“Can you leave those [flashbacks] behind? And if you can’t, what do you do to turn the flashbacks, to put the shadows behind you?” (Audience Member, CMHR launch, 2019)

Overcoming hardships and healing from trauma is a non-linear process that differs in time and in experiences for each survivor. There is no "one-size fits all" approach to healing, and the exhibit encourages the creation of a dialogue about healing, storytelling, and reconciling with family. Several questions from the Ugandan National Museum discussion asked about Acan’s and Amony’s ability to move on from the past and how they have reconciled and talked about what happened with their family and children. It is important to acknowledge how these questions, and the responses, emphasize that healing takes time and, likewise, that writing about their experiences helps process what they went through.

“I wish you should continue to encourage these affected war victims so that they forget the past and look forward for new development and change their lives,” (Consy Ogwul, Grace’s mother, Kampala, 2019)

Acknowledging what happened, and accepting these events, are not only important for healing, but also for moving forward, for recognizing women’s agency, and audiences across the panels acknowledged or made reference to the strength it takes for these women to move on. Through the exhibit and its associated events, a diverse audience becomes partners with Acan and Amony, as well as those they represent, in their journeys toward healing, justice and reparations.

As Acan stated at the CMHR panel,

“I'd like to thank each one of you for taking your time to come listen to our stories, and actually understand what really took place in Northern Uganda years ago, about 20 years ago. There is a saying that a problem shared is a problem half solved” (Acan, CMHR launch, 2019).