Staff
AfricAid is committed to employing local staff and providing training and advancement opportunities. 100% of our Binti Shupavu and Kisa Mentors are university-educated, Tanzanian women and 78% Kisa Alumnae.
AfricAid Tanzania offices are located in Arusha and Moshi.
DIRECTORS
Devotha Festo Mlay
Devotha is passionate about providing girls with the right information and skills so they can make the best decisions for their future and create their own stories. She strongly supports and advocates for this, as she did not have this support when she was younger. She believes that having a dream is the key to personal and professional success in life. She also believes that everyone, men and women, should be encouraged to have a dream and strive to achieve it. Hard work, perseverance, and support are the ways she sees people being able to achieve their dreams.
She has a bachelor’s degree in language studies from the University of Dar es Salaam and joined the AfricAid team in September 2012. She was promoted to Kisa Project Manager in 2014 and led the expansion of Kisa Project to the Kilimanjaro Region. She has served as Director of Programs since 2018 and oversees the Kisa Project and Binti Shupavu in both the Arusha and Kilimanjaro Regions.
While she spends most of her time ensuring our programs have the biggest impact through strategic partnerships and staff development, she can also be found running, eating, watching investigation shows on television, and traveling to new places in her free time.
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Devotha
Managing Director (Programs)
Monica Swai
Being in love with numbers her whole life, Monica uses her accounting skills and her passion for solving problems to ensure that AfricAid’s day-to-day activities run smoothly while always maintaining a smile on her face. After graduating from the Institute of Accountancy with an advanced diploma in accountancy, Monica joined AfricAid in 2012 as a part- time accountant. Her commitment to producing excellent work and meeting targets, along with her can-do attitude led to her being promoted to Operations Manager in 2014 and Director of Operations and Lead Accountant in 2018. She is very excited to be doing what she loves, knowing her work is making a change in her community, especially for girls.
When she is not busy with balance sheets and regulatory compliance, she’s in restaurants and movie theaters with her son, planning adventurous trips with her friends, or glued to a screen cheering for the Manchester United F.C.
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Monica
Managing Director (Operations)
Jess Littman
Director of Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Jess works to ensure that AfricAid’s interventions are based on evidence of what works. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international development and peace from New York University and has previously worked on programs that enhance access to technology, women’s economic empowerment and access to sustainable and safe housing.
She has been living and working in East Africa for over two years, and is now the proud mom of two Tanzanian dogs. She joined the AfricAid team in February, 2018 and has been working ever since to improve and expand our programs.
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JESS
Director of Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Hilda Boldwin Lema
Deputy Director of Government Relations and Compliance
Hilda was born into a family that did not believe in educating a girl child, and she therefore struggled to ensure she completed her education. She was one of three girls and her two sisters refused to continue with formal education, dropping out of school before reaching form four. This broke her parents’ hearts and, thinking she would end up dropping out of school like her sisters, they did not bother to enroll her in a good school. For 11 years, she walked 5 kilometers everyday from home to school and back. Believing she was different, Hilda wanted to prove her parents wrong, so she put all her effort into school and her studies, working on the principle that it is only through education that she would be liberated and her vulnerability reduced. This same girl, whose parents did not believe she could make it, now has a Bachelor degree of Law and a Master of Arts in community development – and today works to support a family.
Hilda’s journey pushed her to want to transform the lives of other girls who, in one way or another, do not believe they can make it. She is a role model and supporter of girls and her 8 year career has focused on providing girls with the essential skills to thrive in their communities and in the nation at large. One particular UNICEF quote inspires Hilda to motivate and empower girls: “Any time a girl is denied her right to quality education, chances are increased that she will be subject to violence, abuse exploitation, trafficking and increased susceptibility to poverty and diseases including HIV/AIDS.”
Hilda has conducted successful Youth Camps from 2013 to 2018 and many workshops and life skills training sessions in rural areas. She joined AfricAid in January 2019 and intends to continue her work, supporting even more girls.
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HILDA
Deputy Director of Government Relations and Compliance
MANAGERS
Aikande Nkya
Kisa Project Manager
Aikande has a background of working with women, girls and youth. In 2013 when she started working at Time to Empower Africa’s Children, which is now rebranded to Anza, and a few years later at Mama Hope International Development. As a young person she volunteered supporting girls in primary schools with Menstrual Management trainings and Leadership Trainings.
Aikande holds a Bachelor degree in Community and Economic Development and a Masters of Arts in Cooperative Community Development, both from Moshi Cooperative University. She has dedicated her life to working for her community and she prefers working specifically for girls, women and youth.
After working as a Mentor for AfricAid, she increased her managerial experience in a new position as a Program Manger with Training for Life Tanzania.
Her experience and passion for working with girls brought her back to AfricAid as a Kisa Project Manager at the start of 2019, where she will be leading, supervising and act as a role model to the life of girls and her work mates. She believes in team work and she is happy with her expanding responsibilities. AfricAid is happy of having her back!
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AIKANDE
Kisa Project Manager
Asimwe Suedi
Binti Shupavu Project Manager
Asimwe grew up in a single parent family and saw first-hand the important role played by women in the family and community. As a result, her mother is her role model. She holds a bachelor’s degree in project planning, management and community development from Dodoma University. Her practical experience includes volunteering at Mkombozi, an NGO working with street children in Tanzania, as a Research Assistant. She was subsequently employed by Mkombozi as a Research Officer.
After joining the Kisa team in June, 2015 as a Kisa Mentor, she was promoted to Binti Shupavu Project Manager in January, 2017. Asimwe lives by her values, but also respects the values of others. She loves to discuss and share ideas with other people to help develop a mutual understanding.
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Asimwe
Binti Shupavu Project Manager
Chausiku Mkuya
Binti Shupavu Project Manager
Chausiku derived her passion for mentoring other girls from her experience with the Kisa Project, while she was in high school as a Kisa Scholar. Chausiku holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from the Institute of Accountancy Arusha. While she was in college, Chausiku was among the initiators of a movement for charity. She and her classmates started up a project of poultry keeping in one of orphanages in Arusha.
