“My experience with Seed Effect Uganda has been a great honor as I love the culture that puts Jesus Christ at the center of every activity. This has enabled me to continuously build my career as well as grow in my relationship with God.”

– Fiona Madraa, Seed Effect Country Director

The next stop on our Virtual Trip to Uganda is for you to meet the heartbeat of Seed Effect – our team members.

“I loved sitting on the porch at the Seed Effect office and watching the field officers leave for the day on their bikes. They always had on a backpack and inside there is always a bible. That is the heart of what Seed Effect is doing – yes empowering members and creating growth in the community, BUT more than anything else, they are sharing the gospel.

– Marcy Cook, Seed Effect business partner who joined us on the 2015 trip to South Sudan

Two back to back civil wars fighting an oppressive regime, a short time of independence and fragile peace, and now renewed conflict has led to over one million South Sudanese refugees rebuilding their lives in northern Uganda.

Because of your support, Seed Effect was able to transition to Uganda in 2017 and remains committed to bringing Christ-centered economic empowerment to hard places and under-served communities.

In 2020, Seed Effect employed 56 full-time staff and provided part-time work for 131 South Sudanese and Ugandans.

Our indigenous staff are South Sudanese refugees and Ugandans who are uniquely equipped to serve their people.

They have faced the same hardships as our members and know firsthand how critical this program is to equip their neighbors with the tools they need to break the chains of systemic poverty.

Peter Lokang has worked for Seed Effect since graduating from university in 2013.

Similar to our members, he too fled South Sudan and began his life anew in northern Uganda, giving him the unique perspective and ability to understand the needs of our members

“On the first of August, I will make a solid eight years of working with Seed Effect right from South Sudan to Uganda. 

Starting this program in Adjumani, Uganda was not an easy undertaking, but with God in front of us, we were able to put smiles on the world’s most insecure communities stabilized through economic empowerment and the hope of Jesus Christ.”

Today, Peter serves as the Data Manager for Seed Effect Uganda’s Headquarter and Adjumani Branch locations. He leads by example and knows the ins and outs of Seed Effect’s program.

But what distinguishes Peter most is how he knows the ministry’s heartbeat and is able to couple the two to empower other South Sudanese refugees.

“It’s been a difficult month and year on my side after losing two close friends.

In January we traveled to the border of Uganda and South Sudan to bury a great friend and leader that I worked with both in South Sudan and Uganda.

[My friends would} check on me each time how I am doing with my family and have long conversations of jokes and laughter. But God who is above all, knows the purpose of taking them from me.”

Peter was not simply viewed as a trainer when he served as Senior Field Officer for Seed Effect’s Adjumani Branch, but also as a cherished friend to the members he served.

“What I’ve learned from this work – what God has taught me – is to be patient in everything.”

Our team in Uganda cultivates a culture of servant leadership.

“A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.” (greenleaf.org)

Peter Lokang exemplifies this, as well as our other Team Member, Gatrude Dradru.

You first notice her smile. 

It’s radiant and utterly exudes joy. Capture that along with her soul-filled laugh and you feel like you’ve known her your whole life. 

Then she mounts her boda-boda (motorbike – very uncommon for women to learn to drive) along with her fellow male field officers, and you are caught a bit by surprise, but very impressed. 

But what stands out the most is how she loves our members.

Gatrude listens so earnestly, learns their stories, offers a hand to hold, or places hers upon their shoulder, and prays fervently.

As an observer, you are left speechless.

Speechless by how she holds both so beautifully: tenderness and strength, while coming alongside in grief and moving forward with hope.

“To me, Seed Effect is not an organization, it is a family. And when we are family, we are together.”

– Fiona Madraa, Seed Effect Country Director

 

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