Staff

TANZANIA 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

Jana Hardy Kinsey

Executive Director

With a background in public policy and international human rights, Jana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from Claremont McKenna College and a Juris Doctor Degree from Stanford Law School, Jana founded and led her own non-profit organization focusing on women’s property rights and inheritance law in Tanzania. Jana joined AfricAid as Assistant Country Director in July, 2012, became Country Director in January, 2013 and was later promoted to Executive Director.

Jana

Executive Director

Devotha Festo Mlay

Director of Programs

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 for the University of Dar es Salaam. After completing her studies, Devotha worked as a volunteer coordinator for Tanzania Volunteers Experience. Through that experience she developed her project management skills. She joined the AfricAid team in September, 2012 as a part-time World Reader Program Officer. In January, 2013, she was promoted to a full-time Kisa Mentor position. In June, 2014, she was promoted to the Kisa Project Manager position for the Kilimanjaro Region. In this position, she oversaw the expansion of the Kisa Project in the Kilimanjaro Region. It was her passion, commitment and hard work that helped make this program a success. In January, 2018, she was again promoted, and is now AfricAid’s Director of Programs, overseeing the Kisa Project and Binti Shupavu in both the Arusha and Kilimanjaro Regions.

When she is not busy ensuring AfricAid’s programs have the biggest impact possible, liaising with government and other partners and setting an excellent example for all staff, she can be found running, eating, watching television (especially investigation shows) and traveling to new places.

Devotha

Director of Programs

Monica Swai

Director of Operations

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, with minimal to zero errors, 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 making everything run smoothly 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 January, 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.

Monica

Director of 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.

JESS

Director of Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

PROGRAM MANAGERS

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.

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.

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.

Hadija

Kisa Project Manager

Magdalena Leonard Kitinya

Kisa 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 a Kisa Project 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 Manager she believes that teamwork makes the dream work.

Magdalena

Kisa 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.

mary

Binti Shupavu Assistant Project 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.

Agatha

Kisa Mentor

Aikande Muro

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 2012-2014. In 2017, she earned a bachelor’s 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 and stood in for Mentors in some Kisa classes. Shortly after graduating, she began working at AfricAid. She is very happy to be a part of the AfricAid team and serves as a Kisa Mentor in the Arusha Region.

Aikande likes reading, singing and most importantly, she enjoys the time she spends with Kisa girls. She strongly believes in being hopeful, smart and working hard for a better future.

AIKANDE

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.

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.

Eliakunda

Kisa Mentor

Esther Piniel

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.

esther

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.

lightness

Kisa Mentor

Ndiini Nasira Kidoko

Kisa Mentor

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.

ndiini

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.

sarafina

Kisa Mentor

Subira Vedastus Manyama

Kisa Mentor

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.

subira

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!

verynice

Kisa Mentor

BINTI SHUPAVU MENTORS

Agnes Akyoo

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Agnes Akyoo is a Kisa Alumna who graduated from Cornerstone Leadership Academy in 2014. She has a bachelor’s degree in education (linguistics and geography) from St Augustine University. Having grown up with a single mother, she knows that women can be determined and can overcome any challenges. She considers her mother her role model because she is patient, caring and has succeeded in raising and educating her children alone.

Agnes became a Binti Shupavu Mentor based in the Kilimanjaro Region in July, 2018. She is passionate about mentoring girls and loves seeing women succeeding in achieving their goals, vision and becoming valued in the community. During her free time she enjoys listening to music, dancing, appreciating nature and playing games with children.

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.

amney

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Chonge Tukwa

Binti Shupavu 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 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.

Chonge

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Dianarose Mboya

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Dianarose is a Kisa Alumna from Arusha Secondary School. She graduated from Moshi Cooperative University with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting and finance. Her experience with AfricAid helped her transform her life towards a positive direction. She then became motivated and inspired to help educate young girls so that they are able to reach their goals. She believes that young girls need support, so that they can realize their potential and stand up for their rights.

Currently, she is working as a Binti Shupavu Mentor in the Kilimanjaro Region, mentoring more than 100 young girls. Dianarose likes movies, swimming, dancing, helping others in any way she can and trying new things.

Dianarose

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Elizabeth Lusingu

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Elizabeth joined AfricAid in July, 2018 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor. She knows the importance of girls’ education, having grown up in an extended family raised by her grandmother. She feels lucky to be supported in the realization of her dreams. She received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Dodoma in 2016. She then completed various internships including as a Community Coordinator and Administrator at the Kili Hub and Mawenzi Insurance Brokers as an Insurer Advisor Intern.