In July, 2015, she joined the AfricAid team as Kisa Project Mentor, and uses the platform to give back and inspire other girls in Tanzania. Chausiku believes in providing a safe space for girls to learn from each other. She was promoted to Binti Shupavu Project Manager in the Arusha Region in December, 2017. Chausiku is very charming, loving and enjoys to work on a team.
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Chausiku
Binti Shupavu Project Manager
Hadija Hassan
Kisa Project Manager
Hadija holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Dodoma. She is the third oldest out of 5 girls. Her parents refused to subscribe to the common belief that “girls do not need education,” and ensured that her and her sisters were well educated. This developed her passion to see Tanzanian girls become role models who are educated, confident and proactive and who act as change agents in their communities. Hadija joined AfricAid in 2014 as a Kisa Mentor. In 2016, she was promoted to Kisa Project Manager in Arusha where she supervises Kisa Mentors and ensures the AfricAid vision of empowering Tanzanian girls is achieved.
Hadija has long been passionate about proving to her community that girls can lead and initiate change and has actively demonstrated this. She has served as Deputy Secretary General at the Youth of United Nations Chapter Tanzania, Chairperson of the Social Welfare Committee at University of Dodoma Sociology Students Organization and worked as an Administrative Manager at Tanzania Volunteer Experience. Hadija likes traveling and her passion for fashion is quickly recognized by anyone who meets her.
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Hadija
Kisa Project Manager
Magdalena Leonard Kitinya
Kisa Assistant Project Manager
Magdalena is the first born in her family and is setting what she says is a great example for her community of what girls are capable of. She has shown what is possible, as many girls are now choosing to go to school instead of getting married young and dropping out.
Magdalena is a Kisa Alumna and was among the second group ever to graduate from the program. She was a Kisa Scholar at Edmund Rice High School from 2011-2013. She has a bachelor’s degree in law from Tumaini University in Makumira and spent much of her time volunteering as a Kisa Mentor during university breaks.
Magdalena says that working as a Mentor and Manager has been a great opportunity and fills her heart with joy! She feels like she adds value to the organization and can inspire girls by sharing her own personal story, raising awareness and teaching them how to be good leaders as they complete their Kisa training. She is very happy to be in the Kisa family and as a Kisa Project Assistant Manager she believes that teamwork makes the dream work.
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Magdalena
Kisa Assistant Project Manager
Mary Maika
Binti Shupavu Assistant Project Manager
Mary is a young, lovely mother of a handsome boy, Erick. She believes that being a mother and the firstborn in her family gave her a chance to learn and discover her strengths and abilities that help her daily dealing with fears and challenges in a positive way. These obstacles have driven her passion to mentor girls and see how strong they can become as confident leaders, transformers of their own lives and their communities.
Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in procurement and supplies management from the College of Business Education in Dar es Salaam. Her leadership skills were discovered very early. She graduated as a Kisa Scholar and was class captain of her class of 2011-2013 at Arusha Secondary School, which was among the second group ever to graduate from the program. She joined AfricAid as a Kisa Mentor in 2017 and was promoted to be Assistant Manager of the Binti Shupavu Project in the Kilimanjaro Region in January, 2018. She hopes to see her Binti Shupavu Scholars be a part of the Kisa project and show how strong and positive they are.
You can also find Mary decorating, arranging and designing anything in front of her. From cooking different dishes, watching movies, reading books, making new friends and learning new games to playing with Scholars, her son and his friends, she enjoys inspiring happiness in others. She believes in giving someone the gift of a smile whenever they don’t have one.
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mary
Binti Shupavu Assistant Project Manager
Subira Vedastus Manyama
Binti Shupavu Assistant Project Manager
As a young mother, Subira is grateful to have the opportunity to share and grow with young girls through the Kisa Project. Subira was a Kisa Scholar at Arusha Secondary School from 2010 to 2012 and she joined AfricAid as a Kisa Mentor in January, 2017. As one of the very first graduates from the Kisa Project, she went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in hospitality and tourism at Stefano Moshi Memorial University College. She is a well-rounded individual who lives with passion and dedication.
As a young woman, Subira learned that the habits of hard work and thrift are important to having a successful life, not only when times are hard. Working as a Kisa Mentor is an opportunity to help young girls realize that they can make it big and that the time has come for them to aim for the top.
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SUBIRA
Binti Shupavu Assistant Project Manager
Salma Mohammedy Omary
Administrative Manager
Salma Mohammedy is a Kisa Mentor and the Administrative Manager in the Kilimanjaro region. She is also a former Kisa Scholar from Arusha Secondary School (2011-2013). She graduated from the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy. She is a young and driven woman and her future goal is to become a successful business woman.
Salma believes in giving back to the community by sharing knowledge and experiences gained through Career Days that she attended when she was a Kisa Scholar.
Her expectations in life are to grow further as a Kisa Mentor, as well as helping girls attending secondary schools to achieve their goals. Through life skills and personal leadership courses, she believes that “two are better than one.” One person has a good reward for their effort, but if they fall, the second person can lift up the first.
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Salma
Administrative Manager
KISA MENTORS
Agatha Chaima
Kisa Mentor
Agatha grew up in a single parent family, where her mother served as a strong role model in her life. Her family taught her to believe that women are capable, strong and are change makers. She received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Saint Augustine University of Tanzania.
Agatha joined AfricAid s a Binti Shupavu Mentor in January, 2018. Working with more than a hundred young girls in the Kilimanjaro Region, Agatha was able to see the positive changes her Scholars made in their lives and their communities. She always advises her Scholars to believe in themselves, stand up for their own rights and the rights of others. She became a Kisa Mentor in July, 2018. She describes herself as positive and a team player.
In her free time she likes acting, listening to music, dancing and taking photos.
