Sister Rosemary
Defying War, Sewing Hope, and Transforming Lives
Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe is a Ugandan educator and a member of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus based in Juba, South Sudan. She is a woman of deep faith and carries a fierce, unwavering courage in the face of terror.
For more than 30 years, she has refused to back down from the violence of Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). When the conflict in Northern Uganda was at its peak, and thousands of children were being abducted and forced into soldiering and sexual slavery, Sister Rosemary made a choice that few would. She opened her doors to the children that society often turned away.
Since 2002, Sister Rosemary has enrolled thousands of girls who had been abducted by the LRA or abandoned by their families into her programs at Saint Monica’s Vocational School in Gulu, Uganda. She has also welcomed their children. There, the community has learned to become self-reliant and leaders for peace and prosperity.
Sister Rosemary has taught these brave girls—now young women—how to grow their own food, sew their own clothes, learn a valuable trade, and show mercy to others who are less fortunate. The Sewing Hope Foundation aims to support her mission and continue the positive impact that she is having in Africa and around the world.
A Global Voice for Peace
While she works locally in Northern Uganda and South Sudan, Sister Rosemary’s impact has resonated globally. She has become a voice for the voiceless, traveling the world to advocate for the rights of women and children affected by conflict.
Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People (2014)
United Nations Impact Award
CNN Hero (2007)
Honorary Doctorates
Sister Rosemary’s Current Projects
Sister Rosemary’s vision is growing, and her work is far from finished. Her current projects include:
Sewing Hope Earn & Learn Program
Sister Rosemary continues to run her core Sewing Hope vocational programs in Gulu, Uganda. These courses in tailoring, crafting, agriculture, and more are not just classes—they are lifelines that support healing and provide a direct path to independence for women and their children as they rebuild their lives.
Refugee Camps
As conflict continues to uproot families, Sister Rosemary has stepped in to care for the most vulnerable by establishing refugee villages for displaced South Sudanese children. These centers provide housing, meals, and education, ensuring that the next generation is raised surrounded by peace rather than war.
Sewing Hope Orphan Village
As one of Sister Rosemary’s newest initiatives, the Orphan Village is a sanctuary for children who have lost their families to conflict. It has provided a loving home for hundreds of children since opening its doors, offering them the safety, education, and stability they need to heal and build a bright future.
Peanut Farm
Sister Rosemary has established a peanut farm with a dual purpose: it provides a sustainable source of nutritious food for the women and children in her care, and it creates agricultural jobs and income for that same community. It is a model of self-sufficiency that helps her schools have a consistent income.
The Work Continues
You can partner with Sister Rosemary as she makes a difference! To find out how you can get involved with the Sewing Hope Foundation, please contact us. You can also donate today to directly fund her programs.