met with the community and determined that they would be willing to educate girls if there was an accessible way to do so. CSP worked to recruit a team of female teachers to run the school and today they educate 127 children, 83 of whom are girls who would not have had the opportunity to attend school previously. 

The Chirran Campus:

The newest Tine Model Girls School is located in the village of Chirran. The village has approximately 125 households and before the school was established there were no private or government run schools available. 100% of the children in the village were out of school. Wages are extremely low, as 80% of the population are daily laborers. The school opened its doors very recently, in September of 2022. It offers a play group for very young children and toddlers, nursery school, prep class, and grades 1-5. In just five short months, the school has enrolled 80 young girls and 36 boys who will now have access to a quality education. 

Rockflower commends the work of CSP that has enabled over 400 children to attend school as well as the Origin Learning Fund for bringing digital learning to children in remote areas of the world. As Tania Rosas has explained, access to learning opportunities is the best weapon to fight against poverty and uphold sustainable development for at-risk communities. In 2023, we hope to be able to bring O-lab and tablets to all of our campuses because access to digital literacy and technology can open the door to a world of opportunities. 

JWAS Completes Round 2 of Share the Learning: Scale the Impact

Adolescent activists, journalists and civil society leaders creating posters based on key issues.

In April 2022, Janaki Women Awareness Society received funding from Rockflower to launch the second cohort of their project, Share the Learning: Scale the Impact. Throughout this project, they partnered eight adolescent girls with eight journalists and six civil society leaders to share knowledge, gain perspective and create solutions to large problems facing their communities. The purpose of this project is to identify young activists, give them the opportunity to work with professionals to solve issues facing their communities and provide a platform for them to practice advocating and impact those around them. The focus of this second iteration is to reflect on and determine ways to scale the projects identified by the first group. Some of the issues discussed included COVID-19, sexual and reproductive health, childhood marriage and gender based violence.

JWAS believes that given the opportunity and resources, young girls are uniquely positioned to shift societal norms and inspire those around them to advocate for themselves and their communities. At first, the girls, journalists and CSO leaders shared their experiences and the challenges they faced personally around sexual and reproductive health, gender based violence and throughout COVID-19. It was a time for everyone to get to know one another and understand each other’s experiences. Almost all of the participants spoke about the impact of child marriage on their communities and the need to stop them. They also spoke about the lack of education on sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence provided to girls outside of the school system. Girls who haven’t attended school, often have no way of accessing this information. 

One of the girls explained how receiving education on the negative effects of childhood marriage has broken the cycle in her family. She said, “I believe my parents won’t force me into an early marriage. I understand the harmful aspects of early marriage and have shared it with my parents. Now my parents and I are aware that early marriage does not only affect my health, it will also affect the health of my children.”

Throughout the project, the groups created posters and graphics to explain their responses to the key issues. Then, through collaboration with journalists and civil society leaders, they decided on a few projects to implement and continue working on. One of these projects is a long term advocacy campaign to end child marriage. They would also like to begin establishing child marriage free communities where there will be a no tolerance policy in place. They are excited to grow this initiative and are hopeful that one day there will no longer be child marriages in Nepal. 

CSP Organizes Medical Clinic for Flood Victims in Pakistan

In July & August of 2022, an unpredicted heavy monsoon season caused widespread flooding in Pakistan which led to extensive human and infrastructure losses. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 1,162 people were killed, 3,554 were injured, and 1,057,338 houses collapsed. Rockflower partner, Community Services Program, began distributing food following the disaster and was able to support more than 700 families. However, during this time, CSP saw the urgent need for medical intervention in displacement camps, and on October 24th, the organization, in partnership with the Government Health Department, utilized funding from Rockflower to purchase medical supplies in order to hold a free medical clinic and treat women and children in the Sanghar District of Pakistan who had been affected by the devastating flooding. 

Although Rockflower’s mission is not to provide emergency disaster relief, in times of great need, there is no choice but to provide what we can for victims of disasters, especially when our partners are willing to organize and distribute relief. The majority of those affected by the floods have been displaced and are now living in temporary camps and tents. The floods have left behind large pools of stagnant water, which have led to increased outbreaks of malaria, cholera and dengue. There is currently little to no medical assistance available for those who are sick and for pregnant women and newborns who require medical care. During one week in the camps of Sanghar District, 8 infants and 4 pregnant women were reported to have passed away due to the lack of available medical aid.

There are a number of disaster relief organizations providing food to the camps, but none providing medical assistance. Therefore, CSP, led by Siddique Hussain, was able to partner with the Government Health Department and raise funds to execute a one day medical clinic for vulnerable women and children. The government provided the doctors, while CSP organized the logistics and funding with support from Rockflower.

During the medical clinic, 282 women, including 56 pregnant women, and 106 children received checkups. The most common illnesses treated were Malaria, Cholera, Dengue, Dysentery, Common fever, Hypertension and Scabies. The doctors were able to provide free medicine and spread awareness about preventative measures to be taken for common diseases. 

