From Survival to Vision: Awakening the Builders Within Us.
To awaken the soul of a people is to remind them that they are more than their wounds. That their story does not end in survival, but continues in legacy.
05 Feb, 2026
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Our greatest struggle has never been a lack of faith. Faith has always lived among us—prayed, sung, and carried through hardship. The real deficit has been long-term thinking. While others plan in centuries, we improvise in moments. While others design futures, we manage emergencies. And yet, a people cannot rise by surviving alone.
It is time to think beyond survival. Beyond the limits imposed on us by history, poverty, or circumstance. Beyond the mindset of crisis management. The future does not belong to those who merely endure; it belongs to those who build. We must begin to see ourselves not as managers of today’s problems, but as architects of tomorrow’s possibilities.
Vision demands courage. It asks us to look beyond the noise of the present and imagine what could be. Helen Keller warned us wisely: “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” To see without vision is to exist without direction. To have vision is to carry a compass that points beyond fear, beyond convenience, beyond now.
A visionary thinks in generations, not seasons. They ask uncomfortable questions. They refuse to accept inherited limitations as permanent truths. They understand that progress is not accidental—it is designed. Vision is not dreaming without discipline; it is dreaming with responsibility. It transforms ideas into direction and belief into movement.
Visionaries do not wait for perfect conditions. They know that history is not made in comfort but in conviction. They understand that clarity often emerges in chaos, and purpose is refined in pain. Vision gives pain a purpose. It turns struggle into strategy, uncertainty into hope, and action into lasting impact.
To awaken the soul of a people is to remind them that they are more than their wounds. That their story does not end in survival, but continues in legacy. We are called to plan boldly, think deeply, and act intentionally—not just for ourselves, but for those who will come after us.
The future is not something we enter. It is something we build. And the moment we choose vision over reaction, purpose over fear, and legacy over comfort, we step into our rightful role—not as victims of circumstance, but as builders of destiny.
About the author
My name is Abeson Alex, a student at St. Lawrence University, whose leadership journey reflects a deep commitment to service, integrity, and community transformation. I have held various leadership positions, including UNSA President of St. Charles Lwanga College Koboko, UNSA District Executive Council Speaker, UNSA Speaker for West Nile, and West Nile Representative to the UNSA National Executive Council. I also served as YCS Section Leader of St. Charles Lwanga College Koboko, YCS Federation Leader for Koboko District, and Koboko YCS Coordinator to the Diocese. In addition, I was a Peace Founder and Security Council Speaker for the peace agreement between St. Charles Lwanga College Koboko and Koboko Town College. I served as Debate Club Chairperson of St. Charles Lwanga College Koboko, District Debate Coordinator, and West Nile Debate Coordinator to the National Debate Council (NDC). All the above were in 2022-2023. My other leadership roles include Chairperson of the Writers and Readers Club, UNSA Representative in the District Youth Council, Students’ Advocate for Reproductive Health, and Students’ GBV Advocate for the District. Within the Church, I served as Chairperson of the Altarservers of Ombaci Chapel, Parish Altarservers Chairperson of Koboko Parish, and Speaker of the Altarservers Ministry in Arua Diocese. Current Positions: Currently, I serve as the Diocesan Altarservers Chairperson of Arua Catholic Diocese, Advisor of the Altarservers Ministry for both Ombaci Chapel and Koboko Parish, and Programs Coordinator of Destined Youth of Christ (DYC-UG). I am also a Finalist in the Global Unites Oratory Competition 2024, the current Debate Club Speaker and President of St. Lawrence University Koboko Students Association. Additionally, I am the Youth Chairperson of Lombe Village, Midia Parish, and Midia Sub-county in koboko district. I am one whose life has been revolving around ensuring that in our imperfections as humans, we can promote transparency, righteousness, and morality to attain perfection. I am inspired by the guiding words: Mobilization, Influence, Engagement, and Advocacy. I share my inspiration across the fields of Relationships, Career, Governance, Faith, Education, Spirituality, Anti-corruption, Environmental Conservation, Business & Self-Reliance, politics , Administration,Financial Literacy, Religion, and Human Rights. Thanks for the encounter.
