Dear Supporter,
We kicked off 2023 with plenty installed for the new year – focused on igniting change by “empowering grassroots organizations to become sustainable.”
In our first newsletter for the year, you can learn more about our latest updates, news, events, and opportunities from the Lightup Impact network.
Thank you!
The Lightup Impact team
News and updates
Annual Report 2022
Our first-ever annual report is now available! We are incredibly proud of all that we have achieved since our foundation.
Our activities have helped create a tremendous impact and drive the empowerment and sustainability of grassroots organizations in East Africa.
Read the full report here.
Lightup Impact Days 2023
We have already started planning the next Lightup Impact Days event coming up in September.
This year, we invited members from our community to join the Founder Committee and help us maximize the event’s impact.
Learn more about the Founder Committee here.
Lightup Impact badge
Congratulations to our 12 member organizations that earned their Lightup Impact Badges in January 2023!
The awarded members can use this certificate to showcase their credibility and partake in exclusive projects (e.g. calls for partnerships or training).
Next round of applications: August 2023
Think Opal partnership
We have recently partnered with Think Opal on their Impact Series. The Impact Series highlights the work of social enterprises, social entrepreneurs, and consumers who contribute to social impact. Our joint goal is to feature 12 founders from our Lightup Impact Community. So far, three founders have been featured:
New members alert
A warm welcome to our newest members from Tanzania and the 20 new founders that have joined the Lightup Impact Community since the beginning of 2023.
We are thrilled that our community continues to grow, expanding our joint expertise and impact in addressing local challenges.
Welcome to the team
Argyro Tsapakidou recently joined the Lightup Impact team!
Argyro is providing us with legal advice as a volunteer. Thank you for choosing Lightup Impact to share your expertise.
We are happy to have you!
Events
Fundraiser and networking event
In December 2022, we launched our annual fundraising campaign to raise 15 000 Euros to support one member organization from our community in their journey towards sustainability.
Thanks to our many supporters, we reached our goal!
We are immensely grateful to everyone who helped us, donated, and attended our fundraiser events in Vienna, Berlin, and online.
Donate and learn more about our campaign here.
Community meetups
Our community meetups are monthly gatherings where members choose the topics and lead the discussions.
January 2023
We had our first expert discussion on mental health led by Marlene Kawira Kinuya from Afrikala Arts and Amisa Rashid from the Nivishe Foundation. Learn more about what was discussed here.
March 2023
Our March session engaged 45 community members and covered governance, impact reporting, and the theory of change. The discussion was led by Erastus Angienda from Family Support Community Based Initiatives (FASCOBI), Collins Mureithi from Centre for Adolescent and Young Change Makers (CEYA.CFM), and Mary Opot from Winam Grassroots.
April 2023
We were joined by 31 community members to discuss mobilizing support and donor relations. This session was led by Salim Ali Mazang’ang’a from Path Youth Organization Kenya and Kaligirwa Bridget Kigambo from Girl Potential Care Centre Uganda.
Stay tuned for the upcoming blog posts!