It was no small feat for CSP to pull together this medical clinic in a matter of days, and serve hundreds of women and children in a single day. In total, this clinic, including the cost of medicine and medical supplies cost just under $7,000 USD. Although this amount is not insignificant, the thought that over 300 lives may have been saved with this funding in a single day is astounding. If divided equally, the clinic expended about $23 per person. Right now, Rockflower is in the midst of our 100 Gardeners in 100 Days campaign where we are working to sign up 100 monthly donors. If it is within your means to become a gardener, you could be providing life saving aid to women and girls with your donation each month.

100 Gardeners in 100 Days: Celebrating Charlot & Nora

The end of this week will bring us to the halfway point of our 100 Gardeners in a 100 days campaign. Since the start of the campaign on October 1st, we have signed up 23 new gardeners. A huge thanks to all of you who made that decision. But clearly we have work to do to reach our target of 100 new gardeners by January 7th. So let me share with you some exciting recent developments that might nudge you into becoming a monthly gardener.

Last week we received the incredible news of the official announcement that Charlot Magayi and Mukuru Clean Stoves have been nominated as a finalist for the 2022 Earthshot Prize in the "Clean Our Air" category. The winners will be announced at a live event in Boston on December 2nd.

Charlot and Mukuru have been an integral part of Rockflower since 2017 when we were able to provide support for her vision in the very early stages. She has since gone on to receive many awards and recognitions, including being named as Forbes Africa 30 under 30 this past June. In February 2021 Charlot joined the Rockflower Board of Directors, bringing her light, wisdom and lived experience to our work.

Rockflower is powered by individual donations both large and small, not from foundations or corporations. The funds that we were able to send to Charlot back in 2017 came from many small individual donations. Those who share their resources with Rockflower do so in the knowledge that none of us make it alone. Never is that more evident than when one of our partners makes their own financial contribution to Rockflower. Indeed one of the most severely backwards narrative is this idea that philanthropy comes from wealthy people who benevolently bestow their charity upon those less fortunate. In fact, quite the reverse is true, by being given an opportunity to share their wealth, they are the ones being blessed. Some of the most generous people I know are the ones who on the face of it have the least to share. To share whatever you have is one way to ensure both individual and collective freedom. Or in Charlot's wise words:

"When you provide support, no one ever really feels it’s enough and often you might be discouraged to give when these feelings creep up on you. But ... $10 is worth one life saving stove, and to another, a year’s worth of reusable sanitary towels, $10 is many things to many people. It's important to not wait until you have $10,000 to change the world when $10 could be impacting 5 lives today.” Charlot Magayi, Founder and CEO, Mukuru Clean Stoves

The second piece of incredible news last week was that Nora Spencer, Founder and CEO of Hope Renovations was named as one of the top ten CNN Heroes. Nora first contacted us back in 2018 through a partner application on the Rockflower website. She was in the early stages of building support for her vision for Hope Renovations. I wrote back to explain that Rockflower did not work in the United States but I was very inspired by her vision to engage women in the construction industry and by doing so ensuring that seniors would be able to age in place by having their homes renovated by her team of female builders. I continued to keep in touch with Nora and contributed personally whenever I could. Over the years we have struck up a good friendship and in 2020 Nora became a Rockflower gardener, firmly believing in the Currency of Mind and the abundance mindset. If you feel inspired by Nora, please vote for her to become the CNN Hero of 2022 on December 11th.

“As someone who runs a small nonprofit trying to solve big problems, I know the importance of being supported by strong partners who believe in the power of what could be. That’s why I am so proud to be a Gardener! It’s deeply rewarding to know that while I’m working to empower women here in the US, my monthly support is helping Rockflower empower women around the world.” Nora Spencer, Founder and CEO, Hope Renovations

I am hoping that as you read this and see the incredible achievements of both Charlot and Nora, that you will feel inspired to become a Rockflower monthly gardener. Whether you are a packet of seeds, a watering can or a wheelbarrow, all are welcome and all are needed to make our garden grow - no amount is too small and we are so grateful for your support.

- Tine Ward, Founder and CEO, Rockflower Partners Inc.

Rockflower congratulates Charlot Magayi & Mukuru Clean Stoves on being nominated as a 2022 Earthshot Prize finalist

It is with great pleasure and immense joy that Rockflower celebrates the nomination of Mukuru Clean Stoves as a 2022 Earthshot Prize Finalist.

Featured in the category of Clean Our Air, The Earthshot Prize will be awarded “to the most outstanding efforts to meet this challenge. To the innovators who create job opportunities in green transport and clean energy; to the businesses who remove more pollution from the air than they put into it; and to the communities who let us heat our homes, travel to work and feed our families without polluting the air that we breathe.”

Charlot Magayi has been an integral part of the Rockflower family for some time. In 2017, Rockflower partnered with Mukuru to provide early stage investment for a proof of concept to build 200 stoves. Since then we have watched in awe as Charlot has expanded her vision and her reach to achieve her goals. We were fortunate to have Charlot join the Rockflower Board of Directors in February 2021 to bring her lived experience and deep wisdom to the work of Rockflower.

