Stories
Through the years. THINK has experienced both triumphs and heartbreaking losses, including recent tragedies that shook us to our core. Below, we highlight two remarkable individuals whose legacies will forever be remembered.
KATUMU McCAULEY
In 2003, when Rosana (our founder) met Katumu, a former female combatant, she could hardly perceive the potential hidden beneath her hardened exterior. At only nine years old, she had wielded a rifle during Liberia's brutal civil war, eventually rising to the rank of Commander within one of the most notorious rebel groups.
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Convinced that even the most shattered souls could be restored, Rosana invited her to join THINK's pilot rehabilitation program for women affected by war. After considerable convincing, Katumu agreed to participate. Throughout the nine-month training, she grappled with her past, haunted by sleepless nights, a stolen childhood, and the horrors of a brutal existence. Gradually, she lowered her defenses. She began to trust. To forgive. To heal. She sought forgiveness from her perpetrators and victims.
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Years later, Rosana watched Katumu step onto a stage in Geneva, invited by the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation. Before diplomats and humanitarians, she shared her story—The Diary of a Child Soldier—her past now a testament to survival and redemption.
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Katumu evolved from a survivor into a steadfast companion, eventually becoming Rosana's security chief. Through unwavering loyalty and strength of character, she guarded her rescuer with vigilance and a deep sense of purpose.
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In December 2024, an unexpected illness took her life, leaving behind a profound void in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. Yet, thanks to Rosana's involvement and the impact of the THINK organization, her legacy endures—a woman who defied the odds, transformed pain into purpose, and whose presence radiated authenticity, resilience, and grace.
JUNIOR THINK
July 27, 2006 - A baby, no more than 18 months old, sat alone on the dusty roadside at Congo Town Back Road Junction. Beside him lay a black plastic bag. No one knew how long he had been there or who had left him. A passerby scooped the child up and took him to the Police Station. THINK Juvenile Transit Center for Girls was asked to intervene.
Upon his arrival at the center, the girls welcomed him like family, bestowing him the name Junior and the surname THINK—a name signifying that he belonged. Junior's journey was not easy. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, he could not speak, walk, or chew solid food and relied entirely on others for care. Though provided a wheelchair, he refused to be strapped in, choosing to drag himself around instead, determined to explore on his own terms.
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Despite his challenges, Junior radiated joy. His bright smile lit up every room, earning him the title of "the happiest boy in the world." Junior's emotions were never a mystery. When happy, his entire body radiated excitement. He threw himself down, rolled around, or crawled away in protest when upset.​
Junior quickly became the center of attention, earning the nickname "The Town Chief,” for his lively and energetic presence.
After eighteen years of love, laughter, and resilience, Junior's journey took a heartbreaking turn on March 13, 2025, when a devastating fire consumed the Juvenile Transit Center for Girls—the only home he had ever known. Though his passing left an indescribable void in our hearts, Junior left a legacy of joy, courage, and the testament of an unwavering spirit.
Woman from the Big Water
Higher Heights
