Professor Emerita Judy Dushku, Suffolk University – Boston, is the beloved founder of THRIVEGulu. In 2009, “Mama Judy,” as she is affectionately known in Uganda, brought a group of Suffolk students to Gulu. When she arrived, she noticed that many of the NGOs addressing the tragic events of 23 years of conflict in Northern Uganda had closed or moved on to the next disaster. Yet one of the world’s most traumatic episodes, wrought by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army, continued to haunt survivors. Many Ugandans still suffered from the deep emotional scars of being abducted, continued to live in extreme poverty, and lacked basic education even after the thunder of war had quieted down.
In 2010, Judy was compelled to make a difference. Judy recalls, “we asked people who had been displaced by the conflict and had lost their homes, land and communities, what they felt they needed and wanted most. We knew that people needed services and were trying to heal. They wanted help of many kinds, and we were there to offer it. We found that men and women in Uganda who have survived war felt lucky to be alive and healthy. But many said they suffered hidden wounds of trauma.”
Judy reasoned that women survivors in particular needed a safe space to gather, share stories, recover from psychological trauma and reclaim their lives. The THRIVEGulu Trauma Recovery Center was established with the commitment to remain for the long haul.
From an original vision to build a community of strength, hope and healing has grown an organization nationally recognized as a leader in innovative, holistic psychosocial interventions. Judy has seen THRIVE grow and expand over the past 10 years and is eager to watch her dream continue for 10 more years of thriving!
