THRIVEGulu

05/27/2026

I am Teriza, a member of the Yaris group in Palabek Refugee Settlement. War took both of my parents, and from that day my life changed completely. I now live with my uncle, who cares for me with kindness, but the absence of my parents has been a heavy weight. For a long time, the pain was so hard that I couldn’t see a way through my suffering. I felt like my future had already been stolen from me.
Joining THRIVEGulu’s Dance+Therapy became a turning point. In the sessions, I found a safe space to breathe, move, and express what I could not put into words. I met others carrying their own invisible wounds, and little by little I felt less alone. Healing did not come all at once, but week by week I learned simple ways to steady myself. When I feel overwhelmed, I pause and take three deep breaths, and that small practice helps me find calm again.
Today, I want to live. I want to fight for my future. I want to honor my parents by living in a way that would make them proud, and I want to encourage other young people not to give up when life feels unbearable. I have seen how a safe space can change what feels possible. Dance+Therapy saved my life.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each week THRIVEGulu will be highlighting a member of our community who has been working to improve their mental health—Survivors who are becoming THRIVERS!

05/19/2026

When Sharon arrived at Palabek Refugee Settlement, she was carrying more than her belongings. She was carrying the weight of conflict, displacement, and loss—memories that sat close to the surface and could flare without warning. In South Sudan, hardship had taught her to meet stress with anger. Over time, sharp words and aggressive reactions began to feel “normal,” even when they left her feeling drained and disconnected from the people she loved.
Her turning point came when she joined THRIVEGulu’s 12-week Dance+Therapy program. In a safe, supportive group, Sharon was given space to reflect, move, and express what had been building inside her. Session by session, she began to see that anger did not have to define her future. She learned new ways to calm her body and mind, including deep breathing and a personal affirmation she repeats to herself: “Together I can overcome.”
These simple practices have strengthened her ability to manage stress, regulate her emotions, and respond to challenges with more patience and clarity. The change has touched her home life too—today, Sharon builds connection and joy by dancing with her children.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each week THRIVEGulu will be highlighting a member of our community who has been working to improve their mental health—Survivors who are becoming THRIVERS

05/11/2026

When violence swept through Rose’s village in South Sudan, her home was burned and everything she depended on was lost. A 35-year-old mother of six, Rose fled with her children, walking for two days through the wilderness with no food or water, surviving on wild fruits as she pushed forward to keep her family alive. At the Ugandan border she had no documents—everything had been destroyed in the fire—but officials allowed them to cross, and they reached Palabek Refugee Settlement.
In Palabek, Rose carried the burdens of displacement and single motherhood; her husband had abandoned the family years earlier. With scarce opportunities and never enough food, she worked exhausting jobs just to supplement rations. When her two teenage daughters became pregnant and the fathers left, Rose faced added worry, stigma, and isolation—pressure that left her lying awake at night with grief and fear.
Selected for THRIVEGulu’s 12-week Dance+Therapy program, Rose entered a supportive space for healing through movement, storytelling, guided breathing, and community. In that circle, she learned simple techniques to calm her mind in moments of distress, to name what she was carrying, and to feel seen rather than judged. Over time, the heavy feelings began to loosen. Rose rediscovered moments of joy and a renewed sense of dignity—proof that resilience can grow when women are met with compassion and given a safe space to heal. Today, she is determined to keep building emotional strength for herself and her family, one steady breath and one supportive connection at a time.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each week THRIVEGulu will be highlighting a member of our community who has been working to improve their mental health—Survivors who are becoming THRIVERS!

05/06/2026

05/04/2026

My name is Cathy, and I am a 32‑year‑old South Sudanese refugee and mother of four. I fled to Uganda in 2017 after violence in my home town of Torit forced me to seek safety for me and my family. Life in the settlement was overwhelming. Food was scarce, my husband offered little support, and I often felt hopeless. My spirit felt weak and defeated, and at times I considered ending my life.
Everything changed when my neighbor Janet told me about THRIVEGulu’s Dance+Therapy program (D+T) and how much it had helped her. I was selected to join a new 30‑member women’s group, and over the 12-week program, I found a safe space to share my story and heal with the help of a trained counselor and the other group members. I developed my own personal power statement, “I can,” that has helped me rebuild my confidence and resilience.
Through our group’s Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA), I was able to get a small loan to start a business selling fabric and earn money to support my children’s needs. I am now saving toward school fees and hope to purchase land soon for farming. THRIVE has given me hope and the tools to build a better future for my family.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each week THRIVEGulu will be highlighting a member of our community who has been working to improve their mental health—Survivors who are becoming THRIVERS!

05/03/2026

02/11/2026

We were so happy to welcome Issac from LULA Uganda to see our fabulous Women's Library & Community Resource Center and explore our growing collections. We look forward to a meaningful collaboration building a culture of literacy and reading in Gulu!

01/28/2026

We had a meaningful visit from Makerere University to the THRIVEGulu Women’s Library & Community Resource Center. They learned about our programs, shared library expertise, and committed to creating space for us to present our work and programs on a larger platform. 👏

We’re grateful for the donated whiteboard and for welcoming a copy of Mama Judy’s book into the Makerere University Library.

Learning changes lives, and we see it every day 💛

01/02/2026

We’re starting the year with a story filled with hope, strength, and possibility! THRIVEGulu is proud to continue empowering women in Gulu City through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA). Through our partnership with CARE International, women are gaining access to financial resources while also building confidence, supporting one another, and growing stronger together.

This is what thriving looks like 💛

12/30/2025

One last message before the year ends. Please make your donation at https://thrivegulu.org/donate/