The Grandmother Program, Nyaka’s most impactful initiative, began with a few women taking in orphaned children, often unrelated to them, and has now expanded to more than 23,000 grandmothers caring for over 92,000 children. These women form groups that share resources, manage revolving loan funds, and lead community development efforts. With the support of the Clinton Global Initiative, Nyaka is now committed to expanding this model throughout all of Uganda, equipping 1.46 million women with financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, and access to micro-loans.

Since becoming an official charity partner of the TCS New York City Marathon in 2018, Nyaka’s participation has grown into one of our most meaningful and impactful annual fundraisers. Each year, nearly 60,000 runners and millions of spectators come together for the world’s largest and most inspiring marathon, and Nyaka proudly fields a team of 20 passionate individuals who dedicate the year to training and fundraising for children and grandmothers in rural Uganda. Over seven marathons, 121 Team Nyaka runners have raised more than $785,000, transforming the lives of tens of thousands through education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. Many of our runners describe the experience as life-changing, citing the close-knit community, encouragement, and purpose that make Team Nyaka extra special.

If you are interested in fundraising for Nyaka to run the next NYC Marathon on Sunday, November 1st, 2026, please email our coordinator, Matt Stauble, to be added to our invitation list to apply. Matt will reach out in early 2026 with more information and a link to complete the application.

Matt Stauble – Nyaka NYC Marathon Coordinator
mstauble@nyakaglobal.org