leadership
Marianne Kent-Stoll - Co-Founder and President - USA
Marianne Kent-Stoll earned her B.A. in English from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her M.A. in English from The Pennsylvania State University. While in graduate school she published poetry in notable journals. She has worked in education for thirty-eight years, eighteen of them as an administrator. She served as Vice President, Educational Programs and Head of School at Idyllwild Arts Academy, Southern California’s internationally acclaimed arts high school, where she has made the same commitment to social justice and equity that has driven her work with Karimu. Idyllwild Arts programs that hold special meaning for her include Art in Society, which engages young artists in efforts to address social crises, and the partnership she has forged with a handful of schools on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, in South Dakota, home of the materially poor but culturally rich Oglala Lakota people. When she was eight, the film Born Free inspired her dream of visiting Africa, which she clung to for forty years before visiting Tanzania on a vacation that became a vocation. She has now visited Tanzania many times. She is driven by her admiration of the local community, especially its commitment to improving their lives and the lives of their children. Marianne devotes most of her volunteer time to fundraising, strategy, communication, and multiple annual trips to the region.
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Daniel Amma - Chairman - Tanzania
Daniel Amma has been involved with Karimu from the beginning. He came to Ufani Primary School as a teacher in 2005 and played a pivotal role in consulting on the improvements that Karimu brought to the school. Financial assistance by Karimu helped him earn his Bachelor’s degree in education in 2014, and two years later he was appointed Ufani’s Head Teacher. Only months after that, however, he was promoted to serve as Education Officer of Secheda Ward, bordering Ayalagaya Ward, where Daniel still lives with his wife, Victoria, and their son and daughter. Recently, he became the Education Officer of Dareda Mission Ward - the most important ward within Babati District. Integrity, dedication to the well-being of the community, and calm analytic intelligence make Daniel the most trusted local advisor to Karimu’s work. Since April 2018, Mr. Amma has been a member of the Karimu Tanzania board since 2019 and became chair of the board in 2020.
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Mauro Goncalves - Global Program Area Lead - USA
Mauro is a Senior Director at X, one of Google’s innovation labs. Mauro shapes business models, oversees product management, marketing campaigns, and leads the go-to-market strategy for Project Taara, bringing abundant and affordable broadband to everyone using wireless lasers. Previously, Mauro was the Chief Strategy Officer for Loon, a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space to expand coverage to unserved and underprivileged communities. Before that, Mauro held operations and finance positions covering Google’s advertising business in Europe and Africa, and new advertising solutions globally. Prior to joining Google in 2009, Mauro was a strategist and marketer with mobile carriers Vivo and Telemig Celular, and a strategy consultant with Gradus in Brazil. Mauro received his Industrial Engineer degree in 1999 from Universidade Federal de São Carlos, his MBA in 2005 from Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing in Sao Paulo and his Sloan Fellow Masters degree from London Business School as a Chevening Scholar and Ling Scholar, with overall Distinction, in 2008. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration with Grenoble Ecole de Management, focused on social entrepreneurship. He is co-lead for the developing income projects.
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Bibiana Heckman - Architect - USA
Bibiana is responsible for the architectural layouts of all Karimu construction projects. She received her Master Degree in Engineering (Dipl. Ing.) in 2006 from the Technical University Darmstadt, Germany. Bibiana has over ten years of experience in architecture, executing residential and commercial projects in Switzerland. As an expert for commercial reconstruction design and execution she worked, for example on the JTI Tower renovation in Geneva / Switzerland and the Migros City Shopping Center downtown Zurich / Switzerland. Before that, she worked on luxury residential real estate in Germany and Switzerland. In 2018 she became a Karimu volunteer, focusing on the creation of master plans for schools and medical centers and drawings for the building process.
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Regina Romeu - Global Program Area Lead - Brazil
Regina has a master’s degree in Translation from the University of Johannes Gutenberg, in Germany, and more than twenty-five years of experience in translation and interpretation of German, English, and Portuguese. She is passionate about exploring how languages, histories and narratives can be shared and understood across different cultures. Regina was impressed by the Karimu approach in Tanzania and became a volunteer in 2017. Since then she has worked in communications, keeping donors, supporters, and the general public updated about the Karimu work through the website and social media.
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Yasinta Miyangu - Member - Tanzania
Yasinta grew up in Ayalagaya ward attending primary and secondary school in Dareda Kati. She studied at Singachini teacher's college in the Kilimanjaro region and also the Open University of Tanzania where she received her diploma in primary teachers education. She has worked as a teacher of academic studies, English, and Swahili at Dareda Kati Primary School and at Arri Primary School and is currently the head of Arri Primary School. She joined the Karimu Tanzania board in 2021.
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Veronika Moshi - Member - Tanzania
Veronika is a midwife and respected leader within the communities of Ayalagaya and Arri. In addition to being a mother and farmer, she has received education in agriculture practices, health training, community development, and savings group and federation best practices. She has served in many leadership positions within the community including being elected as a village representative, district leader of the Tanzanian Women’s Union, chairperson of the catholic church women's group, chairperson of the midwives association, a member of the Ayalagaya water committee, leader of a green beans farmer’s group, chairperson of her savings group, and is currently serving as the first chairperson of the first savings group federation in Ayalagaya Ward. She joined the Karimu board in 2018.
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Raifa Mkuvaia - Secretary - Tanzania
Raifa received her teaching diploma from Klerruu Teachers College. She taught biology and chemistry at JJ Mungai Secondary School and at Luhololo Secondary School and served as the disciplinary mistress at the latter. She and her spouse transferred to Babati district in 2014 where she teaches at Ayalagaya Secondary School and serves as the disciplinary mistress and matron of the girls hostel. She also currently works as the senior head of the health department. She joined the Karimu Tanzania board in 2021 and currently serves as secretary.
