A GLIMPSE OF YOUR IMPACT
YOUNG LIFE
DEVELOPING GLOBAL LEADERS
"A generous person will prosper; whoever ref reshes others will be ref reshed."
Proverbs 11:25
Thankyou,EslerFamily!
Yoursponsorshipof10DGLstudentscreatesapowerful ministrymultiplicationeffect.Onaverage,DGLstudents directlyimpact10–30teensperyearthroughconsistent one-to-onerelationalministry—invitingthemtoclub, takingthemtocamp,leadingCampaignersBiblestudies, walkingwiththemthroughlife’shighsandlows,and trainingthemtobecomeleadersthemselves.
Overfouryears,yourinvestmentinthese10DGLstudents willhaveafar-reachingimpactastheycollectivelyreach 400–1,200teens—ormanymore.
Yourgenerosityisfuelinghopeandtransformationaround theglobe,creatingarippleeffectthatgoesfarbeyond individuallives impactingentirecommunitiesand shapingthenextgenerationofleaders.
July 2025
SIERRA LEONE
YOUR GLOBAL IMPACT
MNCEDISI SOUTH AFRICA
FATMATA
SIERRA LEONE
MAGDALENA POLAND
EMILI ALBANIA
FORTUNE ESWATINI
MAGIRI TANZANIA
RAJAB ZANZIBAR
WhenIwasnineyearsold,myfatherpassedaway.Wehadtomovebackto mygrandmother’shousebecausemyfatherhadnotmarriedmymother. Athome,wewereonlyeatingtwiceaday,soIstartedgamblingtobuy food.However,mylifechangedwhenIheardaboutYoungLifefrommy aunt.IstartedgoingtoYoungLifeclubsforthefun,butdidnotlistentothe talksuntilIwenttocamp.IacceptedJesusChristintomylifeatYoungLife camp.Sincethattime,IhavebeenonajourneyoffaithinJesus,knowing thatIamforgivenandthatIwillspendeternitywithHiminheaven.Ifinally havepeaceandpurposeinmylife.Jesuschangedmylife.
Whatisyourfieldofstudyandwhydidyouchooseit?Iamstudying educationatEdutelUniversityinRoodepoort,SouthAfrica.Iwillbethefirst personinmyfamilytograduatefromuniversity.BeinginvolvedinYoung LifehasgivenmethedesiretogetadiplomainteachingsothatIcan changethelivesofotheryoungkidsandhelpthemsucceed.WhenI graduate,Iwanttobeateacherandinspirealifelongloveoflearningin others.
Howschoolisgoing?Schoolisgoingverywell;myfavoriteclassishealth safetyandnutritionandalsocommunicationandICTskills.
HowhaveyouseenGodmovinginYoungLifeministrytheselast months?I'veseenGodmovingthroughanoticeableincreaseinofformer leaderscomingbacktobeinvolvedinministry.
High/Lowofthelast3months:Idon'thavelows.MyhighisthatIwasso excitedtoattendmy2025class.
PrayerRequests:PleaseprayformesothatIcanbeabletoreachmy goals,toovercomeobstacles,andforguidanceandwisdom.
MNCEDISI PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
UNIVERSITY: University of South Africa
MAJOR: Environmental Management
My faith has played an important role in my life. As a child, I knew I should go before the Lord with prayer, but I did not know what a true relationship with the Lord looked like until eighth grade. That’s when my Young Life leader invited me to an outreach camp. During that camp, my faith grew and I began to experience the Lord on a deeper level. I knew I wanted to walk with Him all my days and share His love with others.
What is your field of study and why did you select it? My field of study is Bachelor's of Arts in Environmental Management, The reason I chose it is because I developed a love for the weather and how nature works. It saddens me that we are mistreating natural resources so it is in my heart to care for the nature God made for us.
Prayer Requests: I have a new role to find and open new Young Life clubs in Pretoria. Please pray that with this new role, I will be able to carry on. I am nervous but I know that my God is capable.
