Basil

My name is Basil and I live in Cranborne, Zimbabwe, in a small peaceful area where almost everyone knows one another. I live with my grandmother, grandfather and two younger sisters. I grew up without either of my parents being around, and my greatest challenge has been to reconnect and establish communication with my father who left shortly after my birth. My childhood was a painful one; I always felt like the black sheep, seen as a mistake by the community and even some family members. I spent most of my time indoors and was an anti-social child.

I was born into a church-based family but I was not keen on going to church. However, I gave my life to Christ eight years ago in church when the love of God came upon me and the teaching made me realize that I was missing something in my life. There was a gap that needed to be filled and Christ was what I needed. I connected to Young Life through one of the leaders at the church. I was impacted by the way they welcomed me and made me feel as if I belonged. My love for Young Life and ministry blossomed from that day forward because the heart-warming feeling was like nothing I had ever experienced.

Now a Developing Global Leader, I am pursuing a tourism and hospitality degree from Harare Polytechnic University. I have a passion for people and seeing them smile, and I feel this program is the best way to tap into my love for cooking and love for people. My vision is to continue my education and impact people, by establishing my own business that will not only tend to me, but those in my sphere of influence by providing jobs to the young people around me. I want to be an example of a Christian leader and help others catch a vision to grow and do the same. I will be the first person in my family to graduate from university.