Sister Rosemary

I recently had the opportunity to meet with leaders from across the world. I listened and learned from some of the best of the best in the leadership arena.

There was one who struck a chord with my soul. Her name is Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe and she was one was of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2014. That is not why I was so touched by her. Sister Rosemary is a Catholic nun who has dedicated her life to helping girls formerly held captive by warlords and the rebel army in Uganda. These girls were abducted, raped, tortured, and forced to kill their own family members.

In addition to providing a safe harbor for the girls, Sister Rosemary has given them the ability to support themselves. She offers job training in tailoring, catering, and other skills. She said that she teaches the girls to sew and begins the lessons by telling them that the needles they are holding do something very special. They take pieces of broken and torn fabric and sew them together to make something beautiful. She tells them that they can sew their torn lives into something beautiful and meaningful.

To learn more about Sister Rosemary and support the work she is doing, visit the Sewing Hope website by clicking here.

While her story is incredibly inspiring, her last words are the ones that I will remember. She said, “Thank you for bringing me here, but next time, bring two of my girls and allow them to tell their story.” She was concerned with allowing her girls to grow as leaders and influencers. That is the characteristic of a great leader.

Sister Rosemary is doing more than just offering a helping hand. She is developing girls who are becoming leaders with the passion and ability to truly make a difference.

Dr. Larry Little, CEO