Sailas Okwairwoth

"I'm glad that when I met Green Heart, some of these things became clear to me, and the opportunity to meet young people, interact with them, and also apply for community service grants opened my mind. I knew that I had a better and wider responsibility with this engagement with Green Heart and now with Purpose Earth."

"I have been having a lot of trials, but I'm glad I found my purpose. I seem not to go away from this because this is me. Once I do it, I feel at peace. If I don't do it, I don't feel at peace. That's how it has been for me. I do it, I feel at peace. I don't do it, I don't feel at peace. So it's doing for others, but also in the long run, I'm doing it for my peace."

"I created a local CBO, a Community-Based Organization, in my hometown. I mobilized young people, using my local church to bring together young people aged 15 to 30, both boys and girls. I started that by myself, living a purposeful life and reaching out to people that I thought would carry the values I carry. I'm glad that they were able to buy into my ideas, and together we teamed up. Now they are able to discover their potentials, what they are able to do with their lives."

"My advice to those who haven't found their purpose is that it's not too late yet. Importantly, you need to create your values and believe in and honor the values that you have created for yourself. It's better that you pay attention and listen to your inner self, what your inner self wants to do. Once you listen to your inner thoughts and create for yourself the values and beliefs and honor them, coupled with advice from people, I think you will be able to achieve your purpose."

Topaz Uganda (part of the international NGO Brit Olam-Inspiration) empowers vulnerable youth, mothers, and children through grassroots community development and mental health support. Under the leadership of Country Director Sailas Okwairwoth, the organization has operated in the region

"I discovered my purpose in life to be creating a positive impact on others, especially marginalized groups that include women and children. I want to do that through mentoring them and giving them life changing opportunities through some of the projects that I do, so that at the end of the day they are able to make sound decisions, develop their capacity, and be able to earn life skills and livelihood. What led me to this purpose was the fact that I personally come from a remote village in a small town in northern Uganda. That region is the poorest compared to other regions. I lived in such a community where young girls have challenges accessing opportunities that include schooling and access to menstrual hygiene management. I lived seeing some of these problems in the community, and growing up I have always admired that at one point I would be able to do something about it."