Joan Gbemie Marshall* – Liberia

Area Director

Joan lives in Gbarnga, a small city of about 40,000 in central Liberia. When she was young, her parents in desperation sent her to live with another family, since, as humble subsistence farmers, they knew they could not provide Joan with the education that they hoped for her to have. However, loneliness from being away from her family and continued unmet financial needs eventually forced her to move out on her own. With great perseverance, she spent many years coming up with the necessary money to pay for her books, uniforms, and school fees to complete her high school diploma.

Joan graduated from the Developing Global Leaders (DGL) program, which gave here the opportunity to study at Cuttington University, where she majored in professional nursing for which she has a real passion. In her words, “I want to help save lives as Liberia needs more professional health practitioners to build a vibrant health-care-delivery system across the country.” Already making a huge impact in her community, this young woman is leading Young Life in her city as an area director. She dreams of being a role model for the young girls in her community.

*Sponsor opportunity available