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Nelson Mattos - Chief Operating Officer - USA
During his thirty-year career as a technical executive in Silicon Valley, Nelson Mattos was Google’s Vice-President of Product and Engineering for Europe and Emerging Markets, an IBM Distinguished Engineer, and Vice-President for Information and User Technologies, as well as an Associate Professor at the University of Kaiserslautern, in Germany. Currently, Nelson is an independent consultant, an advisor to startups, a member of the Board of Directors of organizations around the world, and a frequent speaker at conferences. He leverages his experience and cultural skills, acquired by having lived on multiple continents and traveled extensively across the globe, to mentor professionals worldwide and to help organizations create technical solutions that will have a positive impact, particularly in emerging markets. He is actively involved in charity projects in East Africa and Southeast Asia. Nelson became a volunteer for Karimu in 2016 and COO in 2017, driving a twenty-fold growth in its operations and impact.
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Carol Gustav - Project Manager - Germany
Carol has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern. He has a wealth of experience in managing large, complex projects, acquired during twenty-five years as Product Manager and later as Program Manager for SAP in Germany. He became a volunteer for Karimu in 2019 and now oversees project planning and execution as well as audits Karimu's finances.
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Don Stoll - Co-Founder and Treasurer - USA
Don Stoll earned his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1981, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy from The Pennsylvania State University in 1985. He returned to California to teach at Santa Clara University and in high school. He has worked since 2012 in the Admission office of Idyllwild Arts Academy, a residential high school near Palm Springs. In 2007, a Tanzanian safari vacation led Don and his wife, Marianne Kent-Stoll, to discover the manifold needs of the tiny village of Bacho, an hour’s drive from Tarangire National Park, for a new primary school. The following year Don and Marianne brought volunteers from California back to Bacho for school reconstruction and the start of their enduring relationship with the residents of Bacho and neighboring villages.
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Claudia Mattos - Advisor and Architect - USA
Claudia Mattos has a degree in Architecture from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil with specialization in precast construction at the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. Claudia has over twenty years of experience in architecture executing projects in Brazil, Germany, and the USA. She retired in 2007 and has since been active in the nonprofit world. Claudia has a passion for eliminating poverty and protecting animals with impactful activities in Indonesia, East Africa, Fiji, and Brazil. Claudia became a volunteer for Karimu in 2016 and joined its executive leadership team in 2017. She has participated in all strategic decisions of the organization and driven architectural and landscaping projects.
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Yohana Jastin - Member - Tanzania
Yohana is the Manyara Regional Coordinator for the Manyara Community Development Organization. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and has practical experience in working with underserved populations. His professional career is rooted in the belief that human rights is a principle of everything and that all voices should be heard through participatory decision making. Yohana oversees the education, water sanitation and hygiene programs and is also a qualified Lead Coach certified by the Street Business School from Uganda. When needed Yohana works closely with teams of international volunteers. He is currently a board member for KARIMU TANZANIA and Frederick Sumaye Secondary School in Babati, and member of the committee of Mutuka health center.
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Holly Hayes - Global Program Area Lead - USA
Holly received a B.S. in Computer Science from Washington University in 1980 with postgraduate studies in computer science, business management, marketing strategy , and leadership. She has thirty-eight years of experience in Information Management with IBM as a software developer, development manager, market manager, product manager, and consultant where she was valued for her problem analysis and synthesis, listening, communication, influence, and teamwork. Since retirement Holly has been interested in learning about and participating in social justice work, learning and practicing skills in Non-Violent Communication and The Work of Byron Katie, and contributing financially and personally to nonprofits. She joined Karimu in 2018 and the leadership team in 2019 when she began leading the financial services program. She began the entrepreneurship project in 2021. She has also contributed directly to social media, website, and donor communication, health related communications, fundraising, girls leadership curriculum development and delivery, and staff hiring.
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Francis Wolfgang Panga - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Francis holds a bachelor degree in arts and music from University of Dar es Salaam, class of 2019. He volunteered at Chamwino Art Center as a coodinator and music researcher during Chamwino Music Festival 2019. He started and runs a poultry business. Francis graduated from the Karimu Entrepreneurship Training in 2022 and became a field officer for Karimu Savings Group training in 2023. Francis officially joined Karimu in May 2023 focusing on projects in the income and financial services areas.
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Shau Erro Ae - Regional Director - Tanzania
Shau comes from one of the poorest backgrounds in Africa, with parents and relatives who had no education. He broke the cycle against all odds, obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Education from Ruaha Catholic University, Tanzania, in 2015. After graduation, he returned to Dareda Kati village, his hometown, and held several leadership positions, including Youth Chairperson and member of the Youth Council at Babati District. Shau was also a volunteer teacher at Bacho Primary School until he joined Karimu International Help Foundation in 2017. He quickly expanded his responsibilities, becoming regional manager in April 2019 and regional director in October 2022. Shau oversees all Karimu projects and operations in Tanzania and leads a Karimu staff of 8 employees to ensure the organization achieves its goal of eradicating poverty. He is currently in discussions with Tanzanian ministers and the governor of the state of Manyara to plan the expansion of Karimu’s operations in his country. Shau also graduated from Stanford University’s Executive Program, further enhancing his leadership skills and strategic vision.
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Grace Danciu - Consultant - Switzerland
Grace has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Harvard University and a master’s degree in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge. She was a Product Manager at Google for nearly two decades, where she worked on products such as Google Search, Gmail, and Google Calendar. Prior to Google, she worked as a Program Manager at Microsoft. She currently serves on the Board of HURIDOCS, a nonprofit that supports human rights groups with technology to help them create positive change in the world. Grace joined the volunteer team at Karimu in 2023 after visiting Tanzania with her children on Karimu’s first volunteer trip for families. She consults on projects in the health care interventions area.