I was born into a Muslim family and I am the second of eight children. My father was a farmer and resources were always limited. When I reached high school, I had to move in with my uncle to work odd jobs to assist with fees. One day I was invited to a Young Life Club where I heard of Jesus. After listening to the message, I knew I wanted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. The love shown to me by the other Young Life kids and leaders was something I had never experienced before.
List some of your favorite hobbies and tell us why you enjoy them. Playing football, running sports, and hunting. Football helps me to be known in the village and running helps me to know different places. Hunting is something I did when I was living with my parents in the village. After working in the garden, sometimes my dad and I would go to the bush to hunt.
High/Low of the last 3 months: High: I have completed my first semester exams. Low: Transportation problems because of the distance from my house I have to wake up by 3:00am every time that we have morning class so that I make it to my first class.
Prayer Requests: Please pray for a successful academic year and for an impactful ministry year. I am praying for my donors, for God to bless them more as they continue to support me and all the other DGL student around the world. Also for protection in my life and may God continue to give me the heart of a giver as I have started to give to people and more especially the less privileged.
DONALD
IlivewithmymotherwhoisasingleparentinFreetown,SierraLeone.I haveneverknownmyfatherashediedwhenIwasyoung.Sincethen,our momhasbeentakingcareofmyoldersiblingsandmewiththemeager incomefrompettytrading.Ihaveseenfirsthandtheimpactofpovertyand discouragementandrefusetowalkinthefootstepsofhopelessness.
ImetJesuswhenIwasachildthroughbaptismatchurch.However,I stoppedgoingtochurchandattendingchurchactivitiesbecausemylife wassofullofstressandstruggle.IwasreintroducedtoChristinsecondary schoolthroughYoungLife.IbegantogrowinfaithasIwasinvolvedin clubsandcampaigners.NowIamaYoungLifeteamleaderanda DevelopingGlobalLeader.Iampursuingadegreeinprocurementand logisticswithgoalstobecomearolemodelinmycommunityandbeable togivefinancialstabilitytomyfamily.
HowhaveyouseenGodmovinginYoungLifeministrytheselast months?Forthelastmonthsmyclubhasbeenincreasingfrom50 teenagersto70teenagersatclub,forwhichmyteamandIaregratefulto God.
High/Lowofthelast3months:Myhighwasbeingthekeypresenterinmy myclassgrouppresentations!Iwassoexcitedtobechosen.Nolows,thank God.
PrayerRequests:IpraythatGodwillcontinuetoguideandprotectmy donorswhoaresupportingmethroughYoungLifetohelpmeachievemy educationsuccessfully.Iprayforwisdom,knowledgeandunderstandingso thatIwillbeabletohandlemyministryanduniversitysuccessfully.
MymotherpassedawaywhenIwasachild,andmyfatherisanelderlyman whoisunabletowork.Comingfrompovertyandbeingtheeldest,Ihadto takeontheroleofbreadwinnerandfocusedonhelpingmysiblingswith foodandschoolfees.Ididnotattendschoolforthreeyearsandsoldchips andsweetstohelpprovideformyfamily.Iwasdeterminedtotakecareof them,butIexperiencedmuchdespair.
EverythingchangedwhenIwasatmylowestandheardthevoiceofJesus. IwasintroducedtoYoungLifewhichbroughtmeclosertoChristbecauseI nolongerfeltalone.IwassurroundedbyaChristiancommunitywho supportedmeandIbeganlaughingagainandfeelingloved.Inow volunteerasateamleader,hopingtoofferthesamekindnessIwasshown.
Whatisyourfieldofstudyandwhydidyouchooseit?Iamstudying pharmacybecauseIwanttohelpothersaccessthehealthcaretheyneed andtonurturefutureleaders.Mygoalistoestablishachildren’svillagein myareatoofferphysicalandspiritualcareforotherkids.Iwanttostartmy ownpharmacythatwillhiremoreYLleadersandalsodonatebackto YoungLifeEswatini.
