At the young age of 22, Ms. Peace Yonah Lanyero, now 25, embarked on a challenging journey as a single mother, raising her child in the face of abandonment. She balanced her responsibilities while working alongside her mother in a tailoring workshop in Gulu District.
Ms. Lanyero, who is about to welcome her second child, originally grew up in the challenging conditions of Queens Parish in Gulu City. Her mother, Ms. Margaret Piloya, secured them a new home, motivating Ms. Lanyero to strive for a better future. In early 2022, she enrolled in a fashion designing vocational course with Terra-Renaissance, a local NGO in Gulu City.
“I was pregnant when I joined, and it was tough to concentrate in class, but the instructors kept encouraging me. I recently completed the course,” she stated.
Ms. Lanyero explained that she pursued fashion design training because she recognized the financial potential of having skills. Her mother, Ms. Piloya, returned from LRA captivity in 2005, along with Ms. Lanyero and her younger sibling. However, her father disapproved, claiming that they were “rebels” whose origin could not be traced.
Ms. Piloya described her struggles: “I was forced to return to the streets to seek survival for my three daughters by vending food.” She eventually quit her job at a local restaurant to enroll in business enterprise training with Terra-Renaissance. This journey led to her building her own business, offering hope for her family and training other vulnerable girls.
While enduring the stigma of being labeled as “rebels,” Ms. Piloya and her children faced an identity crisis in their community, but they persevered. Ms. Lanyero shared her own struggles with self-worth and the impact of societal treatment but highlighted the importance of counseling in rebuilding her life.
Ms. Pamela Abalo, another LRA victim, expressed her desire to seek self-reliance and make a positive impact on her community. She acknowledged that while some people accept them, others reject them, and she has learned to focus on what works and embrace her past.
Mr. John Okidi, who was abducted as a child soldier, also faced challenges upon returning from captivity but, like Ms. Lanyero and Ms. Abalo, successfully underwent vocational training. His story reflects the determination of many former captives and children born in captivity.
Last week, 212 individuals born in captivity, including LRA child mothers, graduated from vocational and technical skills training provided by Terra Renaissance in Gulu City. The program, which started in early 2021, was affected by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Returnees like Mr. Raymond Otim, who graduated in carpentry, aspire to use their new skills to create workshops and train other youth. They see this training as a significant step toward self-reliance.
Mr. Jimmy Otema, the organization’s team leader for the northern region, emphasized the challenges faced by former captives and children born in captivity who have not yet been reintegrated into their communities. He stated that thousands of victims continue to live in isolation, making it difficult to escape poverty.
However, many, like Mr. Okidi, have found success through vocational training and entrepreneurship, enabling them to support themselves. Terra Renaissance’s efforts to support these individuals are critical in improving their lives and breaking the cycle of deprivation and suffering.