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Agatha
Kisa Mentor
Aikande Muro
Senior Kisa Mentor
Aikande is passionate about girls’ transformation in Tanzania, as it provides chances for a hopeful, brighter future for girls and their communities. She is among the Kisa graduates of Makumira Secondary School, class of 2014. In 2017, she earned a Bachelor degree in Accounts and Finance in the business sector from Mzumbe University. During her university holidays, she volunteered to help assist in data entry work for AfricAid and stood in for Mentors in some Kisa classes. Shortly after graduating, she began working at AfricAid in Arusha region as a Kisa Mentor. In 2019 she transferred to Kilimanjaro region and is now serving as a Kisa Mentor.
Aikande likes reading, singing and most importantly, she enjoys the time she spends with Kisa Scholars. She strongly believes in being hopeful, smart and working hard for a better future.
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AIKANDE
Senior Kisa Mentor
Anna Mbaga
Kisa Mentor
Anna, being the firstborn in her family, grew up with big support from her mother who stands as a friend and role model to her. Seeing the contribution of her mother in her life helped her believe that there is the power within a woman who is ready to make positive changes in life. She also learned from her mother how to be patient, strong and courageous.
She has a bachelor’s degree in law from Tumaini University Makumira and was one of our substitute and volunteer Kisa Mentors for the past three years. In 2019 Anna was recruited as an intern for four months which credited her to become a full-time mentor in 2020. This gives us all a lesson that hard work pays off. She believes that girls are capable, can make positive change, and can stand for their rights and other peoples’ rights.
She always advises Scholars to become great problem-solving leaders who bring the change they wish to see in their communities. In her free time, she loves watching movies, animation and learning new things.
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anna
Kisa Mentor
Chonge Tukwa
Kisa Mentor
As a Kisa graduate from Makumira Secondary School, Chonge wants to use what she has learned from the program to help other girls in her community. She graduated with a Bachelor of Law from Mzumbe University in 2017. Chonge believes that when you educate a girl, you educate her community. She joined AfricAid’s Binti Shupavu team in January, 2018 and was promoted to a Kisa Mentor in January 2019. She is interested in working with the organization to help girls realize their potential and later to help develop their communities.
She enjoys movies, making new friends and traveling.
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Chonge
Kisa Mentor
Eionth
Kisa Mentor
Einoth is passionate and committed to serving others. She completed her Bachelor of Science in economics, project planning and management at Mzumbe University in 2017 at Morogoro, Tanzania. Throughout her time studying, she believed and she still believes in the power of girls. She believes girls are intelligent and smart. For this reason, she has always devoted herself to being a role model to other girls and, thus letting the community know that girls have potential and are powerful. Her big dream is seeing young girls achieve their dreams. She joined AfricAid in July, 2018 and is happy and proud being part of the Kisa team.
She adores writing, singing, taking pictures, traveling, teaching and sharing ideas with others. She supports young writers through her program, “Help Them Write.” Einoth strongly believes that everyone has something special to offer to others.
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Einoth
Kisa Mentor
Eliakunda Kaaya
Kisa Mentor
Eliakunda is the youngest of nine children. She became a Kisa Scholar during her senior year of high school in 2011. Through Kisa, ‘Ellie’ grew her leadership skills and developed a strong sense of responsibility towards helping her community. She later went on to volunteer at AfricAid as a substitute Kisa Mentor. Now, ‘Ellie’ has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and is working for AfricAid as a Kisa Project Mentor, full-time since August, 2017.
Ellie’s biggest passion while working with AfricAid is being a part of challenging girls to reach toward their potential, leading girls to see the potential in themselves and changing the status quo that violates girls’ right to education. She has interest in writing, communicating and networking with people across the world. She likes traveling, trying new things, singing and listening to music.
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Eliakunda
Kisa Mentor
Esther Piniel
Senior Kisa Mentor
Esther has experience in teaching English and Geography at the secondary school level. She earned an education degree from the University of Dar es Salaam. Esther has been involved with the Kisa Project since its inception in 2010, first as a Kisa Partner School Liaison, then as a Mentor, then as a Project Manager. She stepped back from her latest role in 2016 due to family commitments.
As AfricAid’s most experienced Kisa Mentor, Esther draws on her own experiences as a leader in her community in order to be a role model to the Kisa Scholars. She hopes to inspire her students to find the confidence necessary to bring about change in their lives and their communities. The knowledge and different skills that AfricAid provides to the staff is something that Esther will always value, as it has enabled her to fulfill her responsibilities effectively as a wife, a mother and a sister.
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esther
Senior Kisa Mentor
Fatina K Mshana
Kisa Mentor
Fatina is a Kisa Alumna from Arusha Secondary School, class of 2014-2016. She is from a family of 5 children and all her siblings are girls. She loves to work with people from different backgrounds to gain fresh perspectives and learn new ways of thinking. She loves contributing to people’s growth and development as it is an opportunity to develop communication skills, expand her viewpoints, and discover new ways of approaching different situations and challenges encountered in the community.
She has a diploma in Clinical Medicine and before joining GLAMI, she worked at Levolosi Health Centre and Marangu Lutheran Hospital to gain experience in her career and deliver health services to the clients who need these services. Through her current job as a mentor, she believes that she will refine her leadership skills by seeing her mentees succeed and achieve the goals of the organization. She is happy to be part of this family.
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Fatina
Kisa Mentor
Florence Thomas John
Kisa Mentor
Being motivated by her dad that giving back to her community is what matters the most, Florence grew up confident and enthusiastic, always focused on helping others feel unique and important.
Florence graduated as a Kisa Alumnae from Enaboishu on 2015, did her leadership immersion and learned a lot from the challenges that faces girls and what they do to overcome them. She got her first degree in Jordan University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with Education. Later taught in Maasai Primary School and then joined AfricAid as a Kisa Mentor on 01st August, 2019.
What she enjoys the most is being with girls and get to know their potentials and talents, believing that no challenge is bigger for them that cannot be solved. She also likes singing, cooking, travelling and playing instruments. Florence insists that we have to live fully, using all that we have to help others and die empty after using what God has bestowed upon us.