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Eduardo Lins Henrique - Chief Marketing Officer - USA
Eduardo has bachelor's degrees in Computer Science (UNICAMP) and Marketing (ESPM-SP), with a postgraduate study in Digital Marketing (FECAP-SP) and is a Stanford Alumni from the Stanford Executive Program in 2016. After twenty-six years working as an entrepreneur and executive, Eduardo decided to stop and re-think life. He took time to walk the Camino de Santiago, run a marathon, and become a more dedicated father and husband. He decided to open an online school for Entrepreneurs (Empower Business School) and join Karimu as Chief Marketing Officer so that he could help spread the story of Karimu and expand its capacity to eliminate poverty.
In 2006 Eduardo founded Movile, a high-technology company for marketing solutions wherein he looked for good mobile marketing technologies around the world and brought them to Brazilian marketing. In November 2008, Compera nTime made Movile's acquisition and managed all mobile marketing business in the company. Since May of 2011, Eduardo started as an Innovation Manager, working on projects for Smartphones and Tablets using HTML5, Android, and iOS platforms. After that, Eduardo moved to the US to start his operations in Silicon Valley where he focused on revenues and acquiring users to our Smartphones & Internet Business area. Eduardo Co-created PlayKids, the top-grossing app for kids globally in 2013 and 2014. Eduardo currently lives in Miami with his wife and two children. He is enthusiastic about applying his expertise and skills toward helping to eliminate poverty in the communities that Karimu serves.
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Cathy Novak- Educator and Consultant - USA
Cathy has a Masters Degree in Education and more than thirty-five years of experience in K-12 and university education. She has also worked in the private sector as an educational consultant, curriculum developer and trainer. Her areas of specialization include educational technology, STEM education and curriculum development. She is dedicated to the mission of providing quality education to those most in need while building partnerships and collaboration with all stakeholders. Cathy first became involved with Karimu in 2009, as the co-creator of the Sister Schools and Pen Pal projects. Since 2014 she has visited Tanzania regularly, focusing on developing and implementing educational content, demonstrating current instructional strategies and guiding computer integration. In 2018 she became a member of the Karimu Leadership Team. In 2022 Cathy began developing and delivering computer training to teachers and medical staff via Google Meet. She continues to build out curriculum in the technology and health areas as well as develop classes to extend and enrich educational content available to the teachers and students of the area.
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Joyce Toner - IT project manager and coach/mentor - USA
Joyce has a BA in Psychology and a MA in Counseling with post graduate studies in Information Technology (IT). She has twenty-seven years of IT experience, including IT Director for a nonprofit organization of thirteen hospitals, ambulatory, and physician offices. She led a team of application developers, DBAs, and IT consultants for all hospital business applications. She has had many years of mentoring/coaching with her team and managers within her organization. She has also mentored and tutored elementary children from local schools. She works as a mentor/coach with a local women’s organization, Dress for Success, and has acted as a divorce support group facilitator at nights. Joyce has also started an educational program for children of five and under with developmental disabilities in rural Appalachia, and worked as a marriage and family counselor. She volunteered for Karimu in Tanzania in 2019. She first secured medical supplies for Karimu and is now acting as a mentor/coach for the Karimu Tanzania team and volunteering as an IT project manager for the IT clinical implementation in Ayalagaya.
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Klaus Roder - Consultant - USA
Klaus is a Sustainability, Data & AI Enthusiast working for IBM. He is passionate about working with customers to turn their sustainability ambitions into action using the power of data & AI.
His deep technical knowledge and strong business acumen have inspired many customers and brought several products and innovative features to the market. Klaus has spoken at various industry events and conferences including O'Reilly Artificial Intelligence, IBM Think and countless Meetups & User Groups in addition to being a frequent guest lecturer at the Organisations design master program at the University of Nurtingen-Geislingen (HfWU), Germany.
His other key interests include leadership, people management, and mentorship. He believes that the focus on growth and development of teams creates highly motivated environments that thrive for excellence.
All that said, he remains puzzled that in our times we have yet to eliminate poverty and hunger or provide basic human needs like water and education to everyone . The desire to address these issues, along with his long time friendship with Nelson & Claudia and enthusiastic conversations with Marianne and Don led Klaus to help and contribute to the ambitious goals of Karimu.
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Veronique Gillard - Consultant - USA
Veronique earned her Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. She worked both in industry and as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford. Then her career took a major turn as she was given the opportunity to pursue her childhood dreams of training horses and art. She started volunteering in the organization of internationally recognized horse shows, both as a treasurer and a volunteer coordinator. An avid traveler, she soon realized that the world is full of people whose potential will never be realized due to lack of resources. First, she became involved as a donor and volunteer for a non profit organization building and running schools in an underserved area of Kenya. Impressed by Karimu's model of close partnership with the community it serves, she became involved as a donor and volunteer and remains very committed to this organization.
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Égo Obi - Technology Strategist | Consultant - UK
Égo Obi is a dynamic Leader, Mentor, and seasoned Technology Strategist dedicated to leveraging technology for global impact and practical digital transformation. She holds a doctorate in AI Ethics. Over the past 25 years, she has led numerous technology innovation initiatives across various industry sectors, managing global teams on six continents. For the last 20 years, she has focused on developing technology integration strategies for mergers and acquisitions, spearheading global internet infrastructure solutions in emerging markets, and developing regional technology strategies at Google. Égo became involved in Karimu in 2018. In 2019, she joined the Karimu Leadership Team and was the global lead for the Sanitation program from 2019 to 2021. Since joining Karimu, she has visited Tanzania several times.