In July of this year we held a series of Partner Workshops on the Rockflower Five Key Framework. In the session on the key of Economic Empowerment, Charlot joined Haja, Lucy, Roseline and Constance, partners from Liberia, Tanzania, Cameroon and Zimbabwe who shared their experiences on the many challenges they had experienced raising funds for their social enterprises and community based organizations. For everyone it took enormous resilience and faith to keep going before receiving that first piece of funding. Charlot summed it up best:

“The problem with the world is imagining that if we are going to give women the chance we first have to set them up for success, but they have already set themselves up for success and all you have to do is trust them and get out of their way” - Charlot Magayi, Rockflower Partner Workshop - July 2022.

We couldn't agree more! Thank you for your guts and and fortitude Charlot - we couldn't be more grateful that we were able to support you in the early stages and then “get out of the way” and watch you as you manifested your vision.

HORUWO’s Emergency Relief Work for Landslide Victims

Women affected by the Kasese Landslides with their emergency relief items received from HORUWO.

As climate change related catastrophes have increased in frequency and severity, we have received outreach from many of our partners asking us to provide essential aid to their communities. Rockflower is not set up to provide emergency humanitarian relief, our mandate is to provide early stage investment for social enterprises and community based organizations improving the lives of women and girls on the global margins. However, as was the case during COVID, partnership is an ongoing responsibility and one that requires a listening and attentive ear during times of crisis. For that reason, we have been working to put together an emergency fund, supported by our Monthly Gardener donations to address these crises.

In September, we sent $800 to HORUWO in the Kasese District of Western Uganda to provide emergency assistance to those displaced by catastrophic landslides. Climate change in sub-Saharan Africa has led to intensified temperature extremes, precipitation anomalies, and natural disasters that have left millions of people injured, homeless, or food insecure, and has caused serious economic damage. HORUWO’s Director, Biira Juliet, recently sent us an update on the use of the relief funds they received. 

She told us, “People have lost their lives, homes and farms/gardens destroyed and have less to eat, especially poor women with children or pregnant women who are vulnerable to these changes…All people who were affected and are currently living in the camp needed help. We were overwhelmed by the situation of women, especially those who are pregnant and those with kids.”

HORUWO used the money that was largely funded by our Gardeners, to help 40 teenage and elderly women and girls in the Kasika Village who are living in disaster camps. They purchased corn flour, soap, wash basins and sanitary pads to distribute. 10 elderly women received 10kg of corn flour each, and 30 teenage girls each received 2 packs of sanitary pads, one basin and one bar of soap each. These acts of intervention may seem small, but to those women at that moment, receiving hygiene items and corn flour meant that they were one step closer to having their basic needs met and could focus more of their energy on recovering and moving forward from this disaster.

Rockflower is committed to continuing our mission of providing early stage investment to social enterprises and community based organizations improving the lives of women and girls, and we are also committed to providing much needed support during times of dire need. In September we launched our campaign, 100 Gardeners in 100 Days, in which we hope to sign up 100 new Monthly Gardeners so that we can be sure that there is a stream of income available when disasters strike. If 100 people sign up for just $25 a month, that will be an extra $2,500 a month and $30,000 a year, which will add significantly to our emergency fund. These climate related disasters are only going to increase and the needs will be even greater. Whilst we continue to support and fund those whose innovations are providing much needed climate adaptation, we must also find a way to offer support in intervening moments of critical need. 

RUGLI’s Bag Weaving Project Has Uplifted Families

Rwenzori United Group for Life Improvement (RUGLI) works to empower women, raise awareness around HIV/AIDS, provide support to disabled, and elderly people and equip vulnerable community members with opportunities to improve their livelihoods. Recently, they provided an update on their project, Weaving Bags for Economic Independence, in which they’re providing training in weaving shoulder bags and entrepreneurial skills to women, including disabled women and young mothers, so that they can support themselves and their families.

The organization identified weaving shoulder bags as an in-demand skill that they could train large groups of women to do in order to start their own businesses. Many women in the area have been unable to support their basic needs, and have come to RUGLI for help. In response they’ve employed a number of community based trainers who have been teaching bag weaving skills and will continue to check in on the participants afterward.

This project is ongoing, and will be shaped largely by the goals and needs of the participants. Since all trainers and participants live relatively close to each other, they will continue to weave bags together, and can decide if they want to create individual businesses or form a collective. RUGLI shared testimonials from the participants on the impact of the project.

Tusiime Agnes told them, “I have been so honored to be part of this project. My children now have hope that after selling our initial products our lives changed completely. I am a mother of 5 children and the man died of HIV/AIDS in 2014 and ever since then we have suffered. We only ate once a day, my children lacked even clothes to wear. The skills I have learned and the startup capital provided to me have really helped me a lot. Thanks, RUGLI for always helping me whenever I am in need, may God continue to bless the work of your hands. Moreso, I have started a small business shop which has increased income inflows into my family and I have also put my children back in school.”

