LGD
SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
YOUNGLIFEDEVELOPINGGLOBALLEADERS MAJORS
My name is Olesia, but I prefer Lesia. I live in the small Czech Republic town of Jirkov with my husband. My parents and grandmother also live here. I was born in Kherson, Ukraine, and grew up in a loving family, though not a Christian one. We were always close, supported each other, and openly expressed love. I truly enjoyed my life in Kherson and never wanted it to change. However, everything changed on February 24, 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine and occupied my hometown. We could not leave right away and had to stay under occupation for almost a month. My mom and I managed to escape to the Czech Republic, but my dad and older brother had to remain behind because it was too dangerous for men to travel at that time. I was only 15 then, and after everything we went through with the war, I began to see the world differently. It was almost as if I had grown ten years older overnight.
I accepted Christ into my heart at my first Young Life camp, a year before the war. At that time, I was not a believer and did not think Christianity was for me. I thought Christians seemed weak and boring. However, during that week at camp, complete strangers became like family and I saw a joy in them I had never known. On the last day of camp, I felt Jesus speak to me and, for the first time, I consciously responded to Him. I started going to Young Life clubs. Some of my old friends did not accept the change in me, but the Young Life community supported me, prayed for me, and taught me the foundations of my faith. I am now a Young Life leader.
As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, I am
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; - Colossians 1:9
Ilive with my grandparents and three siblings. My father was a subsistence farmer, and my mother was a petty trader. Life growing up was very difficult due to my family’s financial situation. At age 10, I lost both of my parents in the same year—my mother first, followed by my father. Losing them at such a young age was heartbreaking and made life even harder. I nearly dropped out of school, but I had to take responsibility for myself early on. I worked for people just to get food and small tips, and eventually, I began buying and selling fruits like mangoes and oranges to support my education.
In 2016, I attended a Young Life camp where I heard that Jesus loves us no matter our situation. Learning about the sacrifice He made for us on the cross touched me deeply. That’s when I gave my life to Christ. Since then, my life has changed completely. Knowing Jesus gave me hope, peace, and a reason to keep going. I became a Young Life campaigner kid and now serve as a volunteer, helping kids who are going through the same challenges I faced. Through Young Life, I found a community and a purpose.
My hope for the future is to serve both God and my community. I want to use my education to make a difference in people’s lives. I will be the first in my family to attend college, and I am currently studying nursing at Njala University. I want to use my skills to bring healing, care, and compassion to others. Most importantly, I want to lead more people to Jesus so they can experience the same love and transformation that changed my life.
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; - Colossians 1:9