The Power of Resilience: How One Woman’s Vision is Changing Lives
Alice Achan, Te-Kworo Founder and Ugandan Chair
This International Women's Day, we celebrate the resilience and strength of women who change the world. In 2002, Alice Achan saw what others overlooked—the silent suffering of girls returning from captivity. War had stolen their childhoods, and without access to education, their futures were slipping away, too. Driven by her own experiences, she created a space for these girls, even if they had babies, to pursue their dreams. Today, that vision has grown into Te-Kworo Foundation, a force of change for women and girls in northern Uganda.
Inside the school grounds of Kworo High School
A Mission Born from Experience
Alice knew firsthand the power of education. As a young girl during the LRA conflict, she missed vital years of school and struggled to complete her education. She also knew that without an education, the girls returning from rebel captivity would never be able to move forward. Determined to create opportunities for them, she took the first steps to establish a place where they could heal and rebuild their lives.
Overcoming the Early Challenges
The early days were not easy. Northern Uganda was still engulfed in conflict, with over a million people displaced into camps. Alice and a small group of women faced the immense challenge of locating the girls' families while navigating the ongoing war. At times, the violence was so severe that many foreign organizations withdrew, leaving Alice and her team to carry on with limited resources. Early support came from UNICEF and Save the Children, and later, a major U.S. foundation provided the financial backing needed to build a school and sustain its operations.
Philippa Tyndale, Te-Kworo Foundation Australia Chair, with Alice Achan, Te-Kworo Foundation Founder and Ugandan Chair
The Power of Connection
One of the many women drawn to Alice’s vision was Philippa Tyndale. They first met in 2007 at a church conference in Uganda, and later, Alice travelled to Australia to share her story. Like many others, Philippa was deeply moved by Alice’s courage and unwavering commitment to the girls. Their partnership evolved over the years, strengthened by shared passion and countless conversations—including those that shaped the book The School of Restoration.
From encouragement and networking in the early days to rebuilding schools after the COVID-19 shutdowns, Philippa and a dedicated group of women—including some of the early founders of Te-Kworo Foundation Australia—have played a key role in sustaining and expanding Alice’s work.
Local Ugandan family at Te-Kworo Foundation Mobile Health Clinic
Transforming Lives Through Local and Global Support
The people of northern Uganda are among the poorest and most marginalized in Africa. The LRA conflict ravaged their clans, traditional way of life, and agricultural livelihoods, and they are still recovering. The combination of a dedicated local team—most of whom experienced the war and also fought for their education—and international partners who are willing to work with them over a long period of time is now bringing breakthrough.
The number of girls enrolling in school has tripled since the post-COVID reopening. Our reach into remote communities with maternal healthcare and general health services for malaria and other common diseases has expanded to tens of thousands. And through partnerships with Sonic Healthcare Foundation and the Barbara May Foundation, a 42-bed maternity hospital is being built—an essential step toward reducing maternal and infant mortality in the region. These substantial steps forward can only be made through local and international cooperation.
Team Visit in Uganda
The Role of Women Worldwide
From Australia to New Zealand, the U.S., Canada, and Europe, women around the world have come together to support Te-Kworo Foundation. Their contributions—financial, strategic, and personal—have been instrumental in shaping what the foundation is today and ensuring its future impact.
Kworo Sonic Healthcare Foundation Maternal Health Hospital opening mid-2025
A Vision That Continues to Grow
While Alice’s core mission remains unchanged—to improve the lives of women and girls through education—it has expanded over the years. Today, Te-Kworo also invests in maternal healthcare, agricultural programs, and social enterprises, ensuring that girls and women have pathways to independence and stability. Alice is a visionary leader who has always focused her efforts on lifting others up, and her work continues to create generational change.
Philippa Tyndale, Te-Kworo Foundation Australia Chair, with Kworo High School Student
Lessons from Alice’s Story
Philippa Tyndale, Te-Kworo Foundation Australia Chair, reflects on the deeper lesson in Alice’s journey:
“In my experience, the best way to affect change is through long-term solutions that arise from the community, particularly those that have come through the trauma of war or natural disaster. There are change-makers like Alice in every community—people who see beyond their circumstances and are driven to bring others with them. When we empower these individuals, we create avenues for transformation that outsiders alone cannot achieve.”
Kworo High School Students
Looking Ahead
The future of Te-Kworo Foundation is guided by the same vision that started it all. A future where every girl can access quality education. Where she is free from the pressure to marry young and can choose her own path. Where she can give birth safely, with expert care, and be valued within her community.
Alice Achan, Te-Kworo Foundation Founder and Ugandan Chair
A Call to Action on International Women’s Day
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we honor Alice’s resilience and the collective strength of women who stand together for change. The work of Te-Kworo Foundation proves that transformation happens when communities unite—locally and globally—to uplift those in need.
As Te-Kworo Foundation Australia Chair, Philippa, so powerfully reminds us:
“In our privileged world, we bring about change through awareness and connection. I remember an elderly man in the highlands of West Timor once telling me, ‘Once we know one another, we can love one another.’ Once we know of the plight and suffering of others, we can find ways to connect our hearts and our humanity.”
This International Women’s Day, let’s recognize the power of resilience, the importance of education, and the role we all play in creating a more just and hopeful world.