Another participant, Nyamwiza Venacia, explained, “I lost my dignity and honor when I was a 16 years old when I was raped and got infected with HIV/AIDS. This gave me the honor of being a mother but I never had any employment that could help me look after my child. I was dragged into prostitution so as to be able to provide the best I could for my child who never had a father. I have been a prostitute for 5 years now and I regret the day I began practicing it but I never had a way out. When RUGLI offered help I was really so grateful and positive about it. You have taught me weaving and entrepreneurship skills, provided us with startup capital and I have established my business. Thank you so much for what you have done for me, with this I believe people will have some respect for me as I will be able to provide basic needs for my child doing a decent job.”

Kabugho Moreen said, “I cannot express my happiness of what RUGLI has done for me, I am a single mother with one child. I dropped out of school when I was in primary four and after 5 years I got pregnant. When I got pregnant my parents chased me away from home to go to the person who was responsible for the pregnancy, life became so hard because the man also ran away. I have been struggling to earn income to support me and my child for the last 10 years, tried looking for jobs but life here is so hard, of lately (four months back) I was fired from the job where I was working as a maid and they were paying me UGX15,000 ($4.80 USD) per month. But because of this training acquired, I can manage to get that very amount in a day or two. I am able to get relevant needs for my child and I hope to get more. Thank you so much RUGLI and Rockflower for the support extended to us. We are grateful that you have changed our lives as women mothers.”

It’s astounding to see how education in just one skill can change the lives of entire families. The majority of these women did not have the opportunity to complete a formal education and have had no access to career training. With RUGLI’s support and belief in the power of education, they have been able to uplift and provide economic stability to these determined women.

KYID’s Community Discussions Around HIV/AIDS are Changing the Narrative

Kinyamaseke Girls Youth in Development (KYID), based in the Kasese district of Uganda, has been working to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in their area by changing the narrative and perceptions around the disease. The organization was started in 2008 with the goal of breaking the domestic violence cycle created by social structures undermining the rights of girls. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among school aged girls has increased drastically. KYID identified a real need in the community for people to gather and discuss the issue and learn more about stigma and prevention and they have shared the results of the project with us. What they uncovered in the process was shocking and will greatly inform their work moving forward.

In the Kasese District, 11.5% of the population is affected by HIV/AIDS, which is much higher than the national average of 7.5%. Most of the girls in the District have little or no education and are therefore unemployed. In order to meet their basic needs, they enter into marriages at a young age, with men who are not capable of supporting them. Some of these girls become victims of sex trafficking after being brought to large towns under the guise of traditional employment. Not only are they victims of abuse and sexual assault, but they are exposed to a number of STD’s including HIV/AIDS. Most are under 18 years old. COVID-19 has led to an increase of young people being exposed to HIV/AIDS, and a decrease in those getting tested. 

KYID knew that they urgently needed to open up discussions and bring the community together to better understand the causes of the increase in HIV/AIDS and to uncover the best way to help solve the problem. Throughout the course of the project, they conducted two exploratory meetings, five awareness sessions, three advocacy meetings, held two training workshops and produced five concerts to raise awareness. By connecting with the people in their community, they were able to uncover a lot about the issues at hand, much of which will inform their continued work. For the workshops, they focused on meeting with youth affected by HIV/AIDS to help them better understand their illness and put together a will.

Some of what they uncovered in these meetings involved the shift in parental responsibilities that has put much greater pressure on the parents. They learned that many of the girls affected by HIV/AIDS did not have their basic needs met by their parents, and come from households where domestic violence was prevalent. Additionally, many of the girls, having grown up in an abstinence first culture, have little knowledge about safe sex. 

Some conclusions from these community meetings were that educating and training needs to start with parents and adults in the community. KYID plans to hold awareness training for parents, school teachers, union leaders and youth counselors to help them identify risk factors in young women and how to help young women affected by HIV/AIDS. They also made the decision that one of the most effective ways to get the information out would be through plays and concerts. They had young girls create skits and songs to advocate for their rights. The importance of young men having education on these topics is also crucial. KYID will be distributing condoms and teaching boys how to use them in order to practice safe sex.

Something unexpected to the group was the consistent participation of those with dwarfism. The challenges they face are immense, and KYID is determined to help improve their quality of life. The little people in attendance spoke up about the terrible abuse and sexual harrassment they face. There is an old cultural belief that engaging in sex with a little person will cure ailments like HIV, which has led them to be raped and often infected with HIV/AIDS. 

“They were brave to be open and disclose that most of them are HIV positive because of people flocking in for them. The whole meeting was sorrowful and other people shed tears. We were concerned as human rights advocates for our fellow women being used as objects of laughter.”

KYID held a separate meeting for men and women with dwarfism to come together and discuss the extreme discrimination they face and how vulnerable they are to abuse. They have asked KYID to step in and assist them in advocating for their rights and bringing awareness to the community, which they plan to do, as they recognize this serious human rights violation.

