Oleksandra is a dedicated young leader with an empathetic heart from Poltava, a city in central Ukraine. She was raised by her mother and grandmother, facing financial hardships and the absence of her father throughout her childhood. When she was fifteen the war broke out in her country, which she recognizes as the biggest challenge in her life, forcing her to look at life differently, reassess her values, and grow up. 

At the same time, she went to Young Life camp, where she heard about God for the first time. As a child, her family took her to church once a year and she knew nothing about God. But everything changed when she had a personal meeting with Christ at camp and realized His love, which changed her life, helped her overcome addictions and get on a better path. “He is changing my character daily and teaching me to love others the way He loves me.” Today, she is a leader for girls in the local community, striving to share with them what she has received from Christ and learning to build a ministry together with her team. 

As a Developing Global Leaders scholarship recipient, she is earning a degree in Computer Science. She chose to study Computer Science because she wants to develop practical solutions that genuinely help people and communities. She believes technology holds great potential to solve real-world problems and hopes her degree will open doors to meaningful work where she can make a positive impact and support others. At the same time, she wants to grow as a leader in Young Life, serve teenagers, and help them come to know Jesus.