Thomas Impact - Current Students

Name

Daniel Mutisya Kenya Information Technology

Grace Mwende Kenya Journalism

Jane Ngoiri Mungai Kenya Hospitality

Joseph Ng'ang'a Kenya Computer Science

Maggie Mukiru Kenya Procurement & Logistic Management

Michelle Wanjiru Kenya Hospitality

Rehema Wambua Kenya Business Management

Ronald Otieno Kenya Business and Economics

Simon Kyule Kenya Hospitality

Irene Sackie Liberia Sociology

Hamilton Chipanda Malawi Development Economics

Ruth Kayira Malawi Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Wezzie Nyirongo Malawi Journalism

Gabriel Chirindza Mozambique English Education

Christian Kings Nigeria Mass Communication

Deborah Sarty Sierra Leone Human Resource Management

Alex Malangalila Tanzania History and Kiswahili

Mariam Eliapenda Tanzania Public Relations and Marketing

Ayush Kumar India Accounting

Gledia Kaba Albania Business Informatics

Jakob Kadlec Czech Republic

Kolya Okunev Russia Mathematics

Valeria Savina Russia Mathematics and Game Design

Dani Chaux Colombia Biomedical Engineering

Libbi Polanco Dominican Republic Industrial Engineering

Starlin Rodriguez Dominican Republic Mathematics

Reina Picado Sevilla Nicaragua Tropical Agroecology Engineering

AFRICA/ MIDDLE EAST

KENYA

DANIEL MUTISYA NAIROBI, KENYA

JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY MAJOR: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Daniel serves in WyldLife and took seven kids to camp this summer; he has four young men in a Campaigner group he meets with regularly. His ministry goals include establishing a new club and adding more female leaders. He expects to graduate in 2024 and has a dream to own a "small but innovative technology company." Over the summer, Daniel learned to play the piano. He asks for prayers for peace to prevail in Kenya in this time of political instability.

KENYA

MAGGIE UKIRU GATAKA, KENYA

KENYA

GRACE MWENDE NAIROBI,

KENYA

ZETECH UNIVERSITY MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE

With the help of a Developing Global Leaders scholarship, Grace will attend East Africa Institute of Certified Students and study journalism Grace’s leaders describe her as possessing “writing skills and people skills that enable her easily to connect with everyone and she knows how to empathize with others in an appropriate way.”

She plans on using these skills to serve Young Life as well as in her future career as a journalist. Grace is passionate about “delivering information as an engaging story to an audience for whom it matters”. She is the first in her family to attend college.

CO OPERATIVE UNIVERSITY MAJOR: PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTIC MANAGEMENT

Sharing her "highs" and "lows" of the last three months:

HIGHS

1. I am so happy about the new ministry in Kamura; praying it will be a success.

2. I am happy because we are doing our exams now and I believe I will pass

3 My teen mom group is increasing every day and am happy to have such a big number

LOWS

1 One of the teens in our community killed someone over the issue of a cell phone and what pains me is that he was a Young Life teen

Tanzania

Kenya

Sierra Leone

Mozambique

Malawi

18 Current DGL

Liberia Nigeria

MOZAMBIQUE

GABRIEL CHIRINDZA MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

PEDIGOGICAL UNIVERSITY MAJOR: ENGLISH EDUCATION

“I would like to celebrate with you the opening of more clubs, especially a weekly English Club. As Portuguese is my country's official language, I’m teaching English to my community kids, putting into practice what I’ve been learning in my faculty ”

In August this year,

TANZANIA

MARIAM ELIAPENDA MWANZA, TANZANIA ST. AUGUSTINE UNIVERSITY MAJOR: PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING

Mariam at the Tanzania DGL Conference

Gabriel integrates teaching English as part of club each week Another highlight for Gabriel is that he and his fianceé Madalena were engaged this summer

DGL students in Tanzania gathered for a leadership conference a time of training and fellowship.

DGL

KENYA S P O N S O R S H I P P R O V I D E S :

RONALD OTIENO NAIROBI, KENYA

I grew up in a loving and stable home My father was a businessman and the provider of all our basic needs Life was very good! I dreamt of a bright future until one evening when we received the news of the death of both my parents. My world came crumbling down.

After laying my parents to rest, I moved to Mombasa to live with my aunt. She was the only relative who agreed to take me in. My aunt was a widow and jobless and struggled to provide for us. I felt like I was a burden to her. When I was 11, I went around selling ground nuts, boiled maize and vegetables to help her with the bills.

Attending school was the greatest challenge that I faced. At one point, I stayed home for a year after I was sent home for not paying school fees

I received Christ as a teenager at one of the Young Life camps Living in a Muslim dominated region, it is my passion to see more teenagers, particularly Muslim kids who have never heard the Gospel, come to know Christ. I am studying business and economics and I envision myself as a great businessperson in my country who will help eradicate poverty and empower more youths.

