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
Thom and Leilani,
We hope this collection of photos, stories, and prayer requests is a sweet blessing to you, giving you a glimpse of your generosity at work in DGL students’ lives. We are so grateful for your support that has spanned more than a decade. Your sponsorship of DGL students continues to fuel hope and transformation, creating a ripple effect that goes far beyond these individual lives—impacting their families and communities and shaping the next generation of leaders. Thank you for trusting DGL with your resources and trusting God with the results. May you be blessed by the photos and stories that have come directly from the DGL students themselves.
–The DGL Team September 2025
YOUR GLOBAL IMPACT
MIDDLE EURASIA (MEA) 11 DGLs
LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN (LAC)
11 DGLs
AFRICA WEST
AFRICA SOUTH 5 DGLs
6 DGLs
ASIA PACIFIC (APAC)
6 DGLs
52 DGL students representing 25 countries
YOUR FIRST DGL STUDENTS
Your sponsorship journey with Young Life’s Developing Global Leaders began when the program was still in its early years. At that time, just 100 scholarships were being awarded each year and the impact was already proving remarkable.
Your generosity helped fuel that success, as you sponsored five students from around the world including Ethiopia, Vietnam, Nicaragua, Moldova, and Ukraine. Because of your investment, these DGL students were able to attend local universities and grow as Young Life leaders.
We reached out to some of these first students you sponsored and they eagerly responded with these messages of gratitude.
Tatiana from Nicaragua is one of the first students you sponsored. She received a DGL scholarship in 2015.
Tatiana Lanzas - Developing Global Leader
Martin Luther University, Nicaragua
Major: Nursing
Graduated 2022
Tatiana’s DGL application photo.
Tatiana with her husband, Frank
Tatiana’s DGL university graduation.
DearDonor,
First,Iwanttothankyouforthesupportyougavemeduringmyuniversitycareer whichwasmadepossiblethankstoyourgenerosity.Therearetrulynowordsto expressmygratitudeforallyoursupport
Iamtheoldestoffivesiblings.Mymotherisasinglemotherandhadahardtime sendingustoschool,asherjobwasalwayswashingandironingotherpeople's clothes Buteventhen,shedidn'tgiveupandgaveusaneducation WhenI finishedhighschool,goingtouniversitywasimpossibleforme.ButGodgaveme theblessingofbeingpartoftheDGLprogram,whichhelpedmefulfillmydreamof becomingaprofessional.Today,IcanproudlysaythatIhaveadegreeinnursing.I achievedwhatIthoughtwasimpossible,thankstoGodandtoyou Truly,besides Godandmymother, youhavebeenoneofthefundamentalpillarsthatshaped me.
IthankGodforgivingmewisdom,strength,andcourage Ithankmymotherfor fightingtohelpmegetahead.AndIthankyouandtheDGLprogramforbeinga partofmylifeand,evenwithoutknowingme,givingmetheopportunitytodevelop asaprofessional
Ialsowanttotellyouthatin2023Igotmarried ImetmyhusbandthroughVida Jovenandhehasbeenagreatblessingtome.Ihaveastablejobatapharmacy whereIprovideconsultations;itfillsmewithjoytobeabletohelppeoplewho comeinsearchofmedicineandadvicefortheirillnesses IamstillpartofVida Joven.Mydreamistohavemyownbusinesstoprovidehomenursingcare.Iknow thatwithGod'shelpIwillachieveit.
Thankyousomuch,andmayourLordJesusChristguideyourlivesatalltimes. Thankyouforyourwarmheartandforyourkindness,which,evenwithout expectinganythinginreturn,yousharewiththosewhoneeditmost.
Sincerely,TatianaLanzas
August2025
Translated from Spanish
Adisu’s DGL application photo.
Adisu with his wife and daughter
Adisu continues to serve in Young Life Ethiopia
August2025
DearDonor,
Firstofall,thankstoGodinallthingsandthankstotheDGLProgram!AfterI graduatedfromuniversitywithadegreeinaccounting,Iworkedfora constructioncompanyfortwoyearsthengotajobattheCommercialBankof EthiopiawhereIworkedforsixyears.
Afterthattime,ImovedbacktomyhometownandnowserveinYoungLife Ethiopiainbookkeepingandfinance.Iammarriedandhaveonechild.