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Marta Nowak-Przygodzka - Consultant - Switzerland
Marta has a master’s degree in Psychology. She has extensive experience managing global projects, having worked as a Program Manager at Google, where she led complex initiatives within the Street View product portfolio. She is skilled in optimizing processes to enhance efficiency and performance. Marta joined Karimu as a volunteer in 2024. With her experience and skills she supports Karimu in achieving their goals. She creates and introduces new processes and makes sure all important aspects of Karimu work is well documented.
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Offir Inbar - Consultant - Israel
Offir Inbar is a water and climate technology expert. He is a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tel Aviv University, Israel. His research topics range from building an intersection between AI and environmental challenges to creating water from air. Offir is the former CEO of Engineers Without Borders Tel-Aviv, and has 10 years of experience in various Climatech initiatives.
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Lucy Justine Mhando - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Lucy holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Tanzania Institute Accountancy in Dar es Salaam, and graduated in December 2019. After graduating she was involved in different small businesses until she was hired in August 2020 by Royal Village Company Limited as a front officer in Dodoma, Tanzania. She was promoted to Assistant General Manager in early 2021 and worked there for one and a half years. Lucy joined Karimu Foundation in July 2023 initially as an interpreter for the volunteer trip and later as the Local Program Area Lead for sanitation.
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Ana Maria Ferreira Brown - Consultant - USA
Ana Maria Ferreira Brown holds a Bachelor's degree in Education and has a deep passion for the food industry. She has successfully blended these interests in her role with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s Child Nutrition Department in California, where she currently serves as Lead Kitchen Assistant at Sycamore Valley Elementary School in Danville, CA. Before this, Ana spent six years as a high school teacher and also distinguished herself as a talented baker and pastry chef. In addition to her work in education and nutrition, Ana plays a crucial role in Karimu's operations, supporting the leadership in Tanzania by identifying action plans from meetings and ensuring they are promptly implemented.
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Carley Flynn - Architect / Consultant - USA
Carley is a highly motivated leader with over 10 years of experience in the technology and engineering industries. She has held decision-making roles on industry-spanning projects, ranging in scope from real estate acquisition, network expansion, data center delivery, to motorway and rail construction. Carley's ability to effectively manage projects of high complexity in fast-paced environments has proven highly impactful for private, public, and government entities in the US, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Carley believes infrastructure development is a powerful tool for positive change. Whether the goal is revolutionizing renewable energy, improving access to clean water, or creating sustainable transportation systems, Carley is committed to helping teams achieve quantifiable impact.
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Joseph Danghalo - Head of Finance - Tanzania
Joseph is a highly experienced accountant with a strong background in financial management across multiple industries. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Mount Meru University in Arusha, Tanzania, which he completed in 2010.
Joseph began his career as an Accounting Clerk at Milk and Honey Restaurant in Arusha from 2009 to 2011 while also completing his field practice at the Regional Administrative Secretariat in Arusha, where he worked in the Pre-Audit Department. His dedication to financial operations led him to the education sector, where he served as a School Bursar at Trust Saint Patrick Schools in Arusha from 2014 to 2016.
From 2017 to 2024, Joseph took on the role of Head of Finance at Bashanet Hospital, a Catholic Diocese-owned healthcare institution in Babati District, Manyara Region. He was responsible for overseeing all financial activities, ensuring budget execution aligned with the Comprehensive Hospital Operational Plan (CHOP) to maintain continuous drug availability and financial stability within the hospital.
Joseph joined Karimu in 2025 and is the Head of Finance.
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Kasuka Thomas - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Thomas is an experienced professional in poultry management and animal nutrition, with a strong passion for improving livestock production through best practices in animal feed composition and farm management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Sokoine University of Agriculture, graduating in 2017. He completed his Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (ACSEE) at Kaliua Secondary School in Tabora.
Thomas began his career in 2019 as a Poultry Farm Supervisor at Kuku Poa Company Limited in Mwanza, Tanzania, where he oversaw broiler production. From November 2021 to January 2025, he worked as an Assistant Farm Manager at Homeland Farm Company Limited, gaining extensive experience in broiler and egg production management. His deep interest in poultry nutrition and feed formulation has been a driving force throughout his career.
Committed to continuous learning, Thomas has attended several specialized workshops to enhance his skills. In May 2023, he participated in the Silverlands Poultry Training (SPT), which focused on poultry and pig management. In September 2023, he attended a U.S. Grains Council workshop, where he gained foundational knowledge in poultry management and nutrition strategies.
Thomas joined Karimu In February 2025 a Program Area lead for income projects focusing on starting and building commercial chicken businesses.
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Augustino Emmanuel Stephano - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Augustino received his Bachelor of Science (with honors) in Civil Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam, College of Engineering and Technology in 2017. Before joining the University of Dar es Salaam, he attended military training at Bulombora JKT (821 KJ) in Kigoma for three months. After graduating he joined Del Monte (T) Limited, a class one construction firm located in Dar es Salaam as Civil Engineer. He worked for more than four years with this firm in various projects varying from small to large in road construction, building construction, and drainage structure construction. He was also involved in constructing and supervising Tanzanian strategic projects such as Standard Gauge Railway Project (SGR), Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) in Rufiji river. In November, 2022, he joined Karimu Tanzania as the local leader for all construction projects.
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Swaiba Abdul Makenya - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Swaiba received an ordinary diploma in clinical medicine from the Center for Education Development in Health Arusha (CEDHA) college in 2019. She worked as a volunteer in hospitals in Tanzania, in some national health projects such as Malaria project at National Institute Of Medical Research (NIMR -TANGA), in HIV/AIDS, GBV, STDs, and TB screening, as well as a member of NGOs focusing on family planning methods. She held leadership roles as team leader of the EPIC project and JHPIEGO. Swaiba joined Karimu in December 2020 as the local leader of the health area.