MALAWI

WEZZIE NYIRONGO

MZUZU, MALAWI

UNIVERSITY OF LIVINGSTONIA MAJOR: JOURNALISM

In addition to Young Life, Wezzie has been recognized as an outstanding leader for her work with Changemakers where she offers mentorship and career guidance to young people in her community. That's Wezzie on the billboard!

NYA

EPH NG'ANG'A BI, KENYA H UNIVERSITY R: COMPUTER SCIENCE

Joseph credits his DGL training for teaching him how to recruit good leaders; he is cultivating a Campaigner group of twenty kids

Two kids he has a special heart for are Abraham, “a good kid who is always happy even if he is passing through difficulties he shares a lot with me,” and Archangel, “a person of many talents and I enjoy spending time with him.”

KENYA

REHEMA WAMBUA MARIAKANI, KENYA

KENYA COAST NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC MAJOR: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

I came to know Jesus Christ when I was young; life in Christ has given me courage to move forward in life despite the challenges I face in my family I lived in a very poor condition, lacking most of my basic needs including food and quality education I had to skip meals consistently and walk great distances to school when we were able to remain current on my school fees. I have learned be humble and have faith in God, and hope to love, care for, and encourage others facing situations similar to the difficult ones I have encountered.

KENYA

MICHELLE WANJIRU NAIROBI, KENYA

ZETECH UNIVERSITY MAJOR: HOSPITALITY

"I am the first in my family to attend university. Above all else, I want to continue walking with teenagers in Young Life and connecting them with their loving Heavenly Father."

KENYA JANE NGOIRI MUNGAI NAIROBI, KENYA

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

MAJOR: HOSPITALITY

I am studying hospitality at Kenyatta University. I am grateful that this degree will enable me to venture into my life long dream of service.

Many Young Life Developing Global Leaders are the first in their family to have the opportunity to attend college.

SIERRA LEONE

DEBORAH SARTY FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE

INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY MAJOR: BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

"I have learnt a lot of new things but key among them is our discussion on Personal Daily Spiritual discipline. It has helped me a lot to improve my spiritual life." Deborah (on meeting with her mentor)

MALAWI

UTH KAYIRA

ANTYRE, MALAWI

LOITS UNIVERSITY AJOR: LOGISTICS AND PPLY CHAIN ANAGEMENT

"If I had a chance to introduce my sponsor to anyone that would be my guardians (my aunt and uncle) because I want them to meet the kind person who is supporting me, their child."

TANZANIA

ALEX MALANGALILA

IRINGA, TANZANIA

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MBEYA MAJOR: HISTORY AND KISWAHILI

Alex lost both parents when he was very young and admits that he became a bully and a thief, caught up in the survival tactics of the streets. However, the love of his Young Life leader was a catalyst for great change in his life. His extended family and Young Life friends were crucial in helping him overcome many of the challenges of losing his parents He says that's what motivates him to encourage and stand in the gap for countless teens in his community

GERIA

RISTIAN KINGS OS, NIGERIA

ERSITY OF LAGOS OR: MASS COMMUNICATION

barracks because my y parents were very ess of God in my life become involved in Young Life Although I grew up hearing about Jesus in my childhood church, during Young Life club the Bible started to come alive It was during that time that the things of God captured my attention and I realized that my interests in singing and dancing and playing football were useful in ministry with Young Life.

MALAW

HAMILTON CHIPANDA ZOMBA, MALAWI

LILONGWE UNIVERSTITY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL R MAJOR: DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS

ERIA

NE SACKLE OVIA, LIBERIA

AN METHODIST OPAL UNIVERSITY R:SOCIOLOGY

l, her single mother o one to help her or ool Determined to get an education, Irene sold bread in a nearby hospital to pay for her school fees She shared that becoming a Young Life leader helped her overcome her insecurities about not being “good enough” and challenged her to rely on God and trust that He is making her into a leader among teens and her peers alike.

KENYA

MON KYULE

IROBI, KENYA

TECH UNIVERSITY AJOR: HOSPITALITY

e still looking for a new e kids are ... I believe for

us."

"This is Andrew, one of the friends God gave me We meet up every week to talk about our relationship with Christ. I'm always grateful of what God is doing in us as we are growing together."

Hamilton Chipanda

AYUSH

INDIA

UNDISCLOSED MAJOR: BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

Ayush is a third year accounting major at his university. He reports that classes are finally meeting in person and much easier to understand

He was a summer volunteer leader at outreach camps in two regions "I learned many good things from both camps.” Ayush is a pioneer for YL in India reporting in his May 2022 blog that he "helped facilitate an amazing Campaigner’s camp for the first time in the history of YL in my city. It was a great opportunity for me to spend quality time with Campaigners ”

ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE

Ayush meets with a group of guys for Campaigners every week.

