Today, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of women worldwide, and we’re thrilled to share an exciting that took place within our organization last year. Our first female Country Director, Sara Juko, began leading our dedicated Uganda team as they provide vital mental health programming for people affected by war.

Emma Crim has grown up beside the work of Tutapona, but she was 16 years old when she realized she wanted to be a part of it. She is now overseeing our Ukranian work alongside her husband, Jaydon, and has seen the power of collective healing through group programming firsthand in Uganda, Iraq, and now Ukraine!

Issa has lived an extraordinary life, ending up as a refugee several times, and being kidnapped to serve as a child soldier. He found a way forward after receiving mental health support, and is now a Heroes Journey Program Facilitator in Northern Uganda. This Christmas, he wanted to share a message of hope, peace, and gratitude with you.

Last month, an incredible team of riders and crew members took on the Race Across America - a grueling coast to coast bicycle race in 7 days - all to raise awareness and support for Tutapona’s mental health programming. In total, they raised $120,000 USD for our work, and came in 3rd place in the eight-rider teams!

After 8 years of working with Tutapona, our Director of Programs, Tim Manson, is moving on - but before he goes, he’s sharing some of his most memorable moments, and 8 years of insight into WHY mental health is so important.

This year, we are celebrating some of the women who have inspired us in our work - women of different ages, with different backgrounds, all telling one story: We Will Be Healed.

Director of Communications, Chaundra Eagar, shares why storytelling is so important to what we do, and how it connects us all - especially at this time of year as we reflect on other refugees seeking a safe space to have a baby. Though culture and distance may separate us, there is so much more that brings us together.