Lizza Marie Kawooya believes that change does not always begin with a grand gesture.
Sometimes it begins with someone quietly buying pads for a girl who cannot afford them.
A teacher checking on a student who has been missing class. A parent deciding to have an honest conversation about periods.
Small acts. But when brought together, they become something powerful enough to shift a community entirely.
Where change begins
That belief sits at the heart of everything Lizza has built.
As the founder of Dwona Initiative — a nonprofit organisation in Uganda dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls — she has spent years working on the ground, removing barriers to education, creating safe spaces, and tackling gender-based violence in communities where these conversations are rarely welcomed.
One year of Dwona
On 3rd February 2023, Dwona Initiative turned one year old.
In just twelve months, the impact was already remarkable.
Under their RUMPs4Ruralgirls programme, 1,060 boys and girls were reached, alongside 38 child mothers, 4 school dropout boys, and 3 female parents.
Six partner schools across Nwoya, Mukono, and Wakiso districts were brought onto the programme, and two Menstrual Hygiene Management clubs were established, with eight more planned for the following year.
Reached through the RUMPs4Ruralgirls programme, alongside child mothers, parents and school dropouts across communities in Uganda.
Let Art Be My Voice
Their second programme, The Power of My Voice, ran an advocacy campaign called Let Art Be My Voice during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
That campaign reached 724 school children, 17 school administrators, and 40 local council and community members.
Its methodology was so well received that it was scaled out to Spotlight Initiative districts at community level, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, UNDP Uganda, and the European Union.
From small acts to a bigger ambition
Looking ahead, Lizza set her sights on reaching 15,000 girls, women, and boys through gender-transformative programmes over the next three years.
That vision includes the launch of the Dwona Skills Hub, designed to support young mothers and survivors of violence through social entrepreneurship and continued education.
The next goal: 15,000 girls, women and boys.
Leadership beyond Dwona
Beyond Dwona, Lizza is the co-lead of GivingTuesday Uganda and a Young Leader at the Queen's Commonwealth Trust Network.
She was named a Top 40 Under 40 winner and received the East African Philanthropy Network Jury Award in 2021 — recognitions that reflect not just her achievements, but the quiet, consistent dedication behind them.
What can I do from where I am?
Lizza's story is a reminder that you do not need to be the loudest voice in the room to make a lasting difference.
Sometimes the most powerful question you can ask is simply:
What can I do from where I am?
AUNUA Youth Ambassador
At AUNUA, we are proud to have Lizza Marie Kawooya as one of our Youth Ambassadors — and inspired by the movement she is building, one small act at a time.
Change does not always begin with something big. Sometimes, it begins with one small act.