Week 6: Youth Booth

This past weekend I traveled back to the north to Gulu to help facilitate a youth workshop to my favorite Ugandan tribe, the Acholi!

One minor detail about these youth… They were all born in captivity.

Their stories were difficult to hear but have shaped them into the young individuals they have become. 

Some did not know their age.

Some were scarred.  Emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Some had missed years of school.

One common thread among the group.  They are all strong young boys and girls with a bright future lit ahead.

With that, please meet Atimango Cecilia.

Atimango is one of the common names given in Acholiland, meaning, “What can I do?” 

When I asked Cecilia why she was given this name she had to backup and give me more details.

She explained that when she was born she was given the name Akullu, meaning born on the way to the stream or well to draw water. 

I asked if this is where she was born and she replied with an affirmation.

“Well then why the change?”

“One day in 2005 when we were living in the IDP camp in Juba my mom went to go draw water.  All of a sudden helicopters were swarming the camp and they started dropping bombs.  The fire that followed burned my legs and my mom did not know what to do with me so she changed my name to Atimango.”

This hasn’t stopped this young girl from continuing to pursue her dreams of becoming a politician and leader in her community.

At 14 years of age, Cecilia is in P6 and is determined to make it where she wants.

Her favorite subjects are English and social studies.

Her happiest moment was her first day of school when she returned from the bush at 6 years.

Her most difficult moment was when she returned from the bush with her mom and younger brother to find no home or money for her and her family to live a simple life.

Ironically her favorite foods are the same as mine…  Malakqwang with sweet potatoes or chicken stew with rice!

Cecilia’s mom was abducted by the Lords Resistance Army, LRA, in the Ugandan bush of Northern Uganda and taken to Sudan where she was later conceived and born.

Many of the abducted girls and women were defiled and raped.

Including Cecilia’s mom.

Cecilia and her brother are two of the children of Joseph Kony, the head of the LRA.

The helicopter that came and bombed the camp that Cecilia was in belonged to the government forces of Uganda trying to clear out the LRA.  Cecilia explained the difficultness it was to know that her own country was the one who put the permanent scars on her lower legs.

Given her story, Cecilia has the brightest of smiles and emerged as a positive, spirited, young women during this weekend workshop. 

Her words to the youth, “To those that are home, stop reflecting on the bitter moments and think about the good.”

Everyone has something good.