Along the sun-kissed coastline of Kenya, in the heart of Kwale County, rises a story of courage, compassion, and transformation. It begins with Mwanasha Gaserego, a young woman who refused to look away from the silent suffering around her. She witnessed widows—Muslim women—and their children pushed to the margins, carrying the heavy burdens of stigma, loss, and socio-economic hardship. Instead of accepting this reality, she chose to become a beacon of light, illuminating injustices and sparking change where it was needed most. Driven by a powerful vision of dignity and empowerment, Mwanasha founded Tuwajali Wajane—a name that, in Swahili, beautifully means “let’s take care of the widows.” More than an organization, it became a movement rooted in community dialogue, collective action, and innovative solutions designed to restore hope and transform lives. In 2021, destiny opened a new door. During a seven-day Training of Trainers program with the Ubuntu Leaders Academy in Mombasa, Mwanasha crossed paths with Monica Rocha e Melo. Their connection—grounded in shared values and a belief in human potential—led Monica to introduce her to< the Ruben Fernandes Association. From this meeting of minds and missions, a powerful partnership was born, united in purpose: to uplift, empower, and support a community of 800 widows seeking stability, strength, and opportunity. Their collaboration began modestly—with a simple merry-go-round savings group, a traditional form of micro-credit rooted in trust and solidarity Under Mwanashe’s leadership it evolved into a fully established Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCO), opening the door to larger loans, greater financial independence, and renewed confidence for its members. The partnership blossomed further. Kitchen gardens sprang to life, offering families fresh produce, strengthening nutrition, and building food security one harvest at a time. And soon, an even greater milestone emerged: the creation of a community resource center—a vibrant hub of knowledge, skills, and opportunity. Here, community members can access information, learning materials, and training programs that ignite personal and professional growth.Together, these initiatives are doing more than improving livelihoods—they are reshaping futures. They are instilling pride, nurturing resilience, and empowering widows and their families to reclaim their voices and their dreams. Today, the partnership stands as a shining example of what happens when compassion meets action, when communities unite, and when women—long overlooked—are given the tools to rise. The result is a more resilient, confident, and self-sustaining society, built on the belief that every life deserves dignity, opportunity, and hope. Learn more →

The Ruben Fernandes Association , in partnership with the management of Punta Cogon Primary School in Roxas City, launched a transformative initiative to support students with special needs at the Inzo Arnaldo School. This department serves children who are visually impaired, deaf, or have cognitive challenges. Under the guidance of School Director Mr. Tomas Hupeda, the Association worked closely with teachers to establish a self-sustaining bakery, fully operated by deaf and cognitively challenged students. This project equips students with practical vocational skills, fosters independence, and creates opportunities for long-term economic empowerment, turning education into tangible, life-changing outcomes. Visually impaired students were provided with a fully equipped classroom, featuring Braille computers and printers, enabling them to learn and work with the latest assistive technologies. This was made possible through the partnership between the Ruben Fernandes Association, the Portuguese School of Macau, and Ms. Susana Canarias in Macau, China. Today, this vocational department serves all special needs students across the Capiz region, offering access to education, skills development, and opportunities that were previously out of reach. Learn more →

In the heart of Kilifi County , a story of entrepreneurial courage and profound community commitment is unfolding.Victor Mwamuye Nyamawi, decided that his path would not be defined by waiting for an opportunity—but by creating one. Inspired by the values of Ubuntu servant leadership, Victor chose to abandon the search for a job and instead build his own future, while simultaneously creating new possibilities for the community that raised him. In 2021, he brought his vision to life and founded the social enterprise Dream Doers Investments Ltd. The catalyst for change came when he discovered the enormous potential of a small aquatic plant: azolla. With an ultra-fast growth cycle—it matures in just three days—it is a nutritious, sustainable, and highly efficient solution for feeding animals, especially in regions facing severe drought. With courage and an innovative spirit, Victor decided to take the risk and established a small animal-feed production unit based on azolla, offering the region an accessible, resilient alternative adapted to the area’s climatic challenges. Thanks to this initiative, it has become possible to strengthen poultry, fish farming, and livestock activities, promoting economic autonomy and sustainability for rural families. Today, under his inspiring leadership, around 150 farmers and their families already benefit from an additional source of income. The model is simple yet transformative: Victor distributes azolla seeds, supports the creation of small water tanks for its cultivation, and purchases the final production — generating a virtuous cycle that boosts the local economy. The impact of his work has not gone unnoticed. Victor’s efforts have reached beyond his immediate community and attracted the attention of pan-African non-governmental organizations, which are now seeking his collaboration on empowerment projects aimed at 3,000 farmers along the Kenyan Coast. Victor’s story is living proof that when leadership is guided by purpose, courage, and vision, a single dream can transform thousands of lives . Learn more →

