Called to Serve. Changed for Life.

(12/22/2008) - Shillong, India, Bethany Society, Saturday morning - Marisa DeYoung, UConn ’08, sits among a group of hearing and vision impaired orphans singing “One-Two Buckle my Shoe” and sharing her contagious enthusiasm all while living her lifelong dream of truly improving the lives of the impoverished. Guided by a desire to serve, DeYoung has looked deeply through the eyes of those most in need and answered their calls helping them to save themselves from the heartache of poverty and in turn changing her own life for the better.

“It is incredibly important to provide for the poor, but we more importantly need to build them up and help them support themselves,” states DeYoung.

Arriving in Northeast India in June 2008 shortly after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in Finance with a minor in International Studies, DeYoung has done just that under the oversight of World Relief and its partner organization in India, Society for Micro Economy Development Activities.

Charged with empowering tribal people to overcome extreme poverty, DeYoung actively engages urban entrepreneurs in “Micro Enterprise Development.” This development process assembles groups of 5 to 20 villagers who each individually obtain loans ranging from $50 to $250 from micro-lending banks. The villagers use the money to develop sustainable business enterprises that better their families and the village as a whole. These same villagers make timely repayment of the loans in full. Should one default, the other group members must make the payments on their behalf.

DeYoung volunteers her time in India truly serving those most in need “mission” style. Needless to say, she is passionate about her career choice having declined a lucrative job offer upon graduation from UConn to pursue this volunteer dream. DeYoung has found that she uses the business acumen she received from UConn daily to help villagers become social entrepreneurs.

Having taken herself global, DeYoung has truly been changed for life stating, “I am loving my time here, and while I've had to give up some ‘small things,’ I would never exchange the opportunity to do big things.” DeYoung is incredibly grateful for the continued support of her family, friends, and colleagues state-side.

If you would like to learn more about DeYoung’s experiences, you can visit her website at www.supportmarisa.blogspot.com.

PHOTO: Marisa DeYoung ’08




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