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Victoria Reuben Kachulu - HR Manager and Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Victoria pursued a Bachelor in Business Administration and Human Resource Management at Arusha University, graduating in 2016. She volunteered at Meru Community Bank in Arusha, working as Customer Service Officer and Operation Officer for a year. Later, she joined the NAF group to work as Human Resources Officer at Naf Beach Hotel. She joined Karimu in 2019 to lead the financial services area after she was certified as a Village Savings and Loan trainer by Stella Tungaraza, International Facilitator of Saving Groups, Entrepreneurship and Federation. Victoria also drove Karimu’s health program through December 2020. She became a Street Business School Certified Lead Coach in 2021 and is the local leader for the Entrepreneurship Program. In 2024, Victoria was also promoted to Human Resource Manager for Karimu Tanzania.
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Marianne Kent-Stoll - Co-Founder and President - USA
Marianne Kent-Stoll earned her B.A. in English from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her M.A. in English from The Pennsylvania State University. While in graduate school she published poetry in notable journals. She has worked in education for thirty-eight years, eighteen of them as an administrator. She served as Vice President, Educational Programs and Head of School at Idyllwild Arts Academy, Southern California’s internationally acclaimed arts high school, where she has made the same commitment to social justice and equity that has driven her work with Karimu. Idyllwild Arts programs that hold special meaning for her include Art in Society, which engages young artists in efforts to address social crises, and the partnership she has forged with a handful of schools on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, in South Dakota, home of the materially poor but culturally rich Oglala Lakota people. When she was eight, the film Born Free inspired her dream of visiting Africa, which she clung to for forty years before visiting Tanzania on a vacation that became a vocation. She has now visited Tanzania many times. She is driven by her admiration of the local community, especially its commitment to improving their lives and the lives of their children. Marianne devotes most of her volunteer time to fundraising, strategy, communication, and multiple annual trips to the region.
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Daniel Amma - Chairman - Tanzania
Daniel Amma has been involved with Karimu from the beginning. He came to Ufani Primary School as a teacher in 2005 and played a pivotal role in consulting on the improvements that Karimu brought to the school. Financial assistance by Karimu helped him earn his Bachelor’s degree in education in 2014, and two years later he was appointed Ufani’s Head Teacher. Only months after that, however, he was promoted to serve as Education Officer of Secheda Ward, bordering Ayalagaya Ward, where Daniel still lives with his wife, Victoria, and their son and daughter. Recently, he became the Education Officer of Dareda Mission Ward - the most important ward within Babati District. Integrity, dedication to the well-being of the community, and calm analytic intelligence make Daniel the most trusted local advisor to Karimu’s work. Since April 2018, Mr. Amma has been a member of the Karimu Tanzania board since 2019 and became chair of the board in 2020.
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Mauro Goncalves - Global Program Area Lead - USA
Mauro is a Senior Director at X, one of Google’s innovation labs. Mauro shapes business models, oversees product management, marketing campaigns, and leads the go-to-market strategy for Project Taara, bringing abundant and affordable broadband to everyone using wireless lasers. Previously, Mauro was the Chief Strategy Officer for Loon, a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space to expand coverage to unserved and underprivileged communities. Before that, Mauro held operations and finance positions covering Google’s advertising business in Europe and Africa, and new advertising solutions globally. Prior to joining Google in 2009, Mauro was a strategist and marketer with mobile carriers Vivo and Telemig Celular, and a strategy consultant with Gradus in Brazil. Mauro received his Industrial Engineer degree in 1999 from Universidade Federal de São Carlos, his MBA in 2005 from Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing in Sao Paulo and his Sloan Fellow Masters degree from London Business School as a Chevening Scholar and Ling Scholar, with overall Distinction, in 2008. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration with Grenoble Ecole de Management, focused on social entrepreneurship. He is co-lead for the developing income projects.
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Bibiana Heckman - Architect - USA
Bibiana is responsible for the architectural layouts of all Karimu construction projects. She received her Master Degree in Engineering (Dipl. Ing.) in 2006 from the Technical University Darmstadt, Germany. Bibiana has over ten years of experience in architecture, executing residential and commercial projects in Switzerland. As an expert for commercial reconstruction design and execution she worked, for example on the JTI Tower renovation in Geneva / Switzerland and the Migros City Shopping Center downtown Zurich / Switzerland. Before that, she worked on luxury residential real estate in Germany and Switzerland. In 2018 she became a Karimu volunteer, focusing on the creation of master plans for schools and medical centers and drawings for the building process.
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Regina Romeu - Global Program Area Lead - Brazil
Regina has a master’s degree in Translation from the University of Johannes Gutenberg, in Germany, and more than twenty-five years of experience in translation and interpretation of German, English, and Portuguese. She is passionate about exploring how languages, histories and narratives can be shared and understood across different cultures. Regina was impressed by the Karimu approach in Tanzania and became a volunteer in 2017. Since then she has worked in communications, keeping donors, supporters, and the general public updated about the Karimu work through the website and social media.
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Yasinta Miyangu - Member - Tanzania
Yasinta grew up in Ayalagaya ward attending primary and secondary school in Dareda Kati. She studied at Singachini teacher's college in the Kilimanjaro region and also the Open University of Tanzania where she received her diploma in primary teachers education. She has worked as a teacher of academic studies, English, and Swahili at Dareda Kati Primary School and at Arri Primary School and is currently the head of Arri Primary School. She joined the Karimu Tanzania board in 2021.
