Vanessa

Vanessa, whose friends call her Vanny is a resilient young woman from Karongi, Rwanda. She lives with her family, including five brothers and one sister. As a child, she learned many gospel songs and how to pray from her parents. It was prayer that helped her when her mother was sick and needed healing. Prayer also helped her family when someone lied about her father, almost sending him to prison. Thieves also entered her home and tried to steal from them and kill them, and their prayers for protection saved them. She was tragically almost raped and prayed for God to save her, and He did. God, in His great faithfulness, provided in all these challenges.

Vanny grew up in a Catholic Christian family. She became a believer in Jesus through her family and friends who invited her to Young Life club. They helped her more fully grow and understand the Gospel. Her faith was also strengthened at Young Life camp in 2020. Vanny is now active in her role as a college team leader and a club coordinator.

As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, she is studying tourism and hospitality at the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB) in Rubavu, Rwanda. She will be the first person in her family to graduate from university. She chose this major because she lives in a touristy area with several hotels, and she will be able to gain experience and practice her knowledge and skills in her community. Vanny wants to get a job to help her family and Young Life students.