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Florence
Kisa Mentor
Lightness Ngoye
Kisa Mentor
Lightness is an upcoming young feminist. She likes standing up for women’s rights and responsibilities. She is a Kisa Alumna from Arusha Secondary School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and entrepreneurship development from Mzumbe University in Morogoro. Lightness joined AfricAid as a very proud Binti Shupavu Mentor in January, 2018, mentoring around one hundred and fifty girls in the Kilimanjaro Region. She became a Kisa Mentor in July, 2018.
Lightness is into games such as netball and volleyball. But singing is what she likes most, even when nobody is interested. She likes to sing while doing her domestic work. When she is moving around the house, she likes listening to loud music.
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lightness
Kisa Mentor
Sarafina Kifaru
Kisa Mentor
Sarafina is the only person in her family to receive a higher education. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in economics in 2017 at University of Dodoma. She was a Kisa Scholar at Arusha Secondary School from 2012-2014. She is very passionate about and ready to support girls’ education. She joined the Moshi office of AfricAid in January, 2018 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor and enjoys what she is doing. She became a Kisa Mentor in July, 2018. Sarafina believes in helping young girls accomplish their goal of receiving an education in order to attain their dreams. She likes watching movies and sharing stories so as to inspire others.
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sarafina
Kisa Mentor
Verynice African Kirumu
Kisa Mentor
Verynice is a Kisa Mentor who loves to socialize with people, especially young girls to find out the issues surrounding them and inspire them to reach their goals in life. Soon after receiving her Bachelor of Arts in community economic development in 2014, she worked for three years with young girls and women in delivering menstrual health management skills before joining AfricAid in early 2018.
Being a Mentor makes her feel proud of who she is because she believes that she plays a vital role in changing the lives of the current generation to become confident, resilient, open-minded women. They have the ability to realize their goals and set a foundation for themselves and the entire community. Verynice enjoys going out with friends, accepting new challenging roles and responsibilities, reading story books and singing. She’s so proud to be in the AfricAid family!
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verynice
Kisa Mentor
BINTI SHUPAVU MENTORS
Agnes Akyoo
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Agnes Akyoo is a Kisa Alumnae who graduated from Cornerstone Leadership Academy in 2014. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts with Education (Linguistics and Geography) from St. Augustine University. Having grown up with a single mother she knows that women can be determined and overcome challenges. She considers her mother her role model because she is patient and caring, and has succeeded in raising and educating her children alone.
Agnes is now a Binti Shupavu Mentor based in the Kilimanjaro Region. She is passionate about mentoring girls and loves seeing women succeed in achieving their goals and become valued in the community. During her free time she enjoys appreciating nature, listening to music, dancing and playing games with children.
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Agnes
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Amney Amina Ally
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Amney’s dream is to help her community, which she is achieving by mentoring young girls since joining AfricAid in January, 2018. She was a Kisa Scholar from Maasai Girls’ Secondary School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in information technology from the Institute of Finance Management of Dar es Salaam.
She believes that every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor. As a Binti Shupavu Mentor, Amney enjoys making a positive impact on her Scholar’s lives. Amney is an adventurer, enjoys swimming, reading novels and she is also a foodie.
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amney
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Anande Urassa
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Anande loves playing a helping role; as the only girl in her family, she learned early on that a woman is a
central figure in all institutions, especially the family. Anande is a Kisa Alumna from Weruweru Girls
Secondary School’s first class, and graduated in 2016. She completed her bachelor’s degree in
accounting and finance at Moshi Co-operative University in August 2019. She officially joined the GLAMI
family as a Binti Shupavu mentor on January 6th, 2020, filled with joy, excitement, and passion for
giving back to the community.
Anande enjoys spending time with babies, however, she is most passionate about engaging with
teenagers, especially girls, as she believes molding and nurturing them is crucial for a sustainable nation.
It is her nature to deal with society and make sense of life through speaking, and dreams of one day
becoming a public speaker or life coach.
Anande enjoys listening to gospel music, listening to and watching sermons and speeches, watching
cartoons and dramas, traveling and eating.
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Anande
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Dainess M. Kephas
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Dainess was a Kisa Scholar who graduated from Cornerstone Leadership Academy in 2015.Kisa was a
turning point in her life because it instilled confidence in her, especially during presentations.To her, mentorship is a priority because she wants to see girls standing on their own and being able to pursue their future dreams. She is also passionate in giving back to the community – soon after she finished her Bachelor degree of Public Administration in Local Government Management at Mzumbe University in 2018, she volunteered with Raleigh International to educate girls about menstruation and water sanitation in Kilombero and Mufindi districts.
Dainess joined the Binti Shupavu team in January 2019 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor in the Arusha office. She is mentoring young secondary girls in different aspects of life. It is her wish to see the program extended all over Tanzania so that every young girl can benefit. Dainess enjoys shopping and going on adventures.
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dainess
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Deborah Rodgers
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Deborah Rodgers is passionate and committed to serving others, especially girls. She believes that girls are not only capable of doing great things, but that they are also capable of making positive changes in their communities, and that educating girls leads to more powerful women who are solution-driven, possess life skills, and make talented leaders. Deborah completed her bachelor’s degree in ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) with management at Mzumbe University Morogoro in 2016. She joined AfricAid as a Binti Shupavu Mentor in early March, 2019 and feels proud to be a part of the team. She believes that being a Binti Mentor gives her the chance to inspire young girls and help them to reach their goals, and at the same time creates a platform where she can learn and grow personally and professionally, while putting her interpersonal skills to good use.
In addition to her passion for serving others, Deborah also loves singing, reading, writing poems, watching movies, listening to music, baking, spending time with friends and travelling.
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deborah
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Esther Naiman
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Esther Naiman is a mentor at AfricAid’s Organization in Moshi, Tanzania.
Esther Naiman was born in Sanawari, Arusha on February, 4th 1995. Esther lives with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Naiman Mungure, with two sisters Tumaini and Sarah and a brother Noel. Esther grew up in a Christian family, she loves God and she feels thankful for who she is today. Esther believes that all was made pure and good for her living and everything is possible once a person has faith in it.
