The Storytelling Podcast - Ep 65 - unDEfeated: Desange's Story

Today's episode comes from Desange Kuenihira.

Desange is a refugee, entrepreneur, speaker, and the CEO and founder of unDEfeated, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education and opportunities for underprivileged youth and women facing extreme financial hardship in Uganda.

This is a story about finding your voice, overcoming silence, resilience, identity, and learning that your experiences do matter.

Check unDEfeated:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/undefeatedd/ https://www.speakundefeated.org/ https://www.instagram.com/undefeated_ug/

Visual Episode: https://youtu.be/yKPgTWEtY6s
Spotify episode: 

Available on all Podcast platforms.

----------

Music by: 

Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

Image credits: unDEfeated 

Thank you to our Sponsor: Spotlight Creative Agency https://spotlightcreativeagency.com/

----------

Transcript

0:00

Welcome back, guys, to the storytelling podcast, your cozy corner of captivating tales. I'm your host, Alejandra, and today we have a very special episode. And most of the stories that I share here in the podcast are about historical mysteries, unusual events, spooking experience, and fascinating moments from the past. Of course, not forgetting our listeners' stories. But every now and then a listener sends a story that feels important to share because it has a message that can inspire others. And today's episode comes from the Sange Kuenihira, if I'm saying this correctly. And the Sange is a refugee, an entrepreneur, a speaker, and the CEO and founder of the Undefeated. And it's a nonprofit organization and it's dedicated to providing education and opportunities for the underprivileged youth and women facing extreme financial hardship in Uganda. When she reached out and shared her story, I knew that I had to share it because I'm all in favor of giving people their voice. And many of you trust this podcast because you know you share your real stories, and I feel very humbled and honored for your trust. And this is a story about finding your voice, overcoming silence, resilience, identity, and learning that your experiences do matter. And what you are about to hear is the Sanchez stories in her own words. I will be reading it exactly as she wrote it because sometimes you know it's such a powerful way to tell a story. But it's always better to let the person tell it themselves. And just remind you that this channel is made for you to binge. Many more episodes are waiting for you here on the channel. If you prefer a visual experience, you can also find the episodes on YouTube where you can watch and listen at the same time. And now here is DeSange's story. There was a time in my life when I believed my voice didn't matter. Not because someone said it directly, but because everything around me made it feel that way. Growing up as a refugee, I learned how to adapt before I learned how to express. I learned how to survive before I learn how to be seen. And I moved through spaces quietly, carefully, trying to understand where I fit in, in a world that often felt unfamiliar and unwelcoming. I had dreams, big ones, but I did not yet have the confidence, the language, or the permission to speak them out loud. So, for a long time, I stayed silent. And silence can be a heavy place to live. There were moments when I questioned my worth, moments when I felt invisible, moments when I wondered if my story had something to hide instead of something to honor. I struggled with identity, belonging, and the quiet fear that maybe I would never fully be understood. But even in that silence, something inside me refused to disappear. It was small at first, almost unnoticeable. But that quiet voice whispered, there is more for you. That whisper became my turning point. Not because everything changed overnight, but because I chose to listen. My transformation didn't come from one defining moment. It came from a series of small, courageous decisions. Choosing to speak when my voice shook, choosing to show up when I felt unready, choosing to believe in myself before I had any proof that I could succeed. This is the what of my story. A slow, intentional reclaiming of my voice. But the deeper truth lies in my why. I know what it feels like to be unheard. I know what it feels like to believe your story doesn't matter. And I also know what happens when you finally realize that it does. There is a shift, a release, a power that rises from within. And that moment is what drives me. That is my why. Storytelling for me is not just about sharing, it's about healing, connection, and transformation. It is about giving people the space to step out of silence and into their truth. And that is why I no longer keep my story to myself. And that is where the how begins. I turned my experiences into purpose. I stepped into speaking, writing, and creating spaces where others could do the same. I became the author of Undefeated Women and founded Speak Undefeated, a platform and community dedicated to helping individuals, especially women and refugees, finding their voice and their own story. Speak Undefeated is more than an organization. It is movement. Through workshops, speaking engagements, mentorship, and storytelling platforms, we help people transform their lived experience into confidence, clarity, and power. Because your story is not something to hide, it is something to stand on. And the most powerful part, you don't have to wait until you feel ready to begin. You can start exactly where you are. Thank you, Desange, for trusting us with your story and for allowing me to share it with the listeners around the world. If today's story resonates with you, I will be placing all Desange's links in the description box of this episode, including her website, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and information about Undefeated and Speak Undefeated. If you'd like to support her work, learn about her mission, or discover ways to help provide education and opportunities for young people and women in Uganda, please take a moment to visit those links after listening. Stories have the power to connect us, and sometimes a single voice can inspire someone else to keep going. Perhaps that is exactly what the Sanjay story will do for some of you listening today. And this was today's episode, guys. I hope you liked it. Comment below and share your thoughts. Give your voice, you know, share your voice. And it's always nice to hear from you. And I promise that I have more episodes ready here weekly on the Storytelling Podcast. And just to remind you that this channel is made for you to binge. Many more episodes are waiting for you here. Or if you prefer a visual experience, you can also find the episodes on YouTube where you can watch and listen at the same time. Thank you for listening, and please remember that if you like to send your stories or special topics to be shared in the next episodes, please send them to the storytellingpodcast880 at gmail.com or follow me on social media at the storytelling podcast official. But before you go, if you haven't done that already, I would love for you to like, click and follow the subscribe button, or if you have the hype button, why not? And see you on the next episode. And thank you very much, Desange.