On April 20, 1995, the massacre in Atiak, Uganda, claimed more than 250 lives. The Lord’s Resistance Army ravaged the entire village, hacking people to death and burning homes. Many were taken to the banks of the Nile River, where they were either abducted or shot.

The father of Immaculate Adong was one of the victims. I met Immaculate when she joined our team working with women who had been victimized by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Her inspiring witness has touched so many. In her words:

“I grew up at 8 years old when my father and many of my relatives were killed. I remained with my mother and my six brothers and sisters.”

Along with grieving the death of her father, life changed dramatically for Immaculate and her family. Her mother was not allowed to remain in their traditional home and was denied the small assets she and her husband had acquired. Poverty, hunger, and life on the streets became their daily reality.

Yet for Immaculate, her mother’s love was a constant source of inspiration. Despite terrible conditions, they did not give up, and her mother passed on a strong faith in God. Immaculate explains:

“When we had no home, a wonderful man gave us a little space in his house to stay from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Our job was to remove rubbish from the garbage dump. My mother took anything recyclable, sat on the ground in the market, and sold it. She showed us how to live and how to pray. We did whatever we could to survive—we dug in people’s gardens, helped harvest crops, and knitted small items to sell in the market. As the oldest daughter, I could knit very fast. We made tablecloths, found customers, and eventually returned to school. We older ones supported our younger siblings. That is what got us through.”

At 18, Immaculate’s brother asked their uncle to return the land their father had purchased. When he agreed, they had no money to build a home, so they made bricks from sand and used whatever materials they could find for a roof. She recalls:

“It was a constant struggle to keep hope alive, but my mother’s example and the faith she passed on gave us courage and commitment. We supported one another to walk the path of life. The life I grew up in made me more compassionate. Today, I know I can manage whatever comes my way. My life taught me to appreciate others—their faith, their culture. Your life is not only for you and those you know. It is also for the stranger, for someone who needs you.”

Today, Immaculate manages the Wawoto Kacel Cooperative in Gulu, Uganda. She joined the cooperative in 2015 and has a passion for working with vulnerable women—many of whom were abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army and spent years in captivity. Some were not welcomed home by their families. For Immaculate:

“Whatever I can do to give hope back to these women—empowering them to believe in themselves and their skills, sharing stories, engaging in daily activities—that is enough. I create time to listen and understand what they have gone through and encourage them to live positively, building community among ourselves.”

The women often walk many miles to reach the cooperative. Some are widows with no family support; others live with chronic pain (the health clinic connected to the cooperative also assists them). But they testify, “I am healing because of being part of this cooperative, where I am accepted and respected.”

The cooperative recycles materials into crafts, raises poultry, and grows vegetables. Small-scale microcredit loans are also available. In 2024, 19 women unable to travel long distances were resettled with start-up projects in their homes. Still, thousands more women need such opportunities for training, work, and community.

Today, Immaculate is married and the mother of five boys. Her welcoming presence is a living witness to Gospel values. She says:

“Knowing how others helped us along the way, I open my home and welcome others. During COVID, we went through a very difficult time. I had sewing skills, and when a young, sick girl with no money and nowhere to go came to me, I welcomed her into my home. I taught her how to sew. Now she welcomes her friends—all very poor—and they train together in my home. She teaches them how to sew. She and they just needed an opportunity. Today she has a small table in town and is attracting customers. But it is more than sewing that is happening—she is giving them hope, helping them belong to a group, sharing challenges and small joys. Forming community and giving hope to life! Each of us has a mission to be a multiplier of hope in our world.”