Beatrice

My name is Beatrice and I live in Tanzania, in a slum area of the city of Arusha. One of six children, we lived with our parents in a two-room dwelling and experienced great poverty, often unsure of where our next meal would come from. My mother became paralyzed when I was eighteen, and I was her primary caretaker. Within the year, she passed away, resulting in the most difficult time of my life. As the oldest daughter, my siblings looked to me for an example of how to continue. My dad was confused when mom passed away, we were not on good terms, and he was not doing his responsibility as a father. I had to stand in the gap as both, mom and sister, to my three younger siblings. My faith was tested and I grieved tremendously. It was during that time that I was invited to Young Life. I met Jesus and started a new life, feeling strength and peace like never before. Now, I am a volunteer leader with Young Life. I have seen how Jesus has mended my broken heart and I want to share Him with as many youths as I can so that they too, may find their peace in Him.

I have always been interested in becoming a teacher, and now as a Developing Global leader, I am pursuing an education degree at Tumaini University. I will be able to invest in many children in my community and inspire them to pursue their education. I want to encourage them, be their support and shoulder to cry on, and hopefully, introduce them to Jesus. I will be the first person in my family to graduate from the university.