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Veronika Moshi - Member - Tanzania
Veronika is a midwife and respected leader within the communities of Ayalagaya and Arri. In addition to being a mother and farmer, she has received education in agriculture practices, health training, community development, and savings group and federation best practices. She has served in many leadership positions within the community including being elected as a village representative, district leader of the Tanzanian Women’s Union, chairperson of the catholic church women's group, chairperson of the midwives association, a member of the Ayalagaya water committee, leader of a green beans farmer’s group, chairperson of her savings group, and is currently serving as the first chairperson of the first savings group federation in Ayalagaya Ward. She joined the Karimu board in 2018.
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Raifa Mkuvaia - Secretary - Tanzania
Raifa received her teaching diploma from Klerruu Teachers College. She taught biology and chemistry at JJ Mungai Secondary School and at Luhololo Secondary School and served as the disciplinary mistress at the latter. She and her spouse transferred to Babati district in 2014 where she teaches at Ayalagaya Secondary School and serves as the disciplinary mistress and matron of the girls hostel. She also currently works as the senior head of the health department. She joined the Karimu Tanzania board in 2021 and currently serves as secretary.
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Nelson Mattos - Chief Operating Officer - USA
During his thirty-year career as a technical executive in Silicon Valley, Nelson Mattos was Google’s Vice-President of Product and Engineering for Europe and Emerging Markets, an IBM Distinguished Engineer, and Vice-President for Information and User Technologies, as well as an Associate Professor at the University of Kaiserslautern, in Germany. Currently, Nelson is an independent consultant, an advisor to startups, a member of the Board of Directors of organizations around the world, and a frequent speaker at conferences. He leverages his experience and cultural skills, acquired by having lived on multiple continents and traveled extensively across the globe, to mentor professionals worldwide and to help organizations create technical solutions that will have a positive impact, particularly in emerging markets. He is actively involved in charity projects in East Africa and Southeast Asia. Nelson became a volunteer for Karimu in 2016 and COO in 2017, driving a twenty-fold growth in its operations and impact.
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Carol Gustav - Project Manager - Germany
Carol has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern. He has a wealth of experience in managing large, complex projects, acquired during twenty-five years as Product Manager and later as Program Manager for SAP in Germany. He became a volunteer for Karimu in 2019 and now oversees project planning and execution as well as audits Karimu's finances.
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Don Stoll - Co-Founder and Treasurer - USA
Don Stoll earned his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1981, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy from The Pennsylvania State University in 1985. He returned to California to teach at Santa Clara University and in high school. He has worked since 2012 in the Admission office of Idyllwild Arts Academy, a residential high school near Palm Springs. In 2007, a Tanzanian safari vacation led Don and his wife, Marianne Kent-Stoll, to discover the manifold needs of the tiny village of Bacho, an hour’s drive from Tarangire National Park, for a new primary school. The following year Don and Marianne brought volunteers from California back to Bacho for school reconstruction and the start of their enduring relationship with the residents of Bacho and neighboring villages.
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Claudia Mattos - Advisor and Architect - USA
Claudia Mattos has a degree in Architecture from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil with specialization in precast construction at the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. Claudia has over twenty years of experience in architecture executing projects in Brazil, Germany, and the USA. She retired in 2007 and has since been active in the nonprofit world. Claudia has a passion for eliminating poverty and protecting animals with impactful activities in Indonesia, East Africa, Fiji, and Brazil. Claudia became a volunteer for Karimu in 2016 and joined its executive leadership team in 2017. She has participated in all strategic decisions of the organization and driven architectural and landscaping projects.
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Yohana Jastin - Member - Tanzania
Yohana is the Manyara Regional Coordinator for the Manyara Community Development Organization. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and has practical experience in working with underserved populations. His professional career is rooted in the belief that human rights is a principle of everything and that all voices should be heard through participatory decision making. Yohana oversees the education, water sanitation and hygiene programs and is also a qualified Lead Coach certified by the Street Business School from Uganda. When needed Yohana works closely with teams of international volunteers. He is currently a board member for KARIMU TANZANIA and Frederick Sumaye Secondary School in Babati, and member of the committee of Mutuka health center.
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Holly Hayes - Global Program Area Lead - USA
Holly received a B.S. in Computer Science from Washington University in 1980 with postgraduate studies in computer science, business management, marketing strategy , and leadership. She has thirty-eight years of experience in Information Management with IBM as a software developer, development manager, market manager, product manager, and consultant where she was valued for her problem analysis and synthesis, listening, communication, influence, and teamwork. Since retirement Holly has been interested in learning about and participating in social justice work, learning and practicing skills in Non-Violent Communication and The Work of Byron Katie, and contributing financially and personally to nonprofits. She joined Karimu in 2018 and the leadership team in 2019 when she began leading the financial services program. She began the entrepreneurship project in 2021. She has also contributed directly to social media, website, and donor communication, health related communications, fundraising, girls leadership curriculum development and delivery, and staff hiring.
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Francis Wolfgang Panga - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Francis holds a bachelor degree in arts and music from University of Dar es Salaam, class of 2019. He volunteered at Chamwino Art Center as a coodinator and music researcher during Chamwino Music Festival 2019. He started and runs a poultry business. Francis graduated from the Karimu Entrepreneurship Training in 2022 and became a field officer for Karimu Savings Group training in 2023. Francis officially joined Karimu in May 2023 focusing on projects in the income and financial services areas.
