Kalkidan "Kali"

My name is Kalkidan, everyone calls my Kali! I live in Shashamane, Ethiopia with my mother and my two brothers, as my parents divorced when I was very young. My mother has been an example of hard work and perseverance, always doing whatever she could to try to provide for our basic needs. I saw her efforts and in turn developed a resilient, never give up attitude toward life. I decided from an early age to study hard in school in order to create an opportunity to help take care of my family.

I was raised in the church and have always had a sense of God’s guidance over my life. In high school, I was invited to Young Life where I got involved and began to see how my life could impact the lives of others in my community. I began to serve in the choir and receive ministry training. Now I have been appointed a youth leader in the church and a Young Life leader in my community; I am amazed to see God using my communication skills to share the Good News with teenagers.

As a Developing Global Leader scholarship recipient, I am studying economics at Hawassa University. I am compelled to be competitive in my studies and to grow more in responsibility and leadership skills. I hope to one day go on Young Life staff and find opportunities to be an example to others in my community. I am certain that God will continue to use me as He draws more people to Himself. I will be the first person in my family to graduate from university.