IamcurrentlysettingupacharityorganizationinTulubolotowntoteach motherlesschildren.
Thankyouforsupportingme. AllmylifeischangedbecauseofthehelpofGod, byYoungLifeEthiopiaandDGL.
Adisu
Adisu lost both parents at a young age, joining the millions of orphans in Ethiopia. By 14, he was living completely alone in Waliso, just west of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. He supported himself and finished high school with strong grades. His life changed when he was invited to Young Life and later received a DGL scholarship to attend university. He knows from his own story the great need for adults who care about the children of his country and are willing to step in a make a difference.
Adisu Girma - Developing Global Leader
Ambo University, Ethiopia
Major: Accounting
Graduated 2017
Stas’ DGL application photo.
Stas with his wife and two sons.
Stas, never shy, was a favorite leader of many kids.
Dear Donor,
Although it’s been a while since I finished my DGL program, I would like to say thank you for your support and prayers.
I’m doing very well right now. I’m married and we have two handsome boys. Their names are Artur-Grant and Oliver-King, I can tell you that they are a blessing for us even when it’s tough.
I’m still helping local staff, Theodore and Lena, with Young Life sometimes. I mostly design merchandise for them so they can earn money for camps. I spend more time right now in church ministry as a youth leader but maybe one day I will get back in Young Life in a different role.
Now the most boring part, I work as a travel agent in a small company. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to switch but all the time I end up back in the airline and travel industry!
Recently I went through dark and tough period of my life but I always felt those who prayed for me and it helped me a lot to win in this battle.
I just want to say that because you are righteous and loyal to God, you become a blessing for so many people, but most important, you are a blessing for me!
God bless you, with love, Stas August 2025
Stanislav "Stas" Caciura - Developing Global Leader
State Pedagogical University, Moldova
Major: English and German
Graduated 2018
YOUR GENEROSITY CONTINUES
In 2021, you doubled the number of students to sponsor and expanded your impact to more countries including Belarus, Armenia, Mali, Kenya, Burundi, Philippines, Argentina, Domincan Republic. Your support came at a pivotal moment, especially for students in Middle Eurasia (MEA) who began their college journeys only to face the upheaval of war, with all its uncertainty and disruption to daily life. All except two sponsored students in the countries directly affected by war persevered and graduated – and many remain actively involved in Young Life or other local ministry.
Ivan Vilichko - Developing Global Leader
Belarus
Vitebsk State University
Music Education Teacher
Graduated 2025
Ivan’s DGL application photo Ivan as a Young Life leader Ivan on his wedding day 2025
Ilya Blagonadezhdin International Economics
Alexander Varenitsa Automation and Computer-Integrated Technology
Alexei Birzov Robotics
Katerina Smeyuha Journalism
Leonid Fomenko Informational Systems and Technologies
G STARTED
y enrolled in university nued investment into
Because of your heart for those in the 10/40 Window, many of these students are in Africa, where your support is opening doors for education, leadership, and lasting impact. TheDGLstudentsyoucurrentlysponsorinor nearthe10/40Windowattenduniversityin Ethiopia,Zanzibar,Côted’Ivoire,Mali, Liberia,Ghana,SierraLeone,Nigeria,and Senegal.Inaddition,youarealso sponsoringstudentsinthePhilippines, Nicaragua,theDominicanRepublic, andArgentina.
Town , Ethiopia
Rift Valley University College Engineering and Computer Science
Fikadab “Kab” Legesse
Jimma
Dear Donor,
I am very happy to meet you. My name is Fikadeab (Kab). I live in Ethiopia, Jimma City. I have been a DGL student for two years. My family is from a lower income group so I did not have the opportunity to study until I received a DGL scholarship. I would like to thank God for this opportunity that has come into my life, but also I thank you for giving the financial support. God bless you.
–Kab August 2025
To my sponsor I will like to say thank you for your support. Your belief in my potential motivates me to strive for excellence and achieve my goals. I appreciate the opportunities you’ve provided, and I look forward to making the most of them. and I pray that God favor you and bless every work of your hand.
My name is Esther and I live with my parents in Johnsonville, Liberia. I was born during the civil war in Liberia and lived in fear for most of my childhood due to gun shots and constant running for our lives from place to place as a family. My family is very poor, and I have three siblings. My father is a gardener, and my mother is a petty trader. Because of our financial situation, I had to drop out of school because my parents could not afford to send all four of us siblings to school at the same time. I was finally able to graduate from high school at age 23.