She enjoys mentoring girls because she likes seeing every girl working towards her dreams and vision. She is an ambitious young woman and works hard to achieve her dreams. Elizabeth is interested in cooking, watching movies, especially science-fiction ones, reading books, listening to music, and interacting with people.

Elizabeth

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.

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.

felister

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Flora Meena

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Flora is Kisa Alumna from Enaboishu Secondary School, where she graduated in 2015. She then completed her bachelor’s degree in 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 perceived and presented herself, and 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 July, 2018 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor. 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.

Flora

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.

RAchel B.

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Rachel Lazarus

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Rachel loves to be part people’s positive change, especially the lives of girls. She enjoys mentoring young girls because she believes that she can help them transform their lives for the better. Rachel is a Kisa Alumna from Edmund Rice Sinon Secondary School (2012-2014). She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Tanzania Institute of Accountancy. Rachel’s passion is to see young girls become determined and achieve their dreams. She became a Binti Shupavu Mentor in the Kilimanjaro Region in January, 2018. She mentors year 1 and 3 students at five secondary schools: Mkuu, Mwika, Langasani, Kifaru and JK Nyerere. She enjoys inspiring and helping others whenever she can.

Rachel L.

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Theresia Stephen

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Theresia is passionate about girls’ and womens’ rights and about changing girls’ lives. Through mentoring, these girls can learn that they are capable and empowered individuals. She believes that women can make a difference for themselves, their families, and their communities if they continue to work hard, be committed, and passionate for what they want. Empowering girls to become open-minded and giving them skills to solve their problems is what she loves most about her work.

She holds an A-level certificate from Enaboishu High School and is an Alumna of the Kisa Project. She joined AfricAid in January, 2017 as a Binti Shupavu Mentor.

When Theresia is not working hard at empowering young girls, she enjoys listening and dancing to music and cooking.

Theresia

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Vaileth

Binti Shupavu Mentor

Vaileth is a soft spoken lady and she loves to be surrounded by people who are creative and very funny. She was a Kisa Scholar at Cornerstone Academy from 2012 to 2014. She learned a lot of valuable lessons during her two years of training. During that time, her life story was not easy to tell because of the community she grew up in. The Kisa Project changed and transformed her life completely. Vaileth joined AfricAid as a Binti Shupavu Mentor in the Moshi office in April, 2018. Previously, she worked as a volunteer at AfricAid in the Arusha office. Vaileth enjoys seeing young ladies doing great things in their communities, especially taking on leadership positions. She also loves women inspiring other women to reach their full potential in their communities. Vaileth holds a bachelor’s degree in special needs education from University of Dodoma.

She is very committed in whatever she decides to do. She never gives up and she has a positive attitude toward her future. She is honest and a very hard worker. She is a lady of her own word. Vaileth enjoys traveling and she likes listening to influential female leaders. She also likes sleeping too.

Vaileth

Binti Shupavu Mentor

OPERATIONS & DRIVERS

Anande Nnko

Mentor Coach and Events Coordinator

Anande is a Mentor Coach and Event Coordinator at AfricAid. She assists Mentors and interns to walk the talk of AfricAid’s core values in their lives. She believes women can have it all and gender equality is an essential tool for the development of Tanzanian communities. She joined AfricAid in 2010 after completing her bachelor’s degree in law at Tumaini-Makumira University. She was a part-time Mentor and was promoted to Kisa Project Manager, serving in that role from 2011-2014. In 2016, she became a practicing attorney in Tanzania. Anande resumed working part-time with AfricAid in January, 2018. Today, she is a specialized and experienced mentor, project manager and attorney, which makes her perfect fit to work at AfricAid. In her spare time, Anande enjoys traveling, hiking, farming and gardening.

Anande

Mentor Coach and Events Coordinator

Salma Mohammedy Omary

Bookkeeper

Salma Mohammedy is a Kisa Mentor and bookkeeper 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.

She 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 is to grow further as a Kisa Mentor, as well as helping girls attending the secondary schools 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, one person will lift up the other.

salma

Bookkeeper

Veronica Kilala

Binti Shupavu Social Worker

Bio Coming Soon…

Veronica

Binti Shupavu Social Worker

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.

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.

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.

DIRECTORS

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.

Lizzy

Development Director

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.

Julia

Communications Director

Salima Dadani

Communications 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.

SALIMA

Finance Director

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.

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.