Action in Africa Raises $60K at Aspen Taste of Africa Gala

The air inside Mawa’s Kitchen at the Aspen Airport Business Center smells like ginger, garlic, and ambition. It is June 13, and the usual hum of airport logistics has been replaced by the clink of silverware and the low murmur of Aspen’s elite discussing Uganda.

This isn’t just another charity gala where people eat expensive food and check a box. Action in Africa is hosting its third annual Taste of Africa, and the goal is specific: raise $60,000. That number sounds abstract until you realize it buys clean water systems for entire schools or funds after-school porridge programs that keep kids in class.

The evening started with a cocktail hour that felt less like a networking event and more like a cultural exchange. Custom drinks flowed, and then came the main event: a four-course dinner crafted by Chef Mawa McQueen. The food was served family style, which forced a level of intimacy you don’t get with plated meals. You have to pass the bowl to your neighbor. You have to engage.

Aspen High School students were there, too. They weren’t just hiding in the back; they were greeters and servers. Caleah Lutz-Sladdin and Lucy Faulhaber moved through the room, managing the flow of guests who were eager to connect not just with the food, but with the mission. It was a nice touch, grounding the high-end dining in local youth and community effort.

But the real story wasn’t the granola or the bud vases with florals that guests took home. It was the leadership on the ground. Sarah Nininger, the founder and executive director, stood up to talk. So did David Masiko, the Uganda Country Director. They didn’t just read from a script. They shared insights into what the money actually does.

Here’s the thing though: Action in Africa has been working in Uganda for 20 years. They aren’t just parachuting in with aid and leaving. They are working with communities, not just for them.

The impact is tangible. A $2,500 gift — the Impact Partner level — entirely funds the After-School Porridge Program. That’s a warm, reliable meal. It keeps students healthy. It gets them to return to safe spaces. A $5,000 gift, the Community Leadership Partner level; installs a clean drinking water system at a partner school. That is daily, safe access to water for students and their families.

The room was full. The Peshek family was there. Doctors Thea Wojtkowski and Waqqar Khan-Faroqui, married and raising four kids in Aspen, were in attendance. It was a beautiful summer night outside, but inside, the focus was entirely on the future of Ugandan children.

Global Impact Partner Clark’s Market helped, along with dedicated community leaders like Big Wrap, Timberline Bank, and Woody Creek Distillers. Individual donors bought tickets. They made donations. The collective effort pushed the organization toward that ambitious $60,000 goal.

And when the night ended, the guests didn’t just leave with full stomachs. They left with Mawa’s famous granola and a small vase of flowers. A tangible reminder that the connection to Uganda wasn’t abstract. It was something you could hold, something you could taste, and something that required ongoing support.

For those who missed the dinner, the door didn’t close. Contributions can still be made directly through the Action in Africa website, keeping the momentum alive long after the last plate was cleared from Mawa’s Kitchen.