“I love the many different services THRIVEGulu offers to the community!” Even before joining the THRIVE team as one of its newest members, Agness had heard about the positive impact THRIVE was making in northern Uganda. It was only natural that she would apply for the position of Empowerment Officer when the opportunity arose. Beyond the empowerment work for which THRIVE is known, Agness had also heard of the strong team spirit among THRIVEGulu staff: “THRIVE works as a team, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Agness comes to THRIVE with impressive experience and academic achievements. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Mutessa I Royal University in Kampala. Later, she pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Gulu University. Additionally, she has a Certificate in Child Protection from Makerere University and has extensive professional training in Gender-Based Violence Prevention & Response and the SASA! Approach (Start Awareness and Support Action). All of this education helped her secure a job at Caritas before moving on to THRIVE.
It is no wonder that Agness believes strongly in educating community members on how to overcome both social and economic challenges. “I never give up hope – there is always a solution that can be derived from the community members themselves. My job is to guide them and show them that they are capable of making positive change in their lives and the lives of their children.” Although Agness has only just joined THRIVE, it appears that despite her education and experience her greatest asset is her kind and caring demeanor, a personality that enables her to create friendships with staff and build trust among beneficiaries.
