In the quiet village of Jimu, tucked within the rolling landscape of Amuru District in northern Uganda, lives a woman whose strength quietly anchors her family and community. Gloria Achan, born on April 1st, 1985, is a devoted Catholic and an active member of the Agwa Yugi parish. Her faith has been a constant companion through life’s most difficult trials, none more painful than the loss of her husband in mid-2019. His passing, marked by symptoms resembling COVID-19, left Gloria widowed at just 35 years old.

With six orphaned children depending on her—four of them her biological children: Juma Abraham (17), Apio Zilah Rose (13), Agenorwot Mary (11), and Issac Michu (7)—Gloria faced the daunting task of raising them alone. Her days became a balancing act of caregiving, survival, and prayer. Like many single mothers in rural Africa, her greatest challenge was housing. Gloria and her children lived in two small grass-thatched huts: one served as a kitchen, the other as a bedroom. These fragile structures, constantly under threat from termites and the elements, required yearly repairs. The cost and labor of maintaining them fell entirely on Gloria or, when possible, on the generosity of kind-hearted relatives. For a woman with no steady income, this was a heavy burden.

Yet Gloria persevered. She cooked over open flames, patched leaking roofs with whatever materials she could find, and nurtured her children with unwavering love. Her nights were often restless, filled with quiet prayers for strength and a better future. Despite the hardship, she remained committed to her faith and her role in the church, drawing strength from her community and her belief in something greater.

That future finally arrived with the construction of a new building. Strong, secure, and dignified, the new home transformed Gloria’s life. No longer does she worry about termites eating through her walls or rains soaking her bedding. Her children now sleep under a roof that offers safety and permanence. The new structure is more than shelter—it is a symbol of renewal and hope.

With this newfound stability, Gloria can now turn her energy toward the daily needs of her children with a little less fear. While many challenges remain, especially around providing for their education and basic needs, the improved housing has lifted a heavy weight off her shoulders. Her home has become a place where dreams feel a little more possible, where laughter can echo freely, and where hope is no longer a distant prayer but a living reality. 

Gloria’s story is a powerful reminder that faith, perseverance, and community can move mountains. Through the compassionate partnership of Ripe for Harvest and BuyOne BuildOne, what was once a fragile dream has become a sturdy reality. Her new home is more than a structure; it is a sanctuary of dignity, a foundation for her children’s future, and a testament to what love in action can build.