Esther holds a Bachelor degree in Applied Statistics from Mzumbe University. From primary school level to university, Esther had always loved mathematics, regardless of the challenges of the subject. She loved doing things that were hard, and fighting to understand it. Esther has worked with National Bureau of Statistics as a volunteer for one year, trying to get more experience in her field of study.
Through leadership experience and personal development, Esther has become more confident, energetic, open-minded, courageous, hardworking problem solver, and a disciplined young woman. Esther loves to be involved in personal development activities to find positive change inside and out, for herself and others. With that passion, she has been involved f in different outreaches and programs such as Help Them Write. Esther loves cooking, singing, taking care of children and animals. She also loves reading books, driving big cars, and taking adventures in nature.
To Esther Naiman, serving other people is a very important part of her life. It is her greatest desire to reach as many girls as she can in 2019 to impact them with all the skills and knowledge for them to become more resilient and problem solvers for themselves and their communities at large. She believes that in the end, what will matter the most is the Legacy that she will leave behind and the number of lives she will touch. “Happiness is all we need for positive impact in our lives”
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esther
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Esuvat Sangeti
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Esuvat is an educated Maaasai girl from Arusha. She is a Kisa Alumna from Cornerstone Leadership
Academy, Class of 2015. She is also a graduate of the University of Dodoma with a Bachelor degree in
Project Planning, Management and Community Development. It has always been her greatest inspiration to be part of motivating and supporting girls to achieve their goals and dreams through mentoring. As she finished her university education she knew that she wanted to work with AfricAid so that she could be part of mentoring girls to achieve their goals and dreams.
Once she finished her university education she worked as an intern at AfricAid in the area of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) for one month. From there she was able to hear about the position of Binti Shupavu Mentor. She made the choice to apply to live her dream. Esuvat passed her interview and started working as a Binti Shupavu Mentor in 2019 at the AfricAid office in Arusha, and this was her greatest achievement. It made her believe in hard work, determination, being persistent and being positive at all times. She loves being happy, spending time with her loved ones, singing and attending music or singing events, making new friends, and going to good places.
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esuvat
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Evaline Saitoti
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Evaline grew up in single parent family, where she witnessed the struggles that women go through each day to survive. Her mother is her role model. Her mother’s hardships and the sacrifices that she made for her children inspired Evaline to volunteer to help other girls in her village avoid living the life that her mom lived. She believes that girls are capable of anything and they can do great things in life if they are given the chance. She loves mentoring girls because she believes that they can transform their communities. As their Mentor, she can also be a part of this change.
She is a Kisa alumna from Maasae Girls Lutheran Secondary school (2012-2014). She completed her bachelor’s degree in heritage management from the University of Dar es Salaam in July, 2017. She started working with AfricAid in January, 2018 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor, a job she thoroughly enjoys. She mentors more than 100 girls in five Partner Schools in the Kilimanjaro Region.
Evaline loves being a role model to other girls. She also likes singing, reading, swimming, dancing and sharing different experiences in life with others.
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evaline
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Felister Mndasha
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Being a member of AfricAid, Felister became passionate about girls’ and women’s rights. She believes that girls have rights, girls are capable and they can bring changes to their communities. She is a Kisa alumna from Moringe Secondary School. She graduated from St. Augustine University of Tanzania with a Bachelor of Arts in education. She became a Binti Shupavu Mentor in January, 2018 and now mentors around two hundred secondary school girls in the Kilimanjaro Region.
Felister is a proud daughter and sister in her family of five beautiful ladies and acts as role model to her younger sisters. When she is not working hard as a Mentor, she likes listening music and dancing. She also likes writing novels. Felister believes that she is the missing piece of a puzzle that is missing from the earth.
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felister
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Flora Meena
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Flora is a Kisa Alumnae from Enaboishu Secondary School, where she graduated in 2014. She then completed a Bachelor degree in Art with Education in 2017 at St. Augustine University in Mwanza. Flora is a living testament to the success of the Kisa Project as she used to be shy and unconfident, especially when presenting to others. Through the Kisa Project she decided to change the way she was perceived and presented herself. With the knowledge and skills that she learned, she built her confidence and trust in herself and decided to take a step forward.
She joined AfricAid in 2018 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor, and she is excited to help other girls change and grow in positive ways. She wants to help others to identify and utilize their potential, since she believes that miracle is just another word for effort.
When she is not hard at work helping shape others she likes networking, watching movies and listening to music.
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Flora
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Leticia Wilfred
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Leticia Wilfred comes from Mbeya. She is a Kisa Alumna who graduated from Cornerstone Leadership Academy in 2015. Since she was at school she had a passion for working with young girls and helping them with their different issues. After two years in the Kisa Project, Leticia decided to give back to the community through leadership immersion at Holili Secondary School. She holds a Bachelor degree in Education [History and Kiswahili] from Dar-es-Salaam University College of Education. Leticia has always believed that girls are capable and have power in society, and that if you educate a girl, the whole community changes. She started to work with AfricAid’s Binti Shupavu project in January 2019. Leticia enjoys music, making new friends, and going on adventures.
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leticia
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Lightness Allan
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Lightness was born in the Kilimanjaro region in 1997. She was the firstborn and only daughter in her family of three children. She grew up with a passion for serving her community and to this day holds a desire to become one of the greatest women in the world, fulfilling her potential in all aspects of life. She holds a diploma in education for secondary school and is qualified to teach biology and nutrition.
Lightness volunteers as a Binti Shupavu Mentor with GLAMI (Girls Livelihood and Mentorship Initiative) and she joined in January 2020. She loves mentoring youth, especially girls. She believes that working as a mentor is one of the best ways for her to meet a large number of young people, and share the knowledge she gained as a Kisa Scholar and in her life since then.