Listsomeofyourfavoritehobbiesandtelluswhyyouenjoythem:Ilike singinggospelsongsbecauseIamgoodinvocalsandIhaveapassionfor singing.IalsolikeplayingsoccerwithotherguysbecauseI'mtalentedand skilled.
FORTUNE
UNIVERSITY: Zanzibar Alliance Institute
MAJOR: Tourism Management
RAJAB
ZANZIBAR, ZANZIBAR
IamfromthevillageofBungi.Icomefromalargefamilyasmyfatherhad multiplewivesandIhavesevensiblings.In2020,myfatherpassedaway duetoaparalyticdisease.Afterhisdeath,someofmyfather'srelatives rejectedmebecauseofmyChristianbeliefs.
AgoalIhavesetisearningacollegedegree.Iwillbethefirsttodosoinmy familyanditwouldmeanagreatdealtome.AsapartoftheDeveloping GlobalLeadersprogram,IattendZanzibarAllianceandIamworkingona degreeintourismandhospitality.MyprayeristhatIwillbeabletosupport myfamily,helpmycommunity,andfeelrespectedinsociety.
PrayerRequests:Iamgratefulthattheclubsaregoingwell,youngpeople arecominginlargenumbers,andleadersareincreasingeveryseason.Iask forprayersfortheareasofMtule,Pete,Kizimkazi,andJambianiwhichare verychallengingareasbecausethemajorityoftheirpopulationisMuslim. ThesearetheareaswherewewantYoungLifetogrow.Iaskforprayersfor theseareassothatwecanreachtheyoungpeopleandtellthemaboutour friendJesus.
Ipraythatregardingmypersonallife,Godwillopenthedoorsof sustenancesothatIcansupportmyselfandhelpmyfamily.Iaskfor continuedprayersformymothersothatherconditionmaycontinueto improve.IaskforprayerssothatIcanunderstandmoreanddowellinmy studies.
MAJOR: Computer Science
The best thing about my childhood was being a charming kid and intelligent kid. This actually helps me now doing contact work because I know how how to interact with many different people. The challenging part of my childhood was living without my mother while seeing other kids laughing and playing with their mothers. It was hard to find a friend in my neighborhood because their parents wouldn’t allow it because of my upbringing in the streets.
High/Low of the last 3 months: This has been so wonderful because it is the first time to be in university, a big step that I have been waiting for. So I thank God and all my sponsors and those who praying for me for this to happen. I keep praying that God will give me courage to stand and keep teaching me how to live.
List some of your favorite hobbies and tell us why you enjoy them. I like to read books and read the Bible because I receive knowledge and ways to solve some problems around me. I also like exercising; I do workouts almost every week.
Prayer Requests: May God bless me and guide me to His ways. May God bless everyone who is there to make sure I go to class and fulfill my goals. Prosperity in my ministry, family, education and spiritual life.
I am the youngest of four children. When I was three years old, my eldest brother passed away and then the following year, my father passed away leaving my mother suddenly alone to care for three children and herself. Life became difficult as she lost her source of income and my siblings were made to stay with other relatives. Being the only child living with my mother, we struggled to make ends meet and sometimes went to bed on empty stomachs. I left school and stayed home until my mother could scrape together enough money for school fees. My mother had to do all kinds of menial work to earn enough for me to start school again; it was only possible with God on our side.
What is your field of study and why did you choose it? I chose to study Broadcast Journalism to be able to educate and inform people about the happenings in our communities and also enlighten them on some importance of policies in our community and country.
List some of your favorite hobbies and tell us why you enjoy them. I like to read. I do this partly for entertainment but now that I’m a communication studies student, I read for information.
Prayer Requests: My prayer request is that I would have a good memory, retention and alertness during lectures and so I can fulfill my duties as a DGL student. I also want you to join me in prayers for the growth of our ministry and all other leaders and kids working with us.
