Zainab

I live with my grandparents and three siblings. My father was a subsistence farmer, and my mother was a petty trader. Life growing up was very difficult due to my family’s financial situation. At age 10, I lost both of my parents in the same year—my mother first, followed by my father. Losing them at such a young age was heartbreaking and made life even harder. I nearly dropped out of school, but I had to take responsibility for myself early on. I worked for people just to get food and small tips, and eventually, I began buying and selling fruits like mangoes and oranges to support my education.

In 2016, I attended a Young Life camp where I heard that Jesus loves us no matter our situation. Learning about the sacrifice He made for us on the cross touched me deeply. That’s when I gave my life to Christ. Since then, my life has changed completely. Knowing Jesus gave me hope, peace, and a reason to keep going. I became a Young Life campaigner kid and now serve as a volunteer, helping kids who are going through the same challenges I faced. Through Young Life, I found a community and a purpose.

My hope for the future is to serve both God and my community. I want to use my education to make a difference in people’s lives. I will be the first in my family to attend college, and I am currently studying nursing at Njala University. I want to use my skills to bring healing, care, and compassion to others. Most importantly, I want to lead more people to Jesus so they can experience the same love and transformation that changed my life.