"I'm not the unlucky one I used to think I was." — Acan P. Sunday
At just 14 years old, Acan P. Sunday had already experienced more pain than many people face in a lifetime.
A Childhood Marked by Loss
Growing up in Amuru District, near Gulu City, Acan was raised by a mother living with a disability. She endured bullying and insults that slowly damaged her confidence. Her harsh words became a shield — a way of protecting herself from a world she had learned to distrust.
Then, at nine years old, tragedy struck. Acan lost her father during a violent land dispute. Armed men attacked her family home. Her father was killed, while her mother was badly hurt and left unconscious for days. That night, Acan and her family fled their village for Gulu City.
But leaving the village did not mean leaving the pain behind.
Carrying What a Child Shouldn't Have To
After years of instability, family conflict, loss, and being left to carry adult responsibilities as a child, Acan reached a painful conclusion: "I'm the unlucky one."
For years, she struggled to sleep for more than two hours a night. She was angry, confused, and had lost her joy — even becoming angry with God.
Then someone helped her see a different future.
A Different Future Becomes Possible
Acan participated in an African Leadership healing class for teenagers. Her teacher's own story gave her hope that change was possible. Through the training, Acan was guided to bring her pain before the cross and begin confronting the hidden hatred and wounds she had carried for years.
But the transformation went beyond the classroom. Her teacher visited her home and invited Acan to dinner with her family. Through these simple acts of care and belonging, Acan began to rediscover the value of life.
A new story began.
A New Story Begins
After the training, Acan experienced what she describes as a powerful wave of love and renewal. She began seeing her life differently.
She realized that her past did not have to determine her future. Her circumstances did not have to define who she would become. Instead, she discovered that she could dream again, trust God's promises, and begin shaping her future with hope.
The girl who once called herself "the unlucky one" could now see possibilities ahead.
Your Investment Can Help Reach More Children Like Acan
Acan's story is not only about what happened to one teenager. It is a window into what can happen when vulnerable young people are given a safe environment, compassionate guidance, and tools that help them process painful experiences and rediscover hope.
Acan herself knows there are many others still waiting. She hopes African Leadership can reach more villages like hers, because countless young people are longing for guidance toward healing.
Your partnership can help take this opportunity beyond one classroom and into more communities — helping young people:
- Face their painful experiences without being defined by them
- Rediscover dignity, purpose, and hope
- Develop healthier relationships with themselves and others
- Build a vision for their future
- Discover that their circumstances do not have to determine their destiny
Will You Help Us Reach the Next Acan?
Partner with African Leadership to bring transformational training and compassionate support to more vulnerable young people and families.
Acan's story reminds us that sometimes the greatest change begins when someone simply helps a young person believe: "My past is not my future."
From Pain to Hope. From "Unlucky" to Possibility. From One Life Transformed to Many Lives Reached.
Acan P. Sunday, a 14-year-old participant from Amuru District, discovered new hope and a vision for her future through the African Leadership teenage healing program.