“In Bukonzo County of Kasese District, we identified about 30 dwarfs to benefit from the training. We feel touched and concerned about our fellow girls and women to be left behind in matters concerning social development when they are suffering. In our training we will also have counseling sessions to find out those who are infected by HIV/AIDS.”

This exploratory project brought to light some shocking, yet extremely important discoveries. KYID now has a clear idea of what they can do to help improve their community, starting with helping the most vulnerable groups. Overall, the project was successful in teaching people about HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and how to break the stigma and has led to a larger discussion which will continue in various forms. KYID has a great deal of work ahead of them as they continue to fight injustices and advocate for those who need it most.

YWISD is Proving to Women That They Can Make It

In September, Youth and Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (YWISD) based in the Wakiso sub-district of Uganda, completed its first round of their project, Kisoboka (you can make it), where they educated 50 women and girls in tailoring skills. YWISD was founded in 2016 by 5 young, unemployed women graduates, who grew up witnessing their mothers being exploited by men in the agricultural industry. They saw women in their community doing the majority of the work tending the crops, and then allowing men to sell the products, and take most of the profits. YWISD was created to take a stand against gender and economic inequalities and to increase women’s participation in securing their livelihoods.

Kisoboka was created for indigeneous women and girls with disabilities to engage in viable employment opportunities to support themselves and their families and increase their overall quality of life. Beginning in March 2022, 50 women were selected to participate in a six month training program in tailoring. The goal of the training was to provide a practical, profitable skill to women who are unemployed and unable to find traditional work. YWISD identified tailoring and baking as skills with high demand in their community, and following this first round of training, they are beginning a second cohort to teach women baking skills.

YWISD has shared some participant stories with us to demonstrate just how impactful this project has been in the lives of women with few opportunities to support themselves.

Nakimuli Angelinah, a seventeen year old who left school in senior one said, “I stay with both of my parents. My mother is a house wife and my father is the one financially taking  care of us. Due to COVID-19, my father lost his job, making it difficult for him to sustain the family. Therefore, being a girl child, I was forced to drop out of school for my boy siblings to study. My  father has an old belief that educating a girl child is a waste of money. ‘After all, I am going to get married and leave home.’ He was planning to marry me off as he could see me as a source of dowry. When I heard about Kisoboka I hurried to join the training because I always wanted to  learn tailoring even though the funds weren’t available and I hadn't yet got any opportunity. It is  really a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I am really so grateful. Thank you very much Angella [YWISD founder], may God really bless you for me because I have nothing to give back to you.” 

Mary Kabonesa, a participant and advocate for the creation of Kisoboka told us, “When I was in senior five, my father married a new wife and ended up separating from my mother. He was previously the one taking care of us, and he had stopped my mother from working. After marrying his new wife, my father refused to pay me and my siblings’ school fees, claiming that we would be able to survive without studying because he also didn’t study but was surviving. I was forced to get married  when I was 17 years old and I have 4 children and without any income. I want to be in a position to  provide basic needs to my children as well and to avoid what happened to us. I have always  wanted to learn tailoring skills and I was among those who suggested that YWISD could help extend to us these services. I am so grateful for the skills I have learnt for free of charge, they will help me earn a living.”

Another participant, Nabirye Mariam explained, “I lost my mother when I was in primary six. My mother was the one taking care of me and also paying my school fees because my father had neglected his responsibilities and no relative was willing to take me in. I had to drop out of school. This forced me to go to the city to look for a job and I got a job as a maid. However, without guidance from any parent or relative I found very many  challenges and I was forced into marriage when I was fifteen years old. I currently have three  children. I am the breadwinner for them, but I don’t have any skill other than digging people’s gardens to earn a living. I am grateful for this opportunity as now I will be able to earn a decent  income and provide basic needs for my children.”

The participants in the first cohort of Kisoboka are looking forward to starting their own businesses and are optimistic about the future and their ability to support their families and keep their children in school. This month, YWISD will begin its second cohort, training 50 women in baking. When the second training is complete, they will hold a graduation ceremony for both groups. 

Currently, YWISD is overwhelmed with interest in the program, as many women and girls were forced to leave school during the COVID-19 pandemic and are looking to earn an income. The organization has plans to construct an outdoor awning, allowing them to expand their capacity and train women outside even during the rainy season. They have 25 women registered for the next tailoring training and are working to raise the funds to implement the program. Kisoboka, which translates to “we can make it,” is living up to its name as it continues to provide opportunities for economic empowerment of women on the margins.

How SOFDI’s Soap Making Cooperative is Revitalizing a Village

Women's Solidarity for the Integral Development (SOFDI) based in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been a Rockflower partner for a number of years. Most recently they have been working to create sustainable livelihoods and improve hygiene in the village of Kazimia through teaching women how to make soap and operate a business. The organization aims to increase the active participation of women in decision making, politics and the governance system of all community structures. Creating opportunities for economic independence while providing education around human rights and financial literacy is a key pillar in achieving this goal. 

