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.
