Rural Smiles Foundation

Rural Smiles Foundation is a registered non-governmental organization based in Kibaale District, Uganda. Our mission is to promote and advance health, digital, and economic rights for vulnerable persons through community empowerment, advocacy, technology innovation, research, and service delivery. Our vision is to build an inclusive, healthy, and poverty-free society where health, digital, and economic rights are protected and respected. Rural Smiles Foundation was founded on the belief that rural communities must be at the center of transformation. Through community-driven innovation, we address systemic inequalities and empower marginalized groups particularly women, youth, and vulnerable populations to live dignified, healthy, and productive lives. Our core focus areas include: • Health and Health Rights: Improving rural healthcare access, supporting survivors of gender-based violence, advancing sexual and reproductive health rights, and strengthening health facilities. • Digital Rights and Internet Freedom: Promoting digital literacy, safe online spaces, civic engagement through technology, and advocacy for open and inclusive digital access. • Economic Rights and Empowerment: Building rural women’s and youth’s economic resilience through skills development, entrepreneurship support, and climate-smart livelihoods. • Social Inclusion and Civic Space: Defending civic freedoms, fostering youth leadership, advancing human rights, and ensuring marginalized voices are represented in decision-making. • Renewable Energy: Expanding clean energy access in rural health centres and communities to enhance service delivery and climate resilience. Our approach integrates advocacy, empowerment, technology innovation, and research, while working in collaboration with civil society, grassroots movements, and international partners. RSF contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Health), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 7 (Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). By joining Catalyst Now, Rural Smiles Foundation seeks to share grassroots expertise from rural Uganda, engage in global systems-change collaborations, and learn from diverse changemakers. We are committed to contributing to Catalyst Now’s culture of co-creation, amplifying rural voices, and advancing sustainable solutions that leave no one behind. Mission: To promote and advance health, digital, and economic rights for vulnerable persons through community empowerment, advocacy, technology innovation, research, and service delivery. Vision: To build an inclusive, healthy, and poverty-free society where health, digital, and economic rights are protected and respected.