Irene H.

Irene, whose friends call her Sugar, lives in the capital city of Liberia, Monrovia. She has two sisters and two brothers, all raised solely by their single mother. Hardships during her childhood greatly affected her well-being, including her education, which required money to complete. When Irene was in high school, her mother became critically ill; there was no one to help her complete school so she started selling bread in the hospital to help pay for her remaining fees as she finished school.

She came to know Jesus at her first Young Life camp in 2016. Her area director followed up with her after camp and she was able to learn more about Jesus and grow through Campaigners. Becoming a Young Life leader helped her overcome her insecurities about not being “good enough” and challenged her to rely on God and trust that He is making her into a leader among teens and her peers alike. Currently, Irene is a team leader and serves as the women’s coordinator for the southeastern region of Liberia and is a trainer for Duazon Young Life area.

As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, Irene is studying sociology at the African Methodist Episcopal University. Her vision is to successfully complete her degree so that she “can not only be a master in her career, but also further develop her interests in human behavior and mental development.” She is compelled to continue working with and leading young people, giving them hope through Christ.