23/04/2026
“You Can’t Keep Me Down, I’m a Survivor” - Trudy shares her journey from feeling lost and unloved to rediscovering her worth, strength, and purpose through the ShineWoman programme.
Why Shine?
What made you decide to join the Shine programme, and what were you hoping would change in your life?
I joined the Shine programme after being encouraged by a church mate, and it was at a time when I felt like I had lost parts of myself and felt unloved/unlovable. I was functioning, but not truly living. I didn’t have any expectations, as I was a person who had faced a lot of disappointments in life.
Discovering Worth
Through the programme, what did you begin to understand about your value and self-worth as a woman?
Through Shine, I began to understand that my worth is not something I have to earn it’s something I already have. I am fearfully and wonderfully created by God (Ps 139:14). I stopped tying my value to how others treat me or what I go through. I stopped comparing myself to others and started empowering myself by running my own race. That shift changed how I show up in every area of my life.
Growing in Strength
Can you share a moment or lesson from Shine that helped you find strength you didn’t know you had?
One of the biggest lessons for me was realising that I have the power of choice and that my feelings are not connected to my value, but are tools I should use for my good. There were moments during the programme where I had to confront things I had been avoiding, and instead of shutting down, I stayed present. That showed me that I’m stronger than I thought.
Stepping into Purpose
How has Shine helped you see your purpose more clearly, and what are you doing differently now because of it?
Shine helped me see that my experiences, both good and painful, are not wasted. My mantra now is that I don’t want to waste my pain. My experiences have shaped me and can be used to uplift others. I’m now more intentional about how I live, how I speak, and how I show up. I no longer shrink or doubt myself. I step up confidently because I know I’m worthy.
A Survivor’s Voice
Today, what does “You can’t keep me down, I’m a survivor” mean to you - and what would you say to another woman who needs to believe that for herself?
To me, being a survivor means that no matter what I’ve faced, I’m still here - not just surviving, but thriving. I refuse to let my past define my future.
To another woman, I would say: You may feel broken right now, but you are not finished, and your story needs to be heard and help others. There is strength in you that you haven’t even tapped into yet. Take it one step at a time - but don’t give up on yourself. You are worthy, and your life has a purpose.
