Uganda | Jennifer’s Safe Haven

Alanyo Jennifer’s hands moved with steady precision, weaving a neat braid into the young woman’s hair. Around her, a circle of women and girls watched intently, their eyes fixed on her movements. Their murmurs filled the Palabek Gem Women Safe Space created by CLWR partner LWF Uganda, a place where they could breathe, find safety, and build a sense of community.

She knew the weight of their silence, the stories hidden in their eyes. Once, she had been in their place—a survivor of gender-based violence, carrying wounds both seen and unseen. But then, she found a turning point. Through a hairdressing training program provided by LWF, she gained not just a skill but a way to rebuild her life. And now, she was here, passing that knowledge on to others who needed it just as much as she once had.

This space was more than a training centre. It was a refuge where women—both refugees and those from host communities—could escape the shadows of their past. Here, they were safe. They learned hairdressing not just as a means to earn an income but as a step toward self-reliance and dignity.

Jennifer looked around at the women, their faces filled with quiet determination, their presence a testament to resilience. Each braid she created was more than a hairstyle; it was a symbol of survival, a mark of strength.

She knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy for them, just as it hadn’t been for her. But within these walls, they were safe. And in safety, they could heal—and begin anew.