The province of South Kivu, located in the eastern part of the DRC, has been dominated by armed conflicts for more than two decades. Officially the war in the eastern provinces, which began in 1996, has been declared over. Several peace agreements have been signed, however in reality the war still continues, especially in the poorest parts of the nation. The unemployment rate in urban areas is 22% and school enrollment remains low which is one of the main reasons that new armed groups continue to form.This has led to increases in sexual violence and poverty.

Women in this area hold a great deal of responsibility and very little power to influence change. They care for the children, as well as the medical care of all family members and are responsible for fetching water, cooking on wood fires and preparing meals. With such a high unemployment rate, many women are in a position where they must support their families financially in addition to all of their other duties. 

The main source of income in the region is agriculture, although crop yields are highly variable and often do not provide enough food to carry families from one season to the next. Most of the farmers have poor quality seeds and equipment as well. In the village of Kazimia, the nearest town to purchase supplies is nearly 50 kilometers away, and for those who make the journey, the supplies they need are often not in stock.

SOFDI identified an opportunity to improve the local economy in Kazimia by revitalizing the soap making industry. Soap is one of the items that villagers must travel far to purchase and is often out of stock. It was clear that soap would sell in the area, and that it could be made in all seasons for a decent price. This led SOFDI to create the Umoja Ni Nguvu (Unity is Strength) Cooperative to support women in the area and create economic opportunities. They decided to train 15 women in soap making as well as how to manage income and expenses and provided some literacy classes so that the women were well positioned to operate a business. These 15 women are the direct beneficiaries, however the impact on the local economy and hygiene will benefit the whole village.

The first round of training has been highly successful. Throughout the training around 500 bars of palm oil soaps in 3 different shapes were produced. After the training, they produced over 1,500 bars of soap and their first sales allowed the cooperative to purchase more raw materials and continue growing the business. In total they earned the equivalent of $273.15 USD in their first round of sales. More recent sales have been more challenging as the price of raw materials has greatly increased. However, they are still committed to producing soap, even with a lower profit margin and the women who received the training are now ready to train others in soap making.

As the cooperative has gained recognition, their demand has increased significantly, especially because their product dissolves more slowly than factory made soaps. The quality is much higher. Currently production varies from 150 to 300 bars of soap per week and the women work three days each week. They have created a management team to weigh the materials and ensure the business’ success. This new availability of soap has led to a real improvement in the hygiene of families as well. Previously they had to stock up on soap since they needed to travel so far, and many families couldn’t afford to do so. Now they can purchase soap as needed.

The potential for the growth of this business is huge. The members of the cooperative want to work to meet local demand first before expanding into surrounding areas. An unexpected benefit is that many women and young people are coming to the factory to stock up on soap to resell. This is great for the local economy, and the cooperative welcomes it. 

SOFDI’s Executive Director, Dr. Alice Lukumbu, who was one of the featured speakers for the recent Rockflower workshop on Peace and Security, said, “The creation of this unit has benefited the women and the whole village in many ways. Before the start of this activity, obtaining soap required great effort because we had to go to Baraka and Uvira to buy it. Not only is the journey tiring for so little, but also the stocks were often limited and one could move around and get nothing in the end. The finalization of the artisanal soap factory cooperative has overcome their last doubts and allows them to dare to believe that their life will no longer be quite as it was before. I think that in addition to the material benefits, such an attitude is beneficial for the advancement of the village.”

100 Gardeners in 100 Days: Will you be one of them?

Climate change related catastrophes are increasing in their frequency and severity. Here in the United States, Puerto Rico is recovering from the devastation left by Hurricane Fiona and as I write this email Hurricane Ian has left a trail of enormous destruction in Florida.

For us, the last eight weeks has seen a steady increase of emails from our partners around the world, asking for emergency help in the face of their own intense climate change induced disasters.

Rockflower is not set up to provide emergency humanitarian relief, our mandate is to provide early stage investment for social enterprises and community based organizations improving the lives of women and girls on the global margins. However, as was the case during COVID, partnership is an ongoing responsibility and one that requires a listening and attentive ear during times of crisis.

These are real people, with real names, in real moments of need. Siddique in Pakistan has been working around the clock for weeks to ensure that the 45,000 people under the care of CSP are given the assistance they need as a result of the devastating flooding which has covered a third of Pakistan in water.

Moreen in Mbale, Uganda has been assisting those whose lives have been upended by recent flooding there, and Juliet and Mary in Kasese, Uganda, have been helping those affected by the recent mudslides who have lost homes and family members. Michael in South Sudan was left speechless by the devastating flooding in his home town in South Sudan.

All of this can feel overwhelming, but one thing I have learned from all the years of doing this work is that small acts of intervention really do matter.  We have sent funding assistance to these partners, which has provided some much needed respite, but we need to do so much more. I started to think about what that “more” would look like.  

Many of you are already monthly gardeners to Rockflower and for your generosity we are eternally grateful. But often I hear people say "I don't have much to give - what difference would $25 a month really make?" My reply is always - I can promise you it would mean a great deal. 

Starting today, October 1st for 100 days through to January 7th 2023, we plan to sign up 100 new monthly Gardeners. 

