We are pleased to share our update report on Threads of Transformation, a program that brings together creativity, healing, and economic opportunity for individuals affected by conflict.
Originally launched in Goma, DRC with our long-time partner Remember Youth for Change, the program used fashion design and garment repurposing to help young apprentices build skills while exploring new forms of expression. Under the guidance of designer and educator Ms. Saskia Lenaerts, participants transformed old military textiles into meaningful, imaginative creations that are symbolic acts of rebuilding both identity and possibility.
Rising violence in North Kivu forced us to suspend the program in early 2025, but the core idea proved too strong to leave behind. Today, Threads of Transformation has taken new shape in the Adjumani refugee settlements of northern Uganda. Here, five South Sudanese women are engaging in intensive training that blends tailoring, traditional crafts, and collaborative design. In a setting marked by inter-tribal tension, the program is also helping to foster trust and connection across community lines.
The report also offers a first look at an upcoming documentary filmed in Goma—a powerful record of hope captured just before conflict intensified.
We invite you to read the full report below and explore how creativity continues to spark resilience, unity, and opportunity in the most challenging contexts.
Program Update Report-compressed