In the rural community of Zhanje, near Zimbabwe’s capital, too many young children are missing out on the life-changing power of early education. Long distances, unaffordable fees, and food insecurity keep families from accessing Early Childhood Development (ECD) at the most critical stage of a child’s life. Under Moses Machipisa inspirational, firm and effective leadership, a self sustainable ECD centre to nurture both learning and wellbeing of rural children was established.. By combining quality early education with daily nutrition and community-led income projects, the ECD gave children a strong start, restored dignity to families, and became a model of hope that was replicated in other marginalized rural communities. Dema is a rural agricultural growth point near Zimbabwe’s capital, but rapid, unplanned development has left the Zhanje community with limited access to schools, especially Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres. Young children must travel 5–7 km to distant ECDs that charge unaffordable fees, leaving many excluded from early education during the critical first 1,000 days od life. Poverty, food insecurity, climate change, and high levels of child stunting further undermine learning outcomes. high levels of child stunting further undermine learning outcomes. The ECD centre, named Gift from God or Chipochashe in the Shona language, was established in 2020. Since then, it has undergone remarkable development, as evidenced by the following statement:
(2026) Testimony by Moses Machipisa
The story of Chipochashe is a powerful testament to the impact of catalytic support for small, local initiatives in Africa. We began with just six children learning in a small house, without proper facilities or resources. At that critical moment, the support of the Ruben Fernandes Association provided the foundations—building toilets that restored dignity, a small van that gave us mobility, and textbooks that lifted the quality of education. The RFA also helped us start a small garden and a chicken busines . What seemed like modest steps at the time became the seeds of transformation. Today, those seeds have flourished into two thriving schools Chipochashe Zhanje and Chipochashe Ditima, serving a total of 500 learners. From one classroom small house, we now have five blocks, and our staff has grown from three to 30. The provision of textbooks helped us achieve strong results in our very first public examinations, proving that rural children, when given the right resources, can perform on par with any others. The small garden RFA helped us start has expanded into a broader program: a vegetable garden, 200 free-range chickens, rabbits, and close to one hectare of leased farmland that provides food for the schools. This not only improves nutrition but also equips children with practical agricultural skills. The ripple effects of the Ruben Fernandes Association support, extend far beyond education. With your help, we improved access to clean water—from one point serving 100 households with a 5,000-liter tank to two water points and 3 5,000-liter tanks serving 250 households. Families are healthier, children are learning better, and stunting is being reduced through improved nutrition and sanitation. These are not isolated successes but they are interconnected outcomes that show how one small investment multiplies across sectors, transforming education, health, and livelihoods at the same time. What makes this story compelling is not just what has happened at Chipochashe, but what it demonstrates about the power of catalytic support in Africa. Small, community-driven organizations like ours often stand closest to the problems but furthest from the resources to address them. Your belief in us changed that equation. By stepping in early, you not only built classrooms and gardens, you gave credibility to our vision, attracted other partners, and set us on a path of sustainable growth. As the Shona saying goes, “Zvamakatiitira, muitirewo vamwe”-“What you have done for us, may you do for others as well.” Our hope and prayer is that, guided by the spirit of Ubuntu, your work continues to touch countless lives across Portugal and beyond, fostering growth, opportunity, and transformation wherever it reaches. Learn more →

In response to growing social challenges in Kasese District, Western Uganda—such as rising youth involvement in drugs and alcohol, high rates of teenage pregnancy and early marriage, and increasing school dropouts—Mukwano Titus mobilized five fellow youths to take action. Together, they founded NeFCoRD (Network for Community Resource Development) as a community-driven solution to transform lives, especially those of young people. Motivated by a shared desire to create lasting change, the founders envisioned an organization that empowers youth through sports for development, education motivation, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education, and other youth empowerment programs aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NeFCoRD was officially registered in December 2017 with the Kasese District Local Government Community Based Services Department and the Kasese Municipal Council, Central Division. What We Do One of our flagship initiatives is the Kamaiba Soccer Academy, which operates across three branches and serves 320 children and youth (120 girls and 200 boys) aged 6 to 25 years. Through football, we mentor young people to develop their talents while fostering discipline, confidence, unity, and life skills to overcome both personal and community challenges. Despite their potential, only 25% of these young footballers can afford school fees and continue their education—highlighting the urgent need for integrated education support. Turning Opportunity into Impact With support from the Ruben Fernandes Association, NeFCoRD is implementing an innovative project titled “From Poultry to Possibility: Keeping Footballing Youth in School Through Sustainable Income Generation.” Through this initiative, we raise day-old chicks for three months and sell them for profit. In 2025, the income generated enabled us to pay school fees and provide scholastic materials for 21 children and youth enrolled in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. In addition, since our establishment, NeFCoRD has helped secure 50 sports bursaries across 10 schools in Uganda, allowing talented young athletes to access education through their sporting abilities. Our Impact From sports fields to classrooms, our journey demonstrates the powerful connection between education, health, and opportunity. Every initiative we implement brings us closer to a future where no young person is left behind—and where youth are empowered to thrive, lead, and shape their communities. Learn more →