If 100 people sign up for just $25 a month, that will be an extra $2,500 a month and $30,000 a year, which will add significantly to our emergency fund. These climate related disasters are only going to increase and the needs will be even greater. Whilst we continue to support and fund those whose innovations are providing much needed climate adaptation, like our most recent partner Flicker of Hope in Kenya, we must also find a way to offer support at times of dire need. 

Please consider becoming a monthly Rockflower Gardener - I can promise you that it will be one of the best investments in hope and possibility you will make.

-Tine Ward, CEO, Rockflower

Flicker of Hope Empowers Women Farmers to Implement Agroforestry

Flicker of Hope, based in Nyamira County, Kenya has been working hard to bring smokeless bio-briquettes and cookstoves to the county through their project, Promoting Smokeless Fuel & Sustainable Incomes for Women. As a recent addition to the Rockflower family, Flicker of Hope has made great strides in just a few short months.

This project, although it has one clear goal, to bring bio-briquettes to the area, is complex in its systemic approach to accomplishing this goal. Ultimately the project will work to combat climate change, improve public health, provide sustainable livelihoods to women, fight resource scarcity, and air pollution. In a recent update from Flicker of Hope, it is clear that they are well on their way.

In this first phase of the project, they are working to rehabilitate degraded areas through agroforestry. Previously, deforestation has been a large issue, as wood is being burned for fires, and land is cleared for crops. It has caused damage to the soil, degraded animal habitats, and made the area even more vulnerable to climate change, which is causing a lack of viable crops. Flicker of Hope has identified 200 women farmers who could plant trees on their farms to improve their land and gain additional income. The brush and leaf litter from the trees will be used in bio-briquettes eventually. 

The farmers in the program will learn how to grow indigeneous tree species that have largely been removed from the region. One of these trees is Moringa, a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree with antioxidant properties. They are encouraging them to grow these trees around the perimeter of their farms so that they can maintain most of their farmland and it will provide a windbreak. Some of what will be taught includes tree selection, tree care and planting site selection. What they are hoping to see as the trees grow is a decrease in erosion, groundwater being drawn upward, more fertile soil, regulation of temperature in the local micro-climate, and increased habitats for wildlife like birds.

Michael Nyamweya, Project Coordinator at Flicker of Hope writes, “Ensuring there are suitable habitats for animals means the entire ecosystem can work in harmony and continue to function in a healthy way. When ecosystems are degraded they are more vulnerable to extreme temperature fluctuations and less likely to bounce back and continue to provide services such as carbon sequestration and the storage of groundwater.”

The organization recognizes the inherent lag time in this project, as trees need years to grow. In the meantime, they will be teaching the farmers an improved method of raising chickens that will increase their yield. With this method, the chickens are ready to be sold within 35-40 days which will allow the farmers to earn more income, and feel less dependent on the trees before they are fully grown. 

“Through increasing the farm’s resilience, agroforestry will help women farmers to secure their yields against climate change and degradation. It will, therefore, enhance food security. Further, women farmers will be able to source biomass from their own farms, reducing the time needed to fetch firewood which specifically benefits women…The goal is to inspire and facilitate women farmers in adapting agroforestry to increase their farm’s climate resilience, productivity, and fertility while regenerating degraded land.”

Flicker of Hope is creating sustainable changes to their environment and the livelihoods of their community, with the role and benefit of women in mind. Upon completion of this phase, they hope to build a model farm to showcase the efficacy of regenerative agroforestry and educate others about how different systems suit the local context.

The Power of Connectivity: Reflections on my Summer with Rockflower

Coral Crossland, Rockflower’s 2022 Summer Intern

This summer I worked as an intern at Rockflower, where I was able to support and learn alongside a team dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls around the world.

As I was exploring my different interests for summer internships, I discovered that a passion of mine is helping women and girls around the globe. I began researching many different organizations and nonprofits that shared this passion, and so, when I came across Rockflower, I was instantly intrigued. As I scrolled through the website I found I was more and more captivated by the terms and ideas being discussed. Rockflower seemed to have the answers to questions I had been asking myself - Do different nonprofits connect with each other? How do they receive funding? How do they grow from an idea to a fully functioning system?  

So, though I was initially drawn in by the core objective of Rockflower, its goal to provide funding to women and girls on the global margins through investing early in community based organizations and social enterprises, I was really interested in Rockflower because of its unique approach to attaining this goal. 

This summer at Rockflower I learned what this approach was. More specifically, I learned what the key concepts that Rockflower focused on were: the five keys, Radical Idealism, Practically Realized, the Currency of Mind and how to Cultivate the Garden with the Seed to Canopy model. 

I was lucky enough to help create and attend the 2022 Partner Workshop series where each workshop was centered around one of the five keys. In each discussion, experts of each field would talk about their own experiences and barriers they’ve faced. Although each discussion was designed to be centered around a specific key, it became clear that this was nearly impossible and the importance of assessing the issues as a whole quickly became evident.  I saw this during the Economic Empowerment Workshop when the discussion became about education, when the discussion on Maternal and Reproductive Health turned into a conversation about peace and security, or even when a line was drawn connecting the importance of access to water and food and economic empowerment.  This was a recurring theme throughout the series and it seems impossible to limit the conversation to a single key. 

