My Nonprofit Reviews
alana615
Review for Young Life, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
I went to Young Life camp two years ago an angry, bitter kid. I came from an abusive home, and all I knew was anger. When I got to camp, for the first time I saw people who were genuinely happy. Halfway through the week, a guy stood up and shared a story that was a lot like mine. I wanted to know what the difference was between us. Why he was so happy and loving and free. I wanted that. So I talked to him, and he helped me realize that God is the difference. He is the one that takes anger and turns it into forgiveness. When we got back, my leader supported me in reporting the abuse, and got me out of that dangerous situation. It gave me room to grow and change. So, without YL, I'd still be that angry kid, stuck in an abusive house. I couldn't say I genuinely love both my parents, like I can now. I am free, and it's because Young Life offered me the chance to see the peace that was there all along.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My own life, the lives of the other Young Life kids I have met, and in the lives of the staff.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Give a better follow up for kids who become/are Christians. Young Life does outreach really well, but once you become a Christian, your leaders are really in charge of helping you figure out what that means in daily life.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The people. Everyone is so great, all the time. They all take extra time to love on those who don't deserve it. They go out of their way to help anyone in any way they can. They love on obnoxious teenagers. What ministry is harder,and cooler, than that?
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Awesome. There aren't words to describe them. They lay down their lives for teenagers they haven't met and who will probably never thank them for it. And they do it out of love, with smiles on their faces. Amazing.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Reach so many more kids. It could open more camps, where many lives are changed. It could put a life-saving YL leader into more kids' lives. It could help fund sending more kids to camp who could never afford to go otherwise. It would give kids a chance.
Ways to make it better...
It had been longer. I never wanted it to end, never wanted to go back to the 'real world' outside of camp.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Awareness. I know that if people truly understood what Young Life is, they would be dying to help. Its contagious, the love of it. But people just don't know most of the time. They consider YL just another company trying to take their money.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
