“I always assumed there wasn’t anything I could do. I mean, what could I do really do to help all those people suffering in Africa?” Laura reflects on questions many of us might ask ourselves – indeed, the twin horrors of war and poverty are too much to comprehend. Yet, Laura took the plunge! She decided to stretch her comfort zone and experience first-hand what life is like in post-conflict Uganda. “From the moment I arrived, I was hooked. I went to Uganda intending to help the people of Gulu. But, in an unexpected turn, the people of Gulu helped me! I was welcomed and hugged, taught to dance and fed, protected and loved.”
To be sure, Laura underestimates the positive impact she has on THRIVE – if anything, Laura is a veritable expert on what it means to make survivors into THRIVERS. Following her first trip to Gulu, Laura was inspired to write her Master’s Thesis for Johns Hopkins University on child soldiers. Then, on account of her unwavering commitment to THRIVE, Laura was asked to sit on the Board of Directors. “Although I felt good about contributing ideas and getting a broader sense of the work that needs to be done in order to help a non-profit organization flourish, I longed to contribute even more. I really wanted to offer my true skills to the organization.” In January 2018, Laura transitioned from Board Member to staff – she is now THRIVE’s Communications Manager! In her new role, Laura spearheads all aspects of communications, from overhauling the website and managing social media to improving THRIVE’s branding and planning future fundraising events. “The best part of my job, though, is working directly with THRIVE’s amazing staff!”
A mother of four young boys, one of the most meaningful outcomes of her involvement in THRIVE is sharing with them a cross-cultural worldview. “My boys literally beg me to take them to Gulu! They love looking at photographs and hearing stories. It’s amazing, because even at an early age, they understand that others have experienced something terrible that wasn’t their fault. They sincerely want to help make life better for the people of Gulu. And, I’m pretty sure they’re proud of their mom for contributing to all this!”