I became involved in Young Life after being invited to club by a leader at my school. I felt God calling me to Young Life and have been involved ever since. My relationship with Christ has grown tremendously and I am now a volunteer leader and lead club and campaigners.
As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, I am studying accounting at the University of Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia. I will be the first in my family to graduate from university. My hope is to become a certified accountant. I want to become a leader who leads by example and be a good steward for those leaders God has entrusted to me.
Esther Flomo Johnsonville, Liberia
University of Liberia Accounting
I would like to thank all the sponsors who support me. Please tell them that I will do all my best not to disappoint them and get to work to also bring in other souls so that they may believe in Jesus our Savior.
My name is Steeven and I live in a suburb of Abidjan called Abobo, one of the most densely populated communes in Cote d'Ivoire. My parents separated when I was six years old after a period of fighting and I went to live with my mother, all of which was traumatizing. My father lived in the same town but never tried to reach us. My mother paid my school fees from primary school until I graduated from secondary school, as I could not depend on my father to help. My mother sold bread and other goods to help me succeed. I was a good student but unable to continue my education for lack of resources in spite of working multiple jobs to help provide for my family.
Though I grew up in church, I just went there to please my mother and had no personal relationship with God. As a teenager, I started to rebel because I felt that my mother wanted to control me, and the absence of my father was like a weight. When I started going to Young Life clubs, it allowed me to get closer to Christ over time and with the help of other people.
Through the Developing Global Leaders scholarship my vision is to continue and complete my studies in electrical engineering. My goal is to be able to find a job in my field and I want to continue to share my story and impact the lives of other teens through Young Life ministries.
Adja Michael Steeven Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
National Graduate School of Energy, Water, and Environment
Electrical Engineering
I say a big thank you to my sponsors, because thanks to them, I have the chance to continue my studies. I am very thankful for their financial availability for me. I will work hard at school to make them proud of me too. May God bless you abundantly.
I live in a large city in Mali, with my brother, his wife, his two kids and my sister in a small house. I grew up in a big family with many children. We were very poor, and my mother and I were always sick. There were some days when we did not have food to eat or money to pay for school fees. My life has had many challenges, the greatest of these was my mother’s untimely death. These factors all affected my education. However, I was determined to finish school and at times, I worked as a cook to pay for my clothes and transportation for school.
I came to know Jesus late in high school through my sister who invited me to church. Later, I found out about Young Life through a friend and started going. I am now a team leader and am passionate about sharing the love of Jesus to teens in my community.
As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, I am studying nutrition at a local university. I would not be able to attend school without this scholarship. I want to be a nutritionist so that I can help others living in poverty fight against bad nutrition and find foods that are good for their health. I also want to continue leading Young Life and raising up new leaders.
“Bekka”
Sidonie Bénéna, Mali
Université
Nutrition
Bazo
DearSponsor,
Iamwritingtoyouwithaheartfullofgratitude,respect,andaffection.Firstofall, allowmetosincerelythankyouforyourincrediblegenerosity.Forthreeyearsof universitystudies,youwerethatinvisibleyetpowerfulhandthatcarriedme, supportedme,andencouragedme.Becauseofyourconstantsupport,Iwasable topursuemyeducationwithdignityandhope.
Youhavebeenmuchmorethanadonor:youhavebeenacaringfather,amodel ofgenerosityandfaith.Yourinvestmentinmylifewillneverbeforgotten.Ithank Godeverydayforyourlife.
Ialsowanttosharesomepersonalupdates:onMay28th,2022,Igotmarriedto mywonderfulandlovinghusband.Wearebuildingourlifetogetherwithjoyand trustinGod.Myfamilyisdoingwell,andtheykeepyouintheirthoughtsand prayers.Atchurch,Icontinuetoservewithcommitmentandjoy,contributingto bothspiritualandcommunityactivities.
AndIhavethehonorofsharingsomemoregoodnewswithyou:sinceMay2024, IhavebeenofficiallyemployedbytheorganizationYoungLifeasaStaff Associate.Thisisawonderfulopportunitythatallowsmetogrow,serveyoung people,andsharethevaluesthatinspireme.Iseethisnewchapterasananswer toyourprayersandafruitofthetrustyouplacedinme.
