Hank

My name is Hank, and I grew up in a very poor neighborhood of a city in north Africa. Raised by my mother and father in a Muslim household, they worked hard to provide for my brother and I until my father died when I was in high school. My mother is a homemaker, so I was the only one to step up. Working part time and attending high school was a big challenge and I had to grow up faster than other kids to take on the responsibilities of my father.

I attended the oldest Young Life club in my country throughout high school. Upon the death of my father, I was shocked by how the leaders were by my side every day in the aftermath. I didn't understand why they were so loving to me. I began attending a Bible study and after a couple years, I decided to accept Jesus. I realized that all the people that were by my side in the hardest time of my life, were there because they loved Jesus and Jesus called them to love me. I couldn’t imagine a sacrificial love like that and knew I needed Jesus in my life. Many things have changed in my life because of Jesus. He helped me through my dad's passing and my mental health during that time. He has given me hope and I know I still have a father in heaven even though my earthly father is gone.

As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, I want to be the first person in my family to complete university and better be able to provide for my family. I love design and working with computers and am studying to be a graphic designer at a local university. I plan to continue to serve kids through Young Life and help others in the same way I was helped.