Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe

Ugandan nun who rehabilitated child soldiers and war-affected women through vocational training

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, a Catholic nun in Uganda, transformed lives during the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) conflict. As director of St. Monica's Vocational School, she sheltered over 2,000 women and girls abducted by the LRA, teaching them tailoring and sustainable skills to rebuild their lives.

Her work gained global attention through the book 'Sewing Hope' and a 2013 CNN documentary. Sister Rosemary defied cultural stigmas by accepting former child soldiers rejected by their communities, emphasizing forgiveness: 'These girls are not perpetrators—they are victims.'

Using discarded bottle caps to create intricate purses, she turned trauma into art sold internationally. Her efforts earned a 2007 CNN Hero Award and a spot on Time's 2014 '100 Most Influential People' list. Today, she advocates for education in post-conflict zones, proving that compassion can dismantle cycles of violence.