The Challenge
ABDUCTION
TRAUMA
STIGMA
Forcefully kidnapped from their families, many of our mothers were forced to witness, or even to participate in the brutal murder of close family members.
Forced to walk long distances barefoot, tied with ropes, made to sleep in the bush, to cook and clean and wash, to run from violence, and witness terrible cruelty.
Rejected and shunned, our young mothers and us their kids had no land, no home, no money, no support. The CBoW had no identity because we were never registered.
Our mothers were deeply traumatized and physically wounded. They were way too young to be mothers. They were cut off from their families and support systems, and had their education and emotional-social development abruptly violently halted. Our mothers tried the best they could for us, but under these conditions and circumstances, they have been struggling, and we have too.
Some of us remember the war but some do not, yet the memory of it is always there, deep in our bones and in the back of our minds, haunting us like a shadow we cannot see or touch. Healing the bond with our own mothers and understanding what they endured, while accepting the reality of who our fathers were and what they did, is where our healing journey begins.
Wang Oo
Wang Oo is a traditional Acholi platform for storytelling, music, dance, and healing wounds. Together, we break cycles of trauma and create paths for peace and justice. Around the Wang Oo fire, generations meet. Children born of war sit in the circle not as outsiders, but as keepers of the past and builders of the future, reclaiming narratives, and building resilience.
"It wasn’t just a dance; it was a release, shared joy and freedom. Then we sat together in a circle around the fire and shared the emotions that had been stirred."
The Art of Healing
Art speaks where pain is silent; a canvas for healing, a brush for the soul, a safe space for children born of war to express what words sometimes cannot. Through art, we can channel our pain, hopes, and dreams onto paper, creating stories of resilience, healing, and hope, helping us reclaim our narratives, offering a sense of control and empowerment in a world is too chaotic. Every stroke, every line, color, and shape brings them closer to peace and self-discovery.
“I got healing from this method. I couldn’t even speak before, now I am free to tell my story. When this method was introduced I got confidence to speak about myself.”
Memolab
The Youth Advocacy Network was honored to be part of MemoLab 2025 , an interdisciplinary laboratory on historical memory, organized by the University of Antioquia and the International Network of Transformative Memory. From November 17 to 22 ,we joined academics, artists, and community leaders from around the world to explore how memories of political violence move, resist, and rebuild.
"Grateful to be part of this space where we honor memory, silence, and the stories that shaped us. I’m thankful to share my journey and learn from others."
Echoes of Resilience
When Memory Lives in the Body. Conflict in Northern Uganda did not end when the guns fell silent. For children born of war (CBOW), the aftermath continues as inherited trauma, stigma, identity crisis, and marginalization. Echoes of Resilience emerged, right here in Gulu, as a structured yet intimate space for young people to explore how memory shapes identity and how embodied movement can transform pain into agency.
“When I wrote my story, I realized the pain was still inside me. But when I danced it, I felt lighter. Memory shifted from silence to expression, from isolation to collective witnessing.”
Our Objectives
Provide holistic support including education, health and mental healthcare, menstrual hygiene, livelihoods, and arts-based healing.
COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT
EDUCATION & SKILLS
Arrange for quality education, scholarship programs, vocational training, and skills development programs
HEALING & REHABILITATION
Facilitate healing and rehabilitation through trauma-informed care, counseling, arts-based interventions, storytelling, and creative expression.
ADVOCACY & AWARENESS
Advocate for the rights and needs of CBOW, influence policies, raise community awareness, and amplify youth voices for change.
Ensure meaningful participation and representation of the youth themselves in decision-making processes and platforms.
YOUTH INCLUSION
GENDER EQUALITY
Promote gender equality through initiatives that challenge harmful gender norms, provide equal opportunities, and empower girls.
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Implement sustainable livelihood programs and economic empowerment initiatives to alleviate poverty and create pathways to prosperity.
CREATIVE HEALING SELF-EXPRESSION
Use storytelling, movement, performance, and craft-based initiatives to foster resilience, healing, and empowerment.
Our Partners
Women's Advocacy Network
This is our “mother” organization, supporting each other and working together with us to promote women’s rights, protection, and empowerment. WAN supports advocacy campaigns, community awareness programs, psychosocial support, and mentorship initiatives to strengthen women and girls’ voices.
Transformative Memory Int.
A global partner working with us to preserve, document, and share memories of communities affected by conflict and social injustice. Through creative arts, storytelling, research, and community dialogue, TMIN promotes healing, reconciliation, and historical preservation. They have given us many amazing opportunities to spread our wings.
The Wellspring Foundation
Wellspring is passionate about seeking justice, worth, and dignity for all those we engage with, as we show the love of Christ by empowering new generations in Central and Eastern Africa and beyond.YANU was part of the Born to Shine Leadership Mentorship Initiative funded by The Wellspring Foundation.
Born to Shine - Leave no Child Behind
Tallawah Justice is an independent non-profit organization which connects, mentors and empowers women and youth survivor leaders of community-based organizations. We partnered with Tallawah for a healing adventure including art therapy, embodied movement and mindfulness meditation, followed by organizational mentorship.
Economic Empowerment & Transitional Justice Policy
Gwed-G is also a supporting partner working with us to promote community dialogue and peaceful coexistence. The organization supports dialogue platforms that bring together community members, youth, and stakeholders to share experiences, resolve conflicts, and promote understanding for sustainable peace and social harmony.
Healing Dance and Embodied Movement
Watwero Dance Initiative is a creative partner supporting our work through dance, cultural expression, and performing arts. The initiative uses dance as a tool for storytelling, healing, youth engagement, and cultural preservation while contributing to community dialogue, social awareness, and peacebuilding efforts.