UNIVERSITY: Lady of Good Counsel University
MAJOR: Dentistry
EMILI TIRANA, ALBANIA
Growingupinasmall,close-knitfamily,Iwasdeeplyinfluencedbymy mother,whosestrongChristianfaithshapedmuchofmyearlylife.Asan adolescentconvertherself,sheinstilledinmethevaluesofherfaithfroma youngage,takingmetochurchregularlyevenwhenIwasreluctant.A pivotalmomentinmyownfaithwasattendingaYoungLifecampthanks toafriend'sinvitation.Althoughmyfriendwasnotabeliever,the experiencewaslife-changingforme.Ifoundpeaceandjoyinthe communityanditinspiredmetosharemyexperienceswithothers,which inturnsparkedinterestamongmanyofmyfriends.
Whatisyourfieldofstudyandwhydidyouchooseit?WhileIamaware thatthepathofstudyingdentistrywillbechallenging,requiringsixyearsof dedicatedstudy,IfirmlybelievethatGodhasopenedthisdoorforme.My faithhastaughtmeresilienceandconfidence,qualitiesthatIknowwill carrymethroughthisdemandingjourney.
HighsandLowsinrecentmonths:I'vebeenlearninghowtodriveand nowIcansaythatIfinallytookmydriver'slicense.I'vebeenprayingtoGod aboutmoreconcentrationinschoolandhowtobemoreorganizedand theselastfewmonthsI'vebeenreallyputtingmyworktogetherinschool, althoughuniversityhasbeenchallengingformesinceI'minfirstyearasa dentalstudentandtheloadhasbeenalotandIbarelyhavetimeformyself sometimes.
PrayerRequests:I'dlikeforyoutoprayaboutmyschoollifesinceI'm distractedandtiredlately.Also,I'mtryingtoreachouttosomegirlsatmy neighborhoodwhoareMuslimsandIreallyhopetheycancometothe campandgettoknowJesusthere.
— EMILI
MAJOR: Psychology and Cognitive Science
IcurrentlyliveinPoznań,Polandwithmyhusband,butmyrootsstretch backtoatinyvillageinwesternPolandwhereIspentmyearlychildhood withmygreat-grandmother.ItwasduringthisidyllictimethatIfirst witnessedmygreat-grandmother’sdeepfaithwhichleftalasting impressiononme.Myfaithjourneytookasignificantturninhighschool whenIencounteredapersonalcrisisthatshookmedeeply.Idistanced myselffromchurchandstruggledtofindmeaninginanything.Itwas duringasummerbreak,throughfrequentconversationsandprayerswith mygreat-grandmother,thatIbegantodiscoverwhatittrulymeanstohave apersonalrelationshipwithGod.
Whatisyourfieldofstudyandwhydidyouchooseit?Myfieldofstudyis cognitivescience.Iampursuingmystudiesinpsychologyandcognitive science.Myacademicfocusisonunderstandingthecomplexitiesofthe humanbrain,decision-makingprocesses,andimprovingthequalityof medicalpracticethroughAI.Iseethisasasignificantresponsibility,andI amcommittedtocontinuouslyimprovingmyskillssothatIcanserve otherswiselyandeffectively,alwaysguidedbymyfaith.
HowhaveyouseenGodmovinginYoungLifeministry?Godhasbeen constantlysurprisingmewithHisgoodnessandgenerosity.Ihaveseen incrediblegrowthineachofmygirls,whoincreasinglytrusteachotherand me,andalsoinseveralofthemagreatopennesstobringingthegood newstoothers.Oneofthegirlsisjuststartingleadershiptraining,another recentlyaskedifshecouldvolunteeratthenextcamp.
PrayerRequests:Pleaseprayformyhusbandandme,ourfamily...thatwe wouldbeabletobalancecaringforourmarriageandtimeasacouplewith timededicatedtofamilyandresponsibilities,whilenotforgettingthatGod hasitallundercontrol. — MAGDALENA
DGL AT A GLANCE
ASOFJULY2025
Current active DGL Students representing 658
83 countries
Total Developing Global Leaders 2,101 since the program began in 2009
Total DGL Graduates 1,087
DGLAWARDS250FULL-RIDESCHOLARSHIPSEVERYYEAR.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 1:9-10
