Why Sustainable Change Begins With Local Leadership

oo often, well-meaning aid comes from the outside looking in. At Collette Foundation, we take a different approach—one rooted in local leadership and community ownership.

Every project we launch begins with a conversation, not a clipboard. We listen to village elders, teachers, single mothers, and youth leaders. They don’t just contribute ideas—they lead the charge.

In our recent livelihood project in the Eastern Valley, the community formed its own project committee to manage training schedules, resource allocation, and accountability. The result? 87% of participants launched a micro-business within four months, and not one dropped out.

Sustainable change doesn’t happen to communities—it happens with them. That’s how we build lasting impact.