This then ties in the importance of “Cultivating the Garden” with the Seed to Canopy Model. It is just as important to view the canopy as a whole, as it is to view each piece individually. One of my favorite things about this model is that it allows us to think of our different communities as all part of a singular garden, and reminds us that a garden reaches its full potential if it is tended to as a whole. 

One of the things I first loved about Rockflower were its philosophies of Radical Idealism, Practically Realized and the Currency of Mind. My main takeaway from the summer is that if you have an idea, you should go ahead and do it. Rockflower is unique in its ability to view things broadly and as a connected web. This may seem like too large of a task, as it is tackling a multitude of issues all at once, but Rockflower is proof that this method works and that this viewpoint is not only possible but necessary. Experiencing these unique philosophies has allowed me to look at life through a much wider lens and to assess a vision as a whole, as well as analyze each part individually and then reflect on what the desired outcome should be. Rockflower taught me that these conclusions aren’t radical and crazy thoughts, but true solutions to issues that, if realized, could be made a reality. 

To sum it all up, my time with Rockflower this summer taught me a lot about the complexities and barriers of accessing funding and gave me exposure to many different organizations and projects happening around the world. But, most importantly, my biggest takeaway this summer is the importance of the connectivity of people and ideas and to take a step back and view things as a larger system, rather than as individual moving parts.

Emergency Relief Funding Needed for Community Services Program, Pakistan

The Situation: 

Community Services Program, Pakistan, has been a Rockflower partner for over a decade.  Since 2012 we have partnered with them on projects across a spectrum of our Five Key framework -  maternal and reproductive health, economic empowerment, peace and security and education. The most recent being the exciting Bridging the Digital Divide: From Colombia to Pakistan, bringing digital literacy to rural and remote communities. 

However at this moment CSP and 45,000 people in the communities they serve are struggling against the magnitude of the recent catastrophic flooding. Right now, over one third of Pakistan is covered in water, that is the equivalent to the whole of Colorado. 

Mr. Siddique Hussain, Chairman of Community Services Pakistan has been traveling to the affected areas in the last two weeks and shared the following: 

“I am traveling in the flood affected areas and have assessed that the natural calamity of the floods in Pakistan occurring in various parts of the country needs our immediate attention. With the immense destruction we are facing it is essential to provide rations, medical aid and assistance provision for the flood affectees who have lost their healthcare mechanisms due to this aggressive flooding. Especially females are being neglected and their essential needs, including basic hygiene and sanitary items. This is the time to stand together for humanity.”

The background to the flooding: 

What is causing this unprecedented flooding? Pakistan is home to 7,200 glaciers and they are melting fast. This is a direct effect of an increasingly warming planet, caused by global emissions. Pakistan is responsible for just 1% of those global emissions but will be one of the top 8 countries in the world subject to its devastating effects. 

The knock on effect of these melting glaciers are a series of dominos waiting to fall. 

“In the mountains of Pakistan, water from glaciers forms high-elevation lakes, which are often dammed by glacial ice. When there’s too much runoff, those lakes quickly expand and the ice dams can break, producing what’s called a “glacial lake outburst.” - VOX 

Pakistan’s climate minister, Sherry Rehman in an interview with The Guardian, makes the case for why rich nations must make reparations for the catastrophic consequences of their actions. 

“Historic injustices have to be heard and there must be some level of climate equation so that the brunt of the irresponsible carbon consumption is not being laid on nations near the equator which are obviously unable to create resilient infrastructure on their own,” - Sherry Lehman, Climate minister 

Getting Assistance to where it is needed: 

Add to this crisis the discrimination some Islamic charities are feeling in the rush to provide help as some are facing concern over bank derisking practices. 

“Pakistan is far from the only country where humanitarian responses by Islamic NGOs have seen their financial services disrupted by banks. Payments have also gone missing without explanation for programs in Syria, Somalia, and Afghanistan, according to Itani and others in the sector — all places deemed high risk by banks, but also with Muslim majority populations. 

Financial services to NGOs serving Ukraine, meanwhile, have largely gone smoothly, which has heightened a sense of discrimination that’s being felt by some in Muslim organizations, who also see their work as part of religious duty. “  DEVEX 

By having a ten year relationship with CSP we are able to get immediate relief to people. 

We have already provided direct support in the form of food aid, but so much more is needed. As a fund that specializes in early stage investment into previously underfunded community based organizations and social enterprises, emergency relief is not our usual remit. However, we cannot sit back and watch as one of our foundational partners struggles to meet the enormous needs of its constituents.

Please consider any donation amount to assist those who are currently struggling to get through the day.

• $43 buys a food pack for one family for 30 days 

• $23 buys a food pack for a family for 15 days 

• $13 buys a food pack for a family for 7 days