This International Women’s Day, we want to take some time to recognize and honor the women who work with Tutapona. I could not be more proud of these dedicated women who make incredible sacrifice to pour into the lives of brokenhearted individuals and families. More often than not, they are highly trained, have stepped out of conventional roles and dedicated their lives to see trauma rehabilitation and mental health services delivered to some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. Many live in simple structures in refugee camps, give of their personal time to be available in crisis situations, and model Christ’s unconditional love and hope to those around them.
…”She is worth far more than rubies… She brings good, not harm… She sets about her work vigorously; her arms strong for her tasks…She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy… She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come… She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue… a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” (excerpts of Prov. 31)
These are just some of the women who are making a difference in our field - they represent hundreds of women who are working in the humanitarian field who give daily to make a difference in their worlds.
- Julie Gaede, Co-Founder of Tutapona
Rose, Associate Therapist & GROW Facilitator, Soroti (Uganda)
My name is Rose, I have a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work and I am from Bushenyi District, Uganda. I have been working with Tutapona for a year. I joined as a social worker and counsellor because I have a passion to help people and I love what this organization is doing! When Tutapona started working with Beauty For Ashes, providing our program for widows in Soroti, I made the hard choice to work away from my family and leave my role as Associate Therapist in Rwamwanja to move to the other side of Uganda and facilitate the GROW program here.
While I’ve had to make sacrifices to be here, it is very rewarding watching people that have been dealing with emotional distress change and start to thrive and succeed, have control and freedom, and begin to cope and function normally. It is also a blessing for me to know that I get to be a part of the difference.
Nariman, Program Facilitator, Kurdistan (Iraq)
My name is Nariman, I’m from Kurdistan. I have been with Tutapona for 5 years now. I started as a Program Facilitator in 2016 and I joined Tutapona because it helps people get better, to have hope and it gives them love, care and kindness to see their future. It gives them the courage to accept their lives as a refugee. Now I’m facilitating the GROW program in Esyan camp and helping participants to understand it very well. I follow up with the participants and the cases who need more support, and I go to visit families with my team.
Sometimes is not easy to deal with what is in peoples’ minds - each one has a different idea about their life, and some of them feel hopeless and have a negative future outlook; this is under duress because they have been hurt a lot - they think they can’t do anything to change their life. But through Tutapona they know that they are the only ones who can change their lives to be better. This thing drives me to continue working with them is the fact that I know they are able to change their life, and have a great future!
Patricia, Heroes Journey Facilitator, Adjumani (Uganda)
My name is Patricia and I’m from Northern Uganda. I have worked with Tutapona for 2 years since 2018, originally as a GROW facilitator in Rwamwanja, and now in the children’s program in Adjumani. I have a BA in Social Sciences and I love talking to children and helping them build hope, set goals for their future and being able to offer a shoulder for them to lean on during difficult moments. Sometimes I miss my family and friends since it is often months between when I see them, I also miss my local food! However seeing children’s lives being transformed gives me comfort knowing that my sacrifice is not in vain.
Julia, Staff Care & Communications, Kurdistan (Iraq)
My name is Julia, and I’m from the United States. I have been with Tutapona for two years volunteering in communications and staff care. When I first moved to Kurdistan, Iraq, I was so moved by the level of care, consideration, and love that I see the facilitators commit to every day in their work because this is how healing begins - intentional time, empathy, and relationship. It’s about love. And they inspire me to do the same.
Though it can be difficult to not have the same freedoms here as I do back home, it is such a joy and privilege to be here and to be a source of support for the staff and to engage and connect with them on a regular basis so they can feel strengthened to continue to do what they do best- Walking alongside people in their journey towards emotional healing.
Sheilla, Administration and Finance Officer, Uganda
My name is Sheilla, I have been working with Tutapona for one year now. I started serving as Administration and Finance Officer in Rwamwanja in 2019. At the beginning of 2020 I transferred to the Adjumani Field Office. I have a BA in International Business and I’m currently pursuing a PostGraduate in Financial Management. All my life I have always prayed to work with people or organizations that genuinely have an impact on people’s lives, and here Tutapona is! I love the way our programs have helped refugees to have hope, to believe in the Creator, and above all, forgive one another.
The fact that I witness people’s lives changing and the emotional healing they receive makes me continue to work and serve in Tutapona. Though sometimes, it’s not easy to live in the settlements as being far away from home & family but I am encouraged by the stories shared by our participants about their healing, so I get to press on and support in any way possible. I am so grateful for what Tutapona is doing particularly here in Uganda!
Rosemary, Regional Co-ordinator, Nakivale (Uganda)
My name is Rosemary, I am a mother of four and the Regional Co-ordinator for Tutapona in the Southwest of Uganda. I am from Rwanda, and I have a Bachelors Degree in Development Studies. I have worked with Tutapona for 8 years - I love it here because I get a chance to be Christ’s hands and feet.
My job has brought me closer to people in need who are suffering from trauma caused by the conflict they’ve escaped from. This has opened an opportunity for me to understand the challenges they are going through. When I see people’s continued healing from different tragic experiences, I am motivated to continue this work. There are so many people who need life changing trauma rehabilitation, and we are here to deliver it to them.