Young women face some tough challenges today: anorexia, self-injury, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, addictions … The list goes on, and the statistics are often alarming. Nancy Alcorn saw much of this firsthand while working at a state correctional facility for delinquent girls, as well as researching child abuse cases. Later, as a director with Nashville Teen Challenge, she noted how faith-based programs had a greater impact in producing permanent lifestyle changes. From these experiences, Alcorn developed a passion for seeing young women living to their full potential. As a result, she founded Mercy Ministries, and in 1983, they opened up their first home in Nashville, Tenn., as a safe haven for girls dealing with drug and alcohol abuse, addictions, depression, eating disorders and unplanned pregnancies. Sixteen years later, they have four homes in the United States and three in other global locations. Through their efforts, 2,000 girls have found hope and personal healing. 

When Sean Carasso found himself in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he’d already spent time working with a number of social causes, philanthropists, and big names like TOMS and Invisible Children. He was also aware of the violence inhabiting the lush landscape, but the reality of the world’s largest war became personal when he met five young boys who were living a tortured existence in an illegal military prison.