Ayush recorded a short song to share with his sponsors – scan QR code to listen

Scan to listen to Ayush's song

Czech Republic

Albania

ALBANIA 2 Current DGL

GLEDIS KABA TIRANA, ALBANIA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA MAJOR: BUSINESS INFORMATICS

ZECH REPUBLIC

KUB KADLEC NOV, CZECH REPUBLIC CH TECHNICAL VERSITY OR:ELECTRONICS COMMUNICATION

"Camp has been a ministry highlight for me. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the different activities, but the best thing for me personally was cabin time The girls were never too tired or distracted to ask about the message and the scriptures We talked about scripture word by word because they were hungry to know more It warmed my heart to see young kids so eager to learn more about faith."

"This summer I was at Czech Summer Camp. My role was to be summer staff boss for outdoor games. I was supposed to lead a group of eleven people to prepare games and lead them in devotions. One day was really busy and we didn't have time for devotion we finished all tasks late in the evening I told my team that we would have devotion if they wanted and they came I was really happy they wanted to spend time in the Word and prayer even when they were tired "

FORMER SOVIET UNION

KOLYA RUSSIA

UNDISCLOSED UNIVERSITY MAJOR: MATHMATICS

Kolya meets with his mentor once a month and has a goal to develop a sports ministry. He reports, “Every Wednesday we have a small group where we study scripture texts. We are committed to the book "Journey to the Kingdom of God" by Alexey Eropkin Maybe you know this book?” He visited seven camps this summer and is recruiting three new volunteer leaders

2 Current DGLs

Young Life Russia continues to grow, in part, because of the intentional outreach by DGL students.

RUSSIA

VALERIA RUSSIA

UNDISCLOSED UNIVERSITY MAJOR: MATHEMATICS AND GAME DESIGN

"Recently married in June, Valeria or "Lera" as her friends call her, serves together with her new husband who is a youth pastor Their new home together is being renovated and they hope to move in soon With the uncertain circumstances in Russia she shared, “I have learned to trust God more, no matter what is going on around me.” She meets regularly with her mentor, Veronika, and is learning more about her vision for YL and serving YL after marriage in her training sessions with Tanya.

RUSSIA

Russia

Valeria and Danil were married in June 2022.

Since the DGL program launched in 2009, Young Life leaders in some of the world's most challenging places have had the opportunity to attend college thanks to generous sponsors.

1,470

Nicaragua

LATIN AMERICA & CARRIBBEAN

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

LIBBI POLANCO

LA VEGA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MOTHER AND TEACHER

PONTIFICAL

CATHOLIC UNIVERS

MAJOR: INDUSTRIAL

ENGINEER

"God has been teaching me a lot about how to love and understand my brothers and sisters and this has been a very beautiful lesson that God has given me These days I have shared a lot with the girls who came to camp; in the Bible studies we have shared a lot about their lives. Some of the girls who are in Bible study go with me for contact work and it is a sweet experience being together. Sometimes we buy homemade ice cream from a lady in the community. It is nice to see how these girls want their friends to go to club to hear about Jesus."

4 Current DGLs

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

STARLIN RODRIGUEZ

SANTIAGO, DOMINICAN REPUB

UNIVERSITY OF SANTIAGO

MAJOR: MATHEMATICS

Starlin lives in a village in the outskirts of the city, a place known for being very dangerous because criminals and drug traffickers. He leads a Campaigner group there with 13 kids; his Club took 30 kids to camp this summer.

He is also a very good basketball player so local teams usually look for him to strengthen their lines. This connection provides many opportunities for contact work to grow Young Life in his community

COLOMBIA

NI CHAUX

I, COLOMBIA

VERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE OCCIDENTE JOR: BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

s born with one leg thinner than the other felt fear of being judged for looking different I also stuttered and rarely spoke in public. However, my teacher encouraged me and helped improve my confidence. It was a difficult time, but today I remember it with joy because thanks to her encouragement, my stuttering improved and I learned to live without fear of what others would say. Shortly after, I had an encounter with God at Young Life camp and the faith that I had "borrowed” from my parents became a faith of my own For the first time, I felt that God loved me

Colombia

NICARAGUA

REINA PECADO SEVILLA JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY MAJOR: TROPICAL AGROECOLOGY ENGINEERING

Reina's career choice focuses on proper management of land use, emphasizing soil and crop health as well as ecological and human benefit. She will be the first person to graduate from university.

Reina (somewhere in this group photo!) brought a cabin of girls to camp at La Finca last summer She credits her own experience as a camper nearly 10 years ago as one of the reasons she loves to invite kids to camp. "Everything was surprising: the place, the people who welcomed us, the activities and especially the way in which they introduced me to Jesus."

Your support through the years has helped shape and grow the Developing Global Leaders program into what it is today and continues to bless countless lives. The ripple effect of your generosity is immeasurable, at least on this side of eternity.

Thank you for your vision for producing more Jesusfollowing, college educated, biblically trained leaders in the world. You have equipped this new class of Developing Global Leaders to share Jesus with teenagers in the world's most challenging places. We are truly grateful for you.

– Kevin Edelbrock, Director and the DGL Team