VillageReach

VillageReach's story began serendipitously on an airplane in 1999. Graça Machel, the former first lady of Mozambique and a renowned humanitarian, was traveling to Seattle with Nelson Mandela. Their welcoming committee included Blaise Judja-Sato, a Cameroonian-American telecommunications executive. A shared passion for humanitarianism sparked between Machel and Judja-Sato during their conversations on that long flight. The following year, when a devastating cyclone struck Mozambique, Machel's community development organization was heavily involved in relief efforts. Judja-Sato, moved by the crisis and his discussions with Machel, recognized a critical gap: while aid and medical supplies often reached capital cities, the 'last mile' – remote and rural communities – remained desperately underserved due to significant infrastructure and logistical barriers. This realization was the genesis of VillageReach.

Established in 2000 by Judja-Sato, along with Craig Nakagawa, Lionel Pierre, and Didier Lavril, VillageReach was founded with the mission to tackle these very challenges. Their initial focus was Mozambique, where they partnered with Machel's Foundation for Community Development (FDC) and the Mozambican Ministry of Health. The goal was to strengthen vaccine delivery systems, ensuring that life-saving immunizations could reach every child, no matter how remote. This early work demonstrated remarkable success, significantly increasing vaccination coverage and reducing vaccine stockouts, all while proving to be more cost-effective. From these foundational efforts, VillageReach has grown into a global health innovator, expanding its reach and impact across sub-Saharan Africa. The organization now works with numerous governments and partners, developing, testing, and scaling solutions that improve equity and access to primary healthcare for millions. Their approach consistently emphasizes radical collaboration, leveraging expertise in public health, technology, and supply chain management to build resilient and responsive health systems that truly reach everyone.