Location: UGANDA
The Project
Empowerment took root through Sow and Soar, a women-led initiative by PSM Charity that is transforming lives in Uganda through organic, climate-smart agriculture. Led by Nkinzi Nakalema Ruth, the project trains women and youth to cultivate vegetables and fruits while producing natural pesticides and compost from locally available materials. What began with 10 participants has already reached more than 20 families across four regions, each group led by young women determined to reclaim agriculture as a path toward food security and independence.
“We wanted to prove that women can lead and thrive in agriculture while protecting our environment,” shared Ruth.
The initiative has turned once-vacant plots into thriving gardens of tomatoes, lettuce, and pawpaws, nurturing both livelihoods and confidence.
The Impact of the Seed Grant
The Pollination Project’s seed grant became the cornerstone of this transformation. The funds equipped participants with essential tools, seeds, and training materials, enabling them to start sustainable organic farms.
“This grant was not just financial support, it was validation,” said Ruth. “It showed our communities that women’s leadership in farming is powerful and possible.”
The impact rippled far beyond the initial group: families now produce their own food, sell surplus in local markets, and pay school fees from their earnings. The project also reduced dependence on costly chemical fertilizers by teaching participants to make organic alternatives, improving soil health and protecting their land for the future.
With over 2,000 volunteer hours contributed and more than $5,000 in new income generated, Sow and Soar has become a model of how grassroots philanthropy and small grants for nonprofits can drive large-scale social change.
The Future
Looking ahead, the team plans to install a solar-powered irrigation system to combat the effects of drought and ensure year-round crop production. Expansion is also on the horizon: training 30 more women and youth, improving organic pesticide production, and building links to larger markets.
“We have seen what a small seed can grow into,” Ruth reflected. “With continued support, we will help more women rise through agriculture and lead their communities toward resilience.”
Sow and Soar stands as a vivid example of how micro grants for social change empower women, promote sustainable development, and sow the seeds for a healthier, more equitable future.
We are deeply grateful to The Pollination Project for believing in us at the earliest stage. This grant not only helped us start farming projects but also gave us credibility in our communities.
Nkinzi Nakalema Ruth
Nkinzi Ruth Nakalema, Founder and Executive Director of PSM Charity, draws her strength and compassion from a life shaped by resilience. Inspired by her grandmother’s stories of courage and kindness, Ruth learned early the value of perseverance. After losing her mother at twelve and navigating the hardships of single motherhood, she turned personal adversity into purpose. Completing her education while raising her child, Ruth became determined to create opportunities for young mothers and vulnerable children facing similar struggles.
Through PSM Charity, she champions empowerment and community-led development, guiding programs like Sow and Soar that equip women with skills in climate-smart, organic farming. Her deep understanding of the challenges young women face fuels her vision of a future where every mother and child can thrive with dignity, independence, and hope.
Join The Pollination Project in seeding a global movement of grassroots change. When we invest in passionate local leaders, small acts of generosity blossom into lasting impact. Every dollar you give takes root in communities, growing into sustainable solutions that touch countless lives.
