Vicenta

Vicenta lives in Tanjay, on a southern island of the Philippines, together with her parents and seven siblings including her married brother’s wife. Throughout her childhood, she experienced many problems, struggles and confusions in life. Vicenta remembers feeling judged by neighbors and peers for being poor, and faced repeated questioning that her family could all complete their studies with so few resources. Even more so, her home life was unstable due to her father's struggle with alcoholism and recklessness with their finances. The family walked on eggshells not wanting small things to lead to conflict, knowing that their state of poverty was always an underlying cause of stress.

Vicenta met Jesus after her older sister invited her to Young Life camp. It was there that she placed her faith in God and began a journey of growing in self-confidence and trust in God. Vicenta reflects, “I've changed a lot since coming to faith, I have especially growth in having a stronger sense of self and letting my personality shine as the thoughts and behaviors of the old me have fallen away.” She is a passionate team leader committed to planning clubs, training leaders, and introducing teens in her community to the powerful love of Jesus.

Now a Developing Global Leader, Vicenta’s vision and hope for her education is to graduate from Negros Oriental State University with a degree in criminology. She wants to join the field of law enforcement hoping to help bring financial stability to her family as well as be a light in the dark places of her community.