Nokulunga

My name is Nokulunga, and I live with my mother and four siblings in the Lubombo region of Eswatini. Growing up, our mother did her best to provide for us when our father abandoned the family. She worked tirelessly as a subsistence farmer to provide us with food and shelter. One of the greatest challenges of my life was when I was expelled from school due to unpaid fees. I did not want to burden my mother, so I prayed and reached out to my school. By God’s grace, I received a government bursary that allowed me to continue my education. Despite these hardships, I excelled in school and am determined to improve my family's situation.

Having grown up in a Christian home, I was familiar with the name of Jesus but did not start my relationship with Him until I attended a revival at my church. Choosing the gift and grace of His love has been the best decision I ever made. Since then, I have prayed daily and attended church every Sunday. God has greatly impacted my life in many wonderful ways, including guiding me to Young Life. At club, I discovered I enjoyed the fun activities and listening to the shared messages and knew I wanted to serve in some capacity. By His grace, I now lead two clubs in Lavundlamanti and Sihlangwini.

As a participant in the Developing Leaders Program, I will attend Eswatini Medical University in Mbabane to earn a degree in nursing, becoming the first in my family to do so. I am fueled by a deep passion for compassionately caring for the sick in my community. I want to bring hope to those who feel hopeless and show anything is possible with God. Poverty should not stand in the way of success. My university degree will enable me to support my family and care for those I encounter.