The most important person in Lightness’ life is her father. He gives good advice and always encourages her to be a good woman so that one day she can reach her destiny. She enjoys starting and running businesses, having previously sold jewelry whilst at university, and also enjoys reading and listening to stories from successful people around the world.
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Lightness
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Mwanahamisi Selemani
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Mwanahamisi believes that when a woman succeeds, she can transform the whole community; her success can bring changes in every area, from the family to society at large. She is passionate about helping young and adolescent girls living in difficult conditions to achieve their goals and dream and is particularly sensitive to the fact that some children face difficulties and aren’t able to talk to other adults about their problems. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration in entrepreneurship and development from Mzumbe University.
She has worked with the Tanzania Women Research Foundation (TAWREF) as a volunteer with the SAUTI (voice) project where she supported program officers from community-based health service providers on HIV/AIDS care, awareness, and education. She has also done volunteer work to prevent HIV/AIDS in primary schools and has worked on a housing project.
Mwanahamisi works as a Binti Shupavu Mentor with GLAMI (Girls Livelihood and Mentorship Initiative) joining the team in January 2020. Mwanahamisi is the second born in her family of three children and likes watching movies, networking, traveling, and reading different books.
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Mwanahamisi
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Naomi Petro
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Naomi is passionate about serving girls. She tells her mentees “If you have a dream, you have to make it happen for you to be truly happy”. She encourages girls to fight for their dreams and she discourages self-destruction and negative attitudes. She believes in compassion, she is creative, caring and she has a positive attitude towards herself and others. She believes that to grow as a Mentor, she needs to be effective, efficient and innovative.
She completed a Bachelor of Arts with Education from the Archbishop James University College, which is a constituent of Saint Augustine University of Tanzania. When she was in university, she worked with Young Life as a mentor. For three years she has been an ambassador of Sisters in Christ Tanzania and Binti Sayuni, encouraging girls to believe, to grow spiritually, and to know their value as girls. She is an entrepreneur and she was a teacher at St. Dorcas Primary School before she went to University. She is proud and happy to serve youth, especially girls in the community.
In January 2019, she joined the AfricAid team as a Binti Shupavu Mentor. She likes singing, sharing stories and reading books. She is so proud to be a Mentor at AfricAid. Naomi believes that we as girls can make our dreams come true, and when you educate girls, they become the best women and leaders in their communities.
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naomi
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Rachel E. Banda
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Rachel was a Kisa Scholar who graduated from Cornerstone Leadership Academy in 2014. Kisa helped her a lot in gaining more confidence, especially during the End of Year One Presentation and Leadership Immersion (the precursor to the 2 Day Challenge), where she enjoyed practicing her teaching skills. Rachel loves seeing young girls receive an education and being able to grab different opportunities as well as serving their community. Before receiving her bachelor’s degree in education and management from the University of Dodoma in 2017, Rachel committed herself to mentoring girls at Ng’ong’ona Secondary School. This was a school near the University, where she volunteered so she could give back to the community.
She joined the Binti Shupavu team in January, 2018 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor where she teaches young girls lessons that are necessary for their lives. She wishes that the Binti Shupavu program could be in every Tanzanian region, so that every young girl can benefit from it. Listening to music is what Rachel loves when she is not busy with work.
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RAchel
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Rosemary M Hanson
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Rosemary Hanson is a Binti Shupavu Mentor for AfricAid Tanzania. She joined our program early this year and feels comfortable to be a part of the AfricAid team responsible for creating a future in which all African girls have equal access to high-quality educational opportunities. She loves working with young people to help them achieve their goals and better their communities. Her long life passion is to give back to the community, so she is a very good role model for our girls.
Rosemary has a Bachelor degree in Procurement and Logistics Management from National Institute of Transport in Dar es Salaam. She completed her advanced level education in Uganda and her junior level at Bukumbi Girls Secondary School. She came from a family of eight people – she has three brothers and three sisters. She likes travelling, eating, music, swimming, and reading novels.
The most exciting thing in her life is to work with AfricAid, because it was her dream to help young girls achieve their dreams and reach their goals. She is very unique in the way she talks, reasons, and how she walks. A most interesting fact is she is very charming, kind and lovely, and she likes peace and socializing with different people and she hates bullying.
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rosemary
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Scholastica Minde
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Scolastica is a Kisa Alumna from Enaboishu High School class of 2014. She holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the University of Dodoma. She joined AfricAid as a data entry intern and assisted with mentoring one Binti Shupavu class in February 2018. It was passion for girls’ education and hard work that helped Scolastica join the project. In July 2018 she became a Binti Shupavu Mentor in the Arusha region, mentoring more than 200 girls in five partner schools.
She likes to inspire other girls to be committed to what they’re doing so that they can reach their goals and make their future better. In her spare time, she likes watching movies, singing, reading books and teaching bible lessons to children at church.
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scholastica
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Siberaster Evaristo
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Siberaster holds a Bachelor degree in Computer Science Software Engineering from Ruaha Catholic University in 2018. Since her childhood, it was her passion to be an Engineer. She likes to use technology to make work easier and improve efficiency so she can serve her nation and make the world a better place.
She joined AfricAid early in 2019 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor in the Kilimanjaro region. Siberaster is very proud to mentor young girls in secondary school because she believes that by mentoring them, they can complete their education, develop into confident leaders and transform their own lives and their communities, and overcome challenges and reach their full potential.
When she has free time, Siberaster loves playing games, listening to music, reading books, singing, and watching movies.
“Siberaster” is unique name and its meaning is very beautiful. It means ‘a persons who loves others, loves peace, and the one who does not like to make troubles with any person. It means a person who is going to inherit the Kingdom of God forever’.
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siberaster
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Sophia Belela
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Sophia’s wish is to see every girl graduate higher education because she believes that girls are capable, they can make a difference, and they have vision. They have the right to live happy, be healthy, and receive better education. She will support them through mentoring them and see them develop into better people. She is very happy and excited to be part of the AfricAid team.
