Ellie Sytsma: next gen is 'better and stronger together'

Junior Ellie Sytsma, 20, of Issaquah, Washington, is a Psychology major at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.

 

“I like helping people,” says Ellie, “and I also enjoy learning about the brain and human beings — how we interact with each other, how we work together, what makes us happy, and what makes us sad.”

 

Ellie is also a member of World Vision Next Gen, a new community group that exists to engage, equip, and empower high school- and college-age change makers to step into a legacy of generosity right now.

 

“It's been a great experience so far,” says Ellie, “and I feel
so blessed to be part of it.”

 

Connected by a shared vision of ending extreme poverty in their lifetime, World Vision Next Gen members are dynamic leaders who are committed to using their voice and influence to raise awareness and resources to support World Vision's transformative work to empower people to rise out of poverty.

 

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Ellie Sytsma spoke at the Every Last One Conference in Dallas, Texas, on May 13, 2022. Along with two of her fellow Next Gen members, she shared about her time in the new community group, what it was like fundraising for a God-sized goal, and what she learned.  

Watch the replay.

“At first, it was really interesting seeing how many of us younger people were wanting to be involved with World Vision and helping others,” Ellie says. “Because I grew up with a family that was really involved with World Vision, but I wasn't exposed to kids my age wanting to work with it.”

For the group’s first year, the 13 Next Gen members chose a fundraising goal of $125,000 to support a health clinic in Zambia. Ellie started by donating herself.

 

“I can't ask people to give money if I myself won't give any,” Ellie says. “So I donated, and then I reached out to my family and family friends. That was difficult because it was hit or miss. Some people would give; some people wouldn't.”

 

She pushed through each “no,” as meeting this audacious goal required each of them to ask for donations, including from strangers — stretching Ellie’s comfort zone.

“It's nerve wracking getting into something new, especially with people you don't know,” Ellie says. “It's like the first day of school — you don't know what to expect at all. But World Vision is such a great organization, and the people involved are such caring, kind, and loving people that really want to help. They're there for you to help you along, so then you can help others.”

Ellie Sytsma Next gen

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Not only did Ellie and her fellow Next Gen members meet their $125,000 fundraising goal, they surpassed it more than three times, raising a total of $421,775. But they’re not done yet! Now they’re working toward a new goal of $100,000 that will support World Vision’s education and water, sanitation, and hygiene work.

 

“Everybody in the group is super passionate with this stuff, so it makes me want to be more passionate and more involved and help more, which is really powerful and such an amazing part of the group,” Ellie says. “We all have similar interests and likes, and we all feed off each other to make us better and stronger together.”

 

 

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Next Gen flames the fire of gratitude, service

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