Faraja

My name is Faraja, some of my friends call me Raja. I live in Singida, a small city in Tanzania, with my mother and sister. My early childhood was filled with memories of a normal life that any child would be thankful for, however all that changed when my mom and dad separated. My sister and I decided to live with our mother where life became very difficult and we had to struggle for everything. As the eldest son, I took on the huge responsibility of trying to provide for my family which taught me to work hard and to grow in patience. I am most thankful for where I grew up because I was surrounded by other youth and always had the support of friends around me.

I was born into a Christian family and I grew up in church, but I didn't know the real reason why we went to church. When someone invited me to Young Life, everything changed and I accepted Jesus while at camp. I started growing spiritually through friendship with my faithful Young Life leader and through weekly Campaigner sessions, where I learned to read the Bible and found the true meaning for going to church. Now as a Young Life leader in my community, I am compelled to be a positive example and reach out to teens like myself who are longing to be seen and known.

I am looking forward to making a positive impact on my community, my family, and my country, by having the opportunity to attend Tanzania Institution of Accountancy. I will become the first person in my family to graduate from university. I plan to study human resources because I love working with different types of people and want to be someone to help others realize their potential and challenge them to grow personally and in their contribution to their community through work.