The Story Behind RISE-UP NDUGU

In the heart of Swahili culture, the word Ndugu carries a heavy and beautiful meaning. It refers to a brother, a relative, or a close companion. It is a word that implies we are responsible for one another. However, for many years in Uganda, a specific group of people has been quietly slipping through the cracks of society: our young men. This is where the story of RISE-UP NDUGU begins.

The Observation of a Rotarian

The organization was born from the vision of Kiirya Joel Keith. As a dedicated Rotarian, Joel spent years traveling through different communities, participating in service projects, and observing the landscape of development in Uganda. He saw many wonderful things, but he also noticed a glaring "empty space."

He saw that almost every major NGO, government program, and international charity was rightfully focused on the "Girl-Child." There were countless organizations providing pads, school fees, and empowerment programs for girls and women. While these programs were necessary and successful, Joel began to wonder: "Who is looking out for the boys?"

The "Silent" Crisis

As the world focused on empowering women, the boys were often left to fend for themselves. Joel watched as young men sat idle in trading centers with no skills and no jobs. He saw how this neglect led to rising crime rates, as desperate hands found work in the wrong places. Even more worrying was the "silent pain"—the mental health struggles that these young men faced. In a culture that tells men to never cry or show weakness, thousands were suffering from depression and lost hope with nowhere to turn.

Joel realized that by focusing only on one side of the family, society was creating an imbalance. A girl empowered by an education would eventually return home to a brother or a husband who was frustrated, unskilled, and broken. He saw that for a community to truly be healthy, the "Ndugu"—the brother—must also be strong.

The Spark of an Idea

The "push" that led to RISE-UP NDUGU was the realization that "idle hands are the devil's workshop." Joel decided that he could no longer stand by and watch his brothers become a "lost generation." He believed that if you give a young man a mentor, a skill, and a safe place to talk, you don't just save one person—you save a future father, a future employee, and a future leader.

He envisioned an organization that wouldn't compete with women-focused groups, but would instead act as the missing piece of the puzzle. He wanted to transform the energy of young men from a source of fear (crime and unrest) into a source of fuel for the economy.