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Shau Erro Ae - Regional Director - Tanzania
Shau comes from one of the poorest backgrounds in Africa, with parents and relatives who had no education. He broke the cycle against all odds, obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Education from Ruaha Catholic University, Tanzania, in 2015. After graduation, he returned to Dareda Kati village, his hometown, and held several leadership positions, including Youth Chairperson and member of the Youth Council at Babati District. Shau was also a volunteer teacher at Bacho Primary School until he joined Karimu International Help Foundation in 2017. He quickly expanded his responsibilities, becoming regional manager in April 2019 and regional director in October 2022. Shau oversees all Karimu projects and operations in Tanzania and leads a Karimu staff of 8 employees to ensure the organization achieves its goal of eradicating poverty. He is currently in discussions with Tanzanian ministers and the governor of the state of Manyara to plan the expansion of Karimu’s operations in his country. Shau also graduated from Stanford University’s Executive Program, further enhancing his leadership skills and strategic vision.
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Grace Danciu - Consultant - Switzerland
Grace has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Harvard University and a master’s degree in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge. She was a Product Manager at Google for nearly two decades, where she worked on products such as Google Search, Gmail, and Google Calendar. Prior to Google, she worked as a Program Manager at Microsoft. She currently serves on the Board of HURIDOCS, a nonprofit that supports human rights groups with technology to help them create positive change in the world. Grace joined the volunteer team at Karimu in 2023 after visiting Tanzania with her children on Karimu’s first volunteer trip for families. She consults on projects in the health care interventions area.
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Eduardo Lins Henrique - Chief Marketing Officer - USA
Eduardo has bachelor's degrees in Computer Science (UNICAMP) and Marketing (ESPM-SP), with a postgraduate study in Digital Marketing (FECAP-SP) and is a Stanford Alumni from the Stanford Executive Program in 2016. After twenty-six years working as an entrepreneur and executive, Eduardo decided to stop and re-think life. He took time to walk the Camino de Santiago, run a marathon, and become a more dedicated father and husband. He decided to open an online school for Entrepreneurs (Empower Business School) and join Karimu as Chief Marketing Officer so that he could help spread the story of Karimu and expand its capacity to eliminate poverty.
In 2006 Eduardo founded Movile, a high-technology company for marketing solutions wherein he looked for good mobile marketing technologies around the world and brought them to Brazilian marketing. In November 2008, Compera nTime made Movile's acquisition and managed all mobile marketing business in the company. Since May of 2011, Eduardo started as an Innovation Manager, working on projects for Smartphones and Tablets using HTML5, Android, and iOS platforms. After that, Eduardo moved to the US to start his operations in Silicon Valley where he focused on revenues and acquiring users to our Smartphones & Internet Business area. Eduardo Co-created PlayKids, the top-grossing app for kids globally in 2013 and 2014. Eduardo currently lives in Miami with his wife and two children. He is enthusiastic about applying his expertise and skills toward helping to eliminate poverty in the communities that Karimu serves.
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Cathy Novak- Educator and Consultant - USA
Cathy has a Masters Degree in Education and more than thirty-five years of experience in K-12 and university education. She has also worked in the private sector as an educational consultant, curriculum developer and trainer. Her areas of specialization include educational technology, STEM education and curriculum development. She is dedicated to the mission of providing quality education to those most in need while building partnerships and collaboration with all stakeholders. Cathy first became involved with Karimu in 2009, as the co-creator of the Sister Schools and Pen Pal projects. Since 2014 she has visited Tanzania regularly, focusing on developing and implementing educational content, demonstrating current instructional strategies and guiding computer integration. In 2018 she became a member of the Karimu Leadership Team. In 2022 Cathy began developing and delivering computer training to teachers and medical staff via Google Meet. She continues to build out curriculum in the technology and health areas as well as develop classes to extend and enrich educational content available to the teachers and students of the area.
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Joyce Toner - IT project manager and coach/mentor - USA
Joyce has a BA in Psychology and a MA in Counseling with post graduate studies in Information Technology (IT). She has twenty-seven years of IT experience, including IT Director for a nonprofit organization of thirteen hospitals, ambulatory, and physician offices. She led a team of application developers, DBAs, and IT consultants for all hospital business applications. She has had many years of mentoring/coaching with her team and managers within her organization. She has also mentored and tutored elementary children from local schools. She works as a mentor/coach with a local women’s organization, Dress for Success, and has acted as a divorce support group facilitator at nights. Joyce has also started an educational program for children of five and under with developmental disabilities in rural Appalachia, and worked as a marriage and family counselor. She volunteered for Karimu in Tanzania in 2019. She first secured medical supplies for Karimu and is now acting as a mentor/coach for the Karimu Tanzania team and volunteering as an IT project manager for the IT clinical implementation in Ayalagaya.
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Klaus Roder - Consultant - USA
Klaus is a Sustainability, Data & AI Enthusiast working for IBM. He is passionate about working with customers to turn their sustainability ambitions into action using the power of data & AI.
His deep technical knowledge and strong business acumen have inspired many customers and brought several products and innovative features to the market. Klaus has spoken at various industry events and conferences including O'Reilly Artificial Intelligence, IBM Think and countless Meetups & User Groups in addition to being a frequent guest lecturer at the Organisations design master program at the University of Nurtingen-Geislingen (HfWU), Germany.
His other key interests include leadership, people management, and mentorship. He believes that the focus on growth and development of teams creates highly motivated environments that thrive for excellence.
All that said, he remains puzzled that in our times we have yet to eliminate poverty and hunger or provide basic human needs like water and education to everyone . The desire to address these issues, along with his long time friendship with Nelson & Claudia and enthusiastic conversations with Marianne and Don led Klaus to help and contribute to the ambitious goals of Karimu.
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Veronique Gillard - Consultant - USA
Veronique earned her Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. She worked both in industry and as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford. Then her career took a major turn as she was given the opportunity to pursue her childhood dreams of training horses and art. She started volunteering in the organization of internationally recognized horse shows, both as a treasurer and a volunteer coordinator. An avid traveler, she soon realized that the world is full of people whose potential will never be realized due to lack of resources. First, she became involved as a donor and volunteer for a non profit organization building and running schools in an underserved area of Kenya. Impressed by Karimu's model of close partnership with the community it serves, she became involved as a donor and volunteer and remains very committed to this organization.
