New Executive Director

We have all had that experience of having two things in our future that compete for our energy and commitment, but we can’t embrace and enjoy one unless we experience the sadness of losing the other first. Turning the page to a new chapter can bring such a range of emotions.

Well, that is where we are at THRIVEGulu! We must work through the sadness of saying goodbye to Mick Hirsch, who has been our loved and respected Executive Director for the past five years, to experience the joy and anticipation of welcoming our new ED, Mah-Séré Keita.

Mick Hirsch came to THRIVEGulu in July of 2017 and immediately set out to increase the professionalism and reach of our young trauma-counseling organization. He secured more grants that matched our needs, raising international investment in THRIVE from $48,000 to $480,000 and increasing the size of our Ugandan staff from 13 to 31 employees. As an expert in post-conflict trauma-counseling, Mick sought many opportunities for the team to expand their skills mental health and psychosocial support. He leaves with our staff more prepared than ever to lead their communities through the challenges brought on by extreme poverty, gender-based violence, disability, and displacement.

As you know, THRIVEGulu was founded to serve the women of Gulu, survivors of the Lord’s Resistance Army’s decimation of northern Uganda. As such, we have always worked with mostly with women, even as Mick led us through expansion into new districts around Gulu. Acutely aware of the opportunities for gender-based violence and discrimination in the communities where the women live, Mick supported the team in their desire to aid survivors of GBV, helping to establish a partnership with the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

Throughout his time with THRIVE, Mick has been an inspiring and empathetic leader, and he has been a tremendous asset for THRIVEGulu.

When Mick decided to move on, we at THRIVE feared that it would be impossible to replace him. Imagine our delight when a member of our Board of Directors applied for the job of Executive Director! Mah-Séré Keita has skills that we are confident will take THRIVE to an even more successful level in identifying and responding to the needs of women and children and their communities in northern Uganda.

THRIVEGulu, like any women-serving organization, must be conscious of where gender-based violence is harming women who need our support. Very intentionally, we were looking for someone who would be strong, with experience in this area. Séré has been involved in this field for most of her life. She has a mother who was at the forefront of the movement against female Genital mutilation (FGM) in Mali, so Séré was raised to stand up for women demanding freedom from this kind of abuse, and for their rights to personal autonomy and safety where traditions had trapped women in subservient situations.

In addition to Séré’s experience with activism in women’s rights, she also has extensive experience in public health policy in Africa. She is currently the Director of Programs at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) where she has led in developing, implementing, and monitoring sound programs and strengthening the African laboratory workforce. This has led to her working all over the continent through awarding fellowships and building training and certification programs that promote policy for laboratory medicine in Africa. She has interacted with every major funding agency or foundation in Africa and is exceptionally aware of ways to work together with these bigger organizations to expand our work. Séré is perhaps most known for her ability to create and nourish partnerships worldwide, and lead with initiatives in the private sector, as well.

Séré has advanced degrees from Johns Hopkins University in the US and has worked in areas of development beyond the public heath sector. She spent time with myAgro, an agricultural development organization that helps move smallholder farmers, mostly women, out of poverty. And she worked in the medical sector on projects focused on malaria and TB. Having lived in the US and in Mali, she is comfortable working on projects that have leadership on multiple continents, such as THRIVEGulu.

We at THRIVEGulu are so excited to have her working with us and guiding our organization as it continues connecting with people in Gulu and throughout northern Uganda. We look forward to both doing what we already do best, but also expanding our work to serve the needs of our beneficiaries. I look forward to when Séré can come visit the US next, so that we may properly welcome her to THRIVE and invite you to come meet her!

We can’t wait to see what the new year brings!

With love,

Judy

Judith Dushku

Founder & Board Member THRIVEGulu