THRIVEGulu

We prioritize the unique needs of women and girls’ survivors of violence. THRIVEGulu is a trauma recovery organization.

THRIVEGulu is a trauma recovery organization, operating in northern Uganda to provide holistic, integrated counseling and empowerment services to survivors of war. THRIVEGulu supports survivors of the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency and refugees from South Sudan with a mandate to prioritize the unique needs of women and girls’ survivors of violence. THRIVEGulu believes that meaningful existence is more than mere survival. We believe the invisible wounds of psychological trauma deserve healing. And, we believe that functionality and productivity can only flourish when an individual and her community are more-than-surviving. THRIVEGulu was established in 2010 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the US and a registered Non-Governmental Organization in Uganda and provides holistic, integrated counseling and empowerment services to survivors of war. THRIVEGulu is led by women and staffed and run by local Ugandan professionals. Every dollar donated goes towards making survivors into THRIVERS!

10/28/2026

What happens after healing?

What happens after learning?

What happens after someone begins to believe in the future again?

In our Dance+Therapy groups, no one’s River of Life ends at the last rock. The river keeps moving. At THRIVEGulu, we have learned that recovery is rarely the end of the story.

Often, it is where the next chapter begins.

Stay tuned next month as we share more stories of resilience, growth, and what comes next.

10/22/2026

Nyamuch's story is still being written.

The trauma she experienced remains part of her story, but it is not the end of it.

Like many participants in THRIVEGulu's programs, she continues to build new chapters through healing, community, and renewed confidence.

At THRIVEGulu, we see stories like hers every day.

And next month, we'll share more about what comes next.

10/15/2026

Every story contains both rocks and flowers.

In the River of Life exercise, rocks represent painful experiences such as loss, trauma, displacement, and hardship.

Flowers represent moments of strength, encouragement, achievement, and hope.

Looking back, many participants are surprised to see not only what they survived, but also the people and experiences that helped them keep moving forward.

Sometimes healing begins by seeing our stories more fully.

10/08/2026

When Nyamuch arrived in Uganda after losing family members to violence in South Sudan, she struggled with hopelessness, isolation, and sleeplessness.

Through counseling, Dance+Therapy, and the support of others around her, she gradually began to rebuild her life. Along the way, she learned to tell herself something powerful:

"I am strong."

In our newest blog post, we share Nyamuch's story and the River of Life exercise, which helps participants reflect on both the rocks and flowers that have shaped their journeys.

Because healing is not about erasing the difficult parts of our stories. It is about recognizing that those moments are only part of the story.

Read "The River Keeps Moving" Today is World Mental Health Day.

When Nyamuch arrived in Uganda after losing family members to violence in South Sudan, she struggled with hopelessness, isolation, and sleeplessness.

Through counseling, Dance+Therapy, and the support of others around her, she gradually began to rebuild her life. Along the way, she learned to tell herself something powerful:

"I am strong."

In our newest blog post, we share Nyamuch's story and the River of Life exercise, which helps participants reflect on both the rocks and flowers that have shaped their journeys.

Because healing is not about erasing the difficult parts of our stories. It is about recognizing that those moments are only part of the story.

Read "The River Keeps Moving" at [https://thrivegulu.org/the-river-keeps-moving/]

09/30/2026

More Than a Library

Earlier this month, our community came together to help strengthen the THRIVEGulu Women's Library & Community Resource Centre. We are deeply grateful for that support.

Now, we want to share a story that helps explain why this space matters so much to the people who use it.

When Judith enrolled in THRIVEGulu's computer literacy program, she had never touched a computer before. Today, she is a first-year university student at Gulu University.

Using the skills she learned at the library, along with free access to computers and internet, Judith was able to research universities and complete her own application.

"This training didn't just teach me typing. It opened the door to my future."

The library is about far more than books on shelves. It is a place where children discover a love of reading, women build financial and digital skills, students pursue educational opportunities, and families find resources to help them thrive.

In our newest blog post, "More Than a Library," you'll meet Judith and Agness and learn how the library is creating opportunities for learning, confidence, and growth throughout the community.

https://thrivegulu.org/more-than-a-library/

09/21/2026

We did it! Together we exceeded our goal!

Thanks to the generosity of our community, THRIVEGulu's Book Drive raised $1,110, surpassing our goal of $1,000 to provide 100 new books for the Women's Library & Community Resource Center in Gulu.

Because of you, more students, more children, more families, and more adult learners will find the books they need when they walk through the library's doors seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and build brighter futures.

Thank you for helping put more books into the hands of readers across our community. We look forward to sharing updates as the books arrive and begin making an impact.

Wapwoyo matek. Thank you for your support!

09/19/2026

WE ONLY NEED 9 MORE BOOKS TO PROVIDE 100 BOOKS TO THESE KIDS!!! Today is the final day to support THRIVEGulu’s 2026 Book Drive. Help provide school books for students of all ages in northern Uganda. Each book will be purchased in Uganda, aligned to the Ugandan school curriculum, and made available through the Women’s Library & Community Resource Center. Giving a book takes just a few minutes, and the impact can last for years. Browse the book store before the drive ends: https://thrivegulu.org/bookstore/

09/16/2026

A child’s first books can spark curiosity, language, imagination, and a lifelong love of learning. Through THRIVEGulu’s Women’s Library & Community Resource Center, young children and families will have access to books that invite reading aloud, storytelling, and discovery from the very beginning. When you give to the 2026 Book Drive, you help fill the shelves with books that nurture early literacy and give young readers a strong start. Browse the book store and help us build the foundation for learning: https://thrivegulu.org/bookstore/

09/14/2026

At the midpoint of THRIVEGulu’s 2026 Book Drive, we are reminded why locally relevant learning materials matter. Books purchased in Uganda and aligned to the Ugandan school curriculum help ensure that students receive resources that directly support their education. Through the Women’s Library & Community Resource Center, these books will become part of a shared community resource for learning, growth, and opportunity. Help us finish strong by browsing the book store: https://thrivegulu.org/bookstore/

05/27/2026

I am Teriza, a member of the Yaris group in Palabek Refugee Settlement. War took both of my parents, and from that day my life changed completely. I now live with my uncle, who cares for me with kindness, but the absence of my parents has been a heavy weight. For a long time, the pain was so hard that I couldn’t see a way through my suffering. I felt like my future had already been stolen from me.
Joining THRIVEGulu’s Dance+Therapy became a turning point. In the sessions, I found a safe space to breathe, move, and express what I could not put into words. I met others carrying their own invisible wounds, and little by little I felt less alone. Healing did not come all at once, but week by week I learned simple ways to steady myself. When I feel overwhelmed, I pause and take three deep breaths, and that small practice helps me find calm again.
Today, I want to live. I want to fight for my future. I want to honor my parents by living in a way that would make them proud, and I want to encourage other young people not to give up when life feels unbearable. I have seen how a safe space can change what feels possible. Dance+Therapy saved my life.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each week THRIVEGulu will be highlighting a member of our community who has been working to improve their mental health—Survivors who are becoming THRIVERS!

Address

P. O. Box 412
Marlborough, MA
01752

Website

http://www.thrivegulu.org/

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