In secondary school, Sophia was a Girl Guide Club Member and a patrol leader. It made great changes in her life that helped her to become confident and a more resilient person. She gained a lot of knowledge from this club and she is looking forward to the chance of sharing her experiences with other girls.
Sophia pursued her Bachelor degree in Finance and Banking at the Institute of Accountancy Arusha in 2018. It was her dream to become a banker since she was in secondary school where she took commerce class. In the future she will love to deliver financial services to individual customers. She has worked in National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in accounting and finance departments and customer care. Sophia also worked in Meru Community Bank (MECOB).
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sophia
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Wivini Mtende
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Wivini is a Kisa Alumna from Cornerstone Leadership Academy, class of 2015. She is passionate about helping young girls realize their potential and wants to support them to build their courage and achieve their dreams. She is committed to giving back to the community with the information that she has learned from Kisa classes. On December 03, 2019, GLAMI published a blog titled “Two Hands” about how Wivini has been giving back to the community – it is wonderful having her as a new Mentor on our team. Before joining GLAMI on January 6th, 2020 Wivini was volunteering at Raleigh International for three months, to educate young girls in the Kilombero District on menstrual hygiene and management.
Wivini’s passion for community engagement directed her to pursue her bachelor’s degree in special needs education at the University of Dodoma in 2018. With this degree, she is equipped to help all students no matter their different needs. Wivini loves networking with people because it means she is always learning something new. She also enjoys listening to music and relishes a variety of food dishes.
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Wivini
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Zulpha Issah Rajabu
Binti Shupavu Mentor
Zulpha is a graduate of Mzumbe University with a Bachelor degree in health systems management. She started working at AfricAid in November 2018 as a data entry intern and is now a Binti Shupavu Mentor in the Arusha region. Zulpha became a Mentor because when she was going from high school to university she did not have anyone to advise her, but she thinks every girl needs someone they trust to advise them on the process of growing up. As she was growing up her parents used to tell her that a girl can be anything she wants to be, so for her, being a Mentor to secondary school girls is a platform for telling girls that they can be engineers, lawyers or even president. The lesson she has learned is that in life, being direct is the key – if you want something there is no need to beat around the bush, if you know what you want and present yourself with no secrets you are more likely to succeed. The lesson she wants to pass down is to always take advantage of the time you are given to become the most amazing version of yourself.
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zulpha
Binti Shupavu Mentor
OPERATIONS
Elizabeth Fredrick Owoya
Social Worker and Community Liaison
Elizabeth Fredrick Owoya graduated in 2016 with honors as a social worker from the Institute of Social work. Before joining AfrcAid, she was working with Save the Children International located at Kibondo Kigoma as a social worker under the child protection program in the Nduta Refugee Camp. During that time, she was identifying and responding to children’s needs and the concerns that violated their rights. She helped support them by referring them to an agency where he/she can access more assistance. Another aspect of her job was to help raise awareness in communities on how to respond and report to child protection concerns, and how to make referrals.
She loves that she has a chance to encourage girls to accomplish their dreams and educates them on how to live a safe and healthy life. She believes that everyone, not only women, should support girls and help them further their education. As a social worker, she wants to be there for the girls and encourages them in every step of their educational journey.
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ELIZABETH
Social Worker and Community Liaison
Ndiini Nasira Kidoko
Assistant Social Worker and Community Liaison
Ndiini Nasira Kidoko is a Kisa Alumna and was among the third group graduated from the Kisa program at Maasae Girls Lutheran Secondary School (2012-2014). She holds a bachelor’s degree in education with a focus in geography and English from the Archbishop James University College, which is a constituent of Saint Augustine University of Tanzania.
Her experience as a coach and mentor at Young Life, an NGO that introduces adolescents to Christ and helps them grow in their faith, helped her to exercise her passion of mentoring girls. During her time there. she helped mentor the girls from the Kisa classes while she was still a Scholar.
In January, 2018, she joined the AfricAid team as a Binti Shupavu Mentor where she was able share the lessons she obtained from the Kisa Project. Ndiini is a self motivated, passionate, hard working, methodical and strong- willed person, who is ready to stretch up to attain the intended goal. In July, 2018, she became a Kisa Mentor.
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Ndiini
Assistant Social Worker and Community Liaison
Maryrehema Mkumbo
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator
Maryrehema is a Kisa Alumna from Cornerstone Leadership Academy, where she was mentored by Anande from 2012-2014. She is a recent graduate of Mzumbe University, where she studied Health Systems and Management. Maryrehema joined AfricAid as a Data Entry Intern in July 2018. She excelled at data entry, translation, and the interns’ professional development trainings. She returned to volunteer at Career Day, and to intern again in November. She joined the MEL team as the first Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Assistant in 2019 and was promoted to MEL Coordinator in January 2020.
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MARYREHEMA
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator
Alfa Raymond
MEL Bookkeeping Assistant
Alfa holds a degree in Banking and Finance from the Institute of Finance Management. She is passionate about giving back to the community, inspired by when she used to meet street children on her way to school who asked for breakfast money. This triggered her to wait for the right time to get involved with the needy. Kisa played a big role in making her believe she can make changes by touching lives and doing what she is passionate about. Thus in 2016, she started to prepare charity events that focused on the orphans that face difficulties which she still does today.
Whenever it is convenient, Alfa reads a lot. She has gained experience in the Accounting and Finance field as she has been trained practically with two different organizations. She is open to learning new things as she is currently a MEL & Bookkeeping assistant at GLAMI as of January 2020.
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alfa
MEL Bookkeeping Assistant
Asantaeli Maro
Driver
Asantaeli Maro is a proficient AfricAid driver who has extensive experience in driving for over 5 years. He has a certificate in a driving course from VETA, as well as experience working with an NGO in Arusha as a driver. ‘Santa’ believes that he is the middle man in enabling young girls to unlock their potential and become future leaders. He helps take the AfricAid team of Mentors to the schools. Santa believes that mentoring girls is a vital tool in unlocking their leadership skills.
