Always Willing to Help

Kendra’s cheerful personality reveals nothing of what she’s been through —but everything about who she is. Neglected and abused as a child, she eventually came to live with a Youth Villages foster mom. She found stability, put her trust in God and worked hard in school.

“I wanted to build my life. I wanted an education, to go to college,” she said.

Youth Villages matched Kendra with a transitional living counselor. TL, begun in 1999, helps former foster youth like Kendra make a successful leap into independent adulthood. Today, Kendra, 23, is a junior in college and the mother of Genesis, 2. Majoring in social work, she also works parttime helping the elderly. She hopes to graduate next year.

“I have always wanted to help people. I think I can help people solve their problems,” she said.

Garry 18, Tennessee

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