Denise Ayebare, the Secretary for External Relations at the Uganda Youth Council, has received the prestigious Moonshot Non-Profit Award, in recognition of her leadership and impact through Better Life Initiative (BetterLife_Int) in refugee communities.
The 2025 Moonshot Awards, that took place in New York City, feature a record number of African-led ventures among the finalists a sign of the continent’s growing presence in high-impact innovation across health, education, sustainability and culture.
The Moonshot Non-Profit Award is part of the broader Moonshot Awards, which celebrate and support outstanding youth-led non-profit organizations tackling global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The winners receive an equity-free grant , mentorship, and global recognition for their innovative contributions to sustainable development.
Ayebare’s recognition acknowledges her transformative work in advancing climate-smart agriculture and innovation in Uganda’s refugee settlements, empowering displaced and host communities to build resilience and achieve self-sufficiency amid growing climate challenges
‘’I was awarded the Moonshot Award (Borderless), a recognition that means so much because of the people behind the work.This isn’t about me. It’s about the mother who crossed a border holding only her children’s books…the young people who keep choosing hope…and the families who rebuild their lives from almost nothing.Grateful to everyone who walks with us at BetterLife International .This award is for them and because of them’’, said Ayebare after the award event.
Ayebare is among the new wave of African entrepreneurs and start-ups that have emerged in the global innovation arena, with multiple finalists from the continent selected across categories of the Moonshot Awards. The team underscores a shift in which Africa is no longer peripheral to global innovation, but active in health-tech, education, climate and inclusive business. The message is clear solutions are increasingly emerging from Africa, not just for Africa, but for global markets.
The Awards, run by Moonshot Platform, recognize ventures advancing social good through scalable technology and creativity. Beyond prizes, they open doors to mentorship, global investment and collaboration, the real currency for entrepreneurs looking to grow from local to global relevance.
Denise Ayebare’s BetterLife International empowers refugees through its SMILES Project, teaching drought-resistant skills such as carpentry, hairdressing, and poultry farming.
These initiatives reflect a growing wave of borderless innovation entrepreneurs designing solutions that transcend geography and politics.
The Moonshot Awards also highlight partnerships that link African founders with peers worldwide.
The surge of African finalists at the 2025 Moonshot Awards is more than symbolic. It marks the rise of a generation of pragmatic visionaries problem-solvers who see opportunity where others see limitation. From AI diagnostics and solar micro-grids to inclusive storytelling and mental health platforms, their work blurs the line between social impact and enterprise.
For Ayebare, the real victory is already won, proving that innovation rooted in community can compete on a world stage.