IpraythattheLordwillblessyouabundantly,strengthenyouinallyour endeavors,andrenewyourjoyeachday.Mayyourkindness,whichhelpedmeso much,continuetobealighttoothersaswell.
Withallmyrespectanddeepgratitude,
Sincerely,
DeniseSimbare August2025
YOUR SPONSORED STUDENTS
BY GEOGRAPHY
To date, your gifts have provided partial scholarships for 52 DGL students representing 25 countries. For some, your generosity gave them the opportunity to begin their college journey; for others, it allowed them to cross the finish line and graduate. The chart below reflects every student whose life you have touched in some way.
The stories we share often highlight the successes, hopes, and dreams of graduates and current students. Yet you’ll also notice names of students who, for different reasons family hardship, personal struggles, health challenges were unable to continue in the program. While these situations are difficult, they remind us of the real vulnerabilities faced by young people around the world, where economic hardship and cultural pressures make both education and faith a struggle.
Stanislav "Stas"
Viktoria
Katerina Smeyuha
Student Name Major
Adisu Girma Accounting
Alazar Wondemu Information/Communications Technology
Fikadab Legesse Asfaw Computer Science
Tensay Redi Business
Wat Okello Business and Economics
Wendsen Abera Marketing
Ethiopia Africa East Graduated
Ethiopia Africa East Graduated
Ethiopia Africa East Current Student
Ethiopia Africa East Current Student
Ethiopia Africa East Current Student
Ethiopia Africa East Current Student
Denise Simbare Management and Administration Burundi Africa South Graduated
Regina Mthini Industrial Laboratory Technology Malawi Africa South Graduated
Faith Asiimwe Business Information Technology
Rwanda Africa South Dropped
Haji Juma Motor Vehicle Maintenance Zanzibar Africa South Current Student
Rose Petro Tourism Zanzibar Africa South Current Student
Andouwa Aka Medicine Côte d'Ivoire Africa West Dropped
Adja Michael Steeven Electrical Engineering
Eunice Larbie Education
Côte d'Ivoire Africa West Current Student
Ghana Africa West Dropped
Jennifer Ese Edumah Koomson Procurement Ghana Africa West Current Student
Justice Klutse Religion Ghana Africa West Current Student
Esther Flomo Accounting Liberia Africa West Current Student
Patience Quiah Public Health
Liberia Africa West Current Student
Bianhan Sidonie Kone Biologie médicale Mali Africa West Current Student
Solomane Justice KANÉ Business and Economics Mali Africa West Current Student
Grace Suzane Guindou Communications Mali Africa West Current Student
Praise Sotomi Zoology Nigeria Africa West Current Student
Sergio Omende Mendy Building Design Senegal Africa West Current Student
Kadiatu Dumbuya Procurement
Sierra Leone Africa West Current Student
Student Name Major
Roselyn Valenzuela Mechanical Engineering
Christian Baguio Tourism
Vicenta Singgit Criminology
Philippines Manila Asia Pacific Graduated
Philippines South Asia Pacific Current Student
Philippines South Asia Pacific Current Student
Glory Vi Cabuñas Marketing Management Phillippines Asia Pacific Graduated
Toàn Nguyễn English Translation Vietnam Asia Pacific Graduated
Thông "Link" Phạm Information Technology Vietnam Asia Pacific Graduated
Martha Denisse Cortedano Law and Diplomacy Nicaragua North LAC Central Current Student
Yamely Balbuena Psychology Dominican Republic LAC Central Dropped
Jeff Delicieux Modern Languages Dominican Republic LAC Central Current Student
Jender Lachapel Physical Education Dominican Republic LAC Central Graduated
Tatiana Lanzas Rodas Nursing Nicaragua North LAC Central Graduated
Macarena Acosta Business Administration Argentina LAC South Current Student
Yazmin Escobar Accounting Argentina LAC South Sponsorship
Maya Montes Choquehuanca Business Management Bolivia LAC South Dropped
Larissa Fraga Education Brazil LAC South Dropped
Iveth Lozano Gaitán Medicine
Iván Felipe Chaparro Pirajón Electronics Engineering
LAC South Dropped
LAC South Graduated
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