When Santa is not driving, he is a busy businessman and loves spending time with his wife and daughter and visiting family and friends in Machame on weekends.
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Asantael
Driver
Oscar G. Chengelela
Driver
Oscar joined AfricAid in February of 2013. He has extensive experience as a driver, first with an independent textile company and later as an office driver with a secondary school in Arusha. He is a hardworking, reliable and dedicated driver. He enjoys working at AfricAid because it allows him to gain knowledge and to be a part of an incredible team whose mission is to bring about change in the lives of Tanzanian young women.
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oscar
Driver
U.S. STAFF
AfricAid’s US office focuses on fundraising and communications to support programs in Tanzania. Our staff includes 3 paid members plus 2 dedicated volunteers and 3-6 fellows at any given time.
AfricAid’s US office is located in Denver, Colorado.
STAFF
Julia Gatten
Communications Director
Julia is committed to bringing AfricAid’s story to life in creative ways to connect US supporters to our incredible mentoring programs in Tanzania. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in History from Furman University, Julia made her way to the University of Denver for a master’s degree in International Human Rights and has worked in nonprofit communications since graduating in 2012.
She loves animals, tea, sunshine, and the Oxford comma but is most passionate about seeing girls reach their full potential as leaders of their own lives and in their communities. Julia joined the AfricAid team in 2016 as the External Relations and Operations Coordinator and was promoted to Communications Director in 2017. When she isn’t designing reports, updating content, or editing videos, you’ll find her playing rugby, rock climbing, reading, or exploring Colorado.
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Julia
Communications Director
Salima Dadani
Finance Director
Despite growing up in the US, Tanzania remains home to Salima as her place of birth. As the only daughter in her family, Salima was encouraged to pursue her education to the fullest extent. Understanding the necessity to empower girls to create their own destinies, Salima comes to AfricAid with the desire to use her skills and expertise to serve the women of Tanzania. She holds an MBA from University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and has over 20+ years of experience in finance, operations, and management.
Salima joined AfricAid in November 2018 as Finance Director. In this role she manages the donations and expenditures to ensure AfricAid is meeting their funding goals. She loves spending time with her family and enjoys traveling. Hiking during the summer and football in the fall are her favorite activities.
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SALIMA
Finance Director
Lizzy Beach
Development Director
Lizzy loves social justice and equality with a passion! That is why she has focused her career in the nonprofit sector. With a bachelor’s degree in Peace Studies from Chapman University (Orange, CA) and a Master’s of Theological Studies from Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, CA), she has focused on her studies on Interfaith-Intercultural-Intersection. Lizzy has spent much time making friends around the world, traveling to places such as El Salvador, Israel/Palestine, Bosnia, Haiti, Ghana, Okinawa, and living in Swaziland for two years. She is committed to working for a mission that lifts up those with limited access to vital resources — like girls education. Lizzy believes, as AfricAid does, that Girls have Rights, Girls are Capable, and Girls CAN and DO ignite change. She is thrilled to be spearheading the fundraising efforts for AfricAid and knows that together, we will change lives.
Singing (both choral and karaoke), hiking, biking, camping, and general adventuring keeps Lizzy busy in her spare time. Lizzy hails from the West Coast and joined AfricAid as Development Director in 2016.
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Lizzy
Development Director
Emily Weber
Development Associate
Emily first pursued her passion for education and human rights when she traveled to Malawi, Africa with the nonprofit organization buildOn. While in Malawi, Emily learned about the powerful impact of educating girls in societies where gender inequality prevails. Her passion to combat the global education crisis led her to join the AfricAid team as a Communications Fellow in September 2018 and transitioned to Development Associate in July 2019.
Emily graduated from Tulane University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. She also studied Human Rights at Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the fall of 2019, Emily will begin studying for a master’s degree in Development Practice at Regis University.
After graduating from college, Emily spent two months backpacking in South East Asia. In her free time, she enjoys reading, skiing, practicing yoga, and traveling.
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emily
Development Associate
LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS
Alecia McClure
Blog Coordinator
Alecia enjoys putting her marketing skills toward the cause of global girls’ education. After a career in marketing with large corporations, she developed this interest while working for an NGO that teaches Ugandan women entrepreneurial skills. Growing up in a military family, Alecia lived in 9 places by the time she left for college. She is grateful that her parents always sought out the very best schools for their children. This fortunate circumstance has influenced her to help provide educational opportunities for young women.
Alecia has volunteered with AfricAid since January, 2016. A trip to Tanzania in October, 2018 to experience the programs first hand has made her even more dedicated to share the stories of the Scholars and Mentors through the blogs. She loves receiving a narrative and photos from Tanzania and working on editing and layout to make it the best possible presentation it can be. She feels each blog is a gift – to herself and to all who read them. Alecia earned a BA from Mount Holyoke College and an MBA from Duke University.
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Alecia
Blog Coordinator
Jill Engelstad
Outreach Coordinator
Jill is passionate about sustainable development, global travel, cultural awareness, and physical therapy; combining these passions, she has directed time and energy toward capacity building for individuals living in conditions of extreme poverty so those in least developed countries can be more fully heard, appreciated, and understood. Her overseas outreach has included capacity building empowerment for women in Tanzania and medical mission work in Romania and Ghana. Closer to home, her public speaking efforts have focused on the significant relationship educating girls has in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Jill holds a BS in Physical Therapy from the University of North Dakota and a MLS in Global Affairs from the University of Denver. When not working as a physical therapist for SCL Health, serving as Outreach Coordinator for AfricAid, or advocating for adolescent girls’ education in areas of extreme poverty globally, Jill can be found hiking or biking with her husband David or reading a good book with her cat Reese.
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Jill
Outreach Coordinator
Interested in working with AfricAid? Check out our current openings.
AfricAid is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, national origin, marital status, military or veteran status, physical or mental ability, gender identification, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. AfricAid is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Accordingly, AfricAid will not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of any of our employees or others present at our facilities by anyone, including any board of director, Executive Director, supervisor, co-worker, vendor, partner, or client.