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Égo Obi - Technology Strategist | Consultant - UK
Égo Obi is a dynamic Leader, Mentor, and seasoned Technology Strategist dedicated to leveraging technology for global impact and practical digital transformation. She holds a doctorate in AI Ethics. Over the past 25 years, she has led numerous technology innovation initiatives across various industry sectors, managing global teams on six continents. For the last 20 years, she has focused on developing technology integration strategies for mergers and acquisitions, spearheading global internet infrastructure solutions in emerging markets, and developing regional technology strategies at Google. Égo became involved in Karimu in 2018. In 2019, she joined the Karimu Leadership Team and was the global lead for the Sanitation program from 2019 to 2021. Since joining Karimu, she has visited Tanzania several times.
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Marta Nowak-Przygodzka - Consultant - Switzerland
Marta has a master’s degree in Psychology. She has extensive experience managing global projects, having worked as a Program Manager at Google, where she led complex initiatives within the Street View product portfolio. She is skilled in optimizing processes to enhance efficiency and performance. Marta joined Karimu as a volunteer in 2024. With her experience and skills she supports Karimu in achieving their goals. She creates and introduces new processes and makes sure all important aspects of Karimu work is well documented.
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Offir Inbar - Consultant - Israel
Offir Inbar is a water and climate technology expert. He is a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tel Aviv University, Israel. His research topics range from building an intersection between AI and environmental challenges to creating water from air. Offir is the former CEO of Engineers Without Borders Tel-Aviv, and has 10 years of experience in various Climatech initiatives.
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Lucy Justine Mhando - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Lucy holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Tanzania Institute Accountancy in Dar es Salaam, and graduated in December 2019. After graduating she was involved in different small businesses until she was hired in August 2020 by Royal Village Company Limited as a front officer in Dodoma, Tanzania. She was promoted to Assistant General Manager in early 2021 and worked there for one and a half years. Lucy joined Karimu Foundation in July 2023 initially as an interpreter for the volunteer trip and later as the Local Program Area Lead for sanitation.
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Ana Maria Ferreira Brown - Consultant - USA
Ana Maria Ferreira Brown holds a Bachelor's degree in Education and has a deep passion for the food industry. She has successfully blended these interests in her role with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s Child Nutrition Department in California, where she currently serves as Lead Kitchen Assistant at Sycamore Valley Elementary School in Danville, CA. Before this, Ana spent six years as a high school teacher and also distinguished herself as a talented baker and pastry chef. In addition to her work in education and nutrition, Ana plays a crucial role in Karimu's operations, supporting the leadership in Tanzania by identifying action plans from meetings and ensuring they are promptly implemented.
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Carley Flynn - Architect / Consultant - USA
Carley is a highly motivated leader with over 10 years of experience in the technology and engineering industries. She has held decision-making roles on industry-spanning projects, ranging in scope from real estate acquisition, network expansion, data center delivery, to motorway and rail construction. Carley's ability to effectively manage projects of high complexity in fast-paced environments has proven highly impactful for private, public, and government entities in the US, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Carley believes infrastructure development is a powerful tool for positive change. Whether the goal is revolutionizing renewable energy, improving access to clean water, or creating sustainable transportation systems, Carley is committed to helping teams achieve quantifiable impact.
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Joseph Danghalo - Head of Finance - Tanzania
Joseph is a highly experienced accountant with a strong background in financial management across multiple industries. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Mount Meru University in Arusha, Tanzania, which he completed in 2010.
Joseph began his career as an Accounting Clerk at Milk and Honey Restaurant in Arusha from 2009 to 2011 while also completing his field practice at the Regional Administrative Secretariat in Arusha, where he worked in the Pre-Audit Department. His dedication to financial operations led him to the education sector, where he served as a School Bursar at Trust Saint Patrick Schools in Arusha from 2014 to 2016.
From 2017 to 2024, Joseph took on the role of Head of Finance at Bashanet Hospital, a Catholic Diocese-owned healthcare institution in Babati District, Manyara Region. He was responsible for overseeing all financial activities, ensuring budget execution aligned with the Comprehensive Hospital Operational Plan (CHOP) to maintain continuous drug availability and financial stability within the hospital.
Joseph joined Karimu in 2025 and is the Head of Finance.
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Kasuka Thomas - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Thomas is an experienced professional in poultry management and animal nutrition, with a strong passion for improving livestock production through best practices in animal feed composition and farm management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Sokoine University of Agriculture, graduating in 2017. He completed his Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (ACSEE) at Kaliua Secondary School in Tabora.
Thomas began his career in 2019 as a Poultry Farm Supervisor at Kuku Poa Company Limited in Mwanza, Tanzania, where he oversaw broiler production. From November 2021 to January 2025, he worked as an Assistant Farm Manager at Homeland Farm Company Limited, gaining extensive experience in broiler and egg production management. His deep interest in poultry nutrition and feed formulation has been a driving force throughout his career.
Committed to continuous learning, Thomas has attended several specialized workshops to enhance his skills. In May 2023, he participated in the Silverlands Poultry Training (SPT), which focused on poultry and pig management. In September 2023, he attended a U.S. Grains Council workshop, where he gained foundational knowledge in poultry management and nutrition strategies.
Thomas joined Karimu In February 2025 a Program Area lead for income projects focusing on starting and building commercial chicken businesses.
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Augustino Emmanuel Stephano - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Augustino received his Bachelor of Science (with honors) in Civil Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam, College of Engineering and Technology in 2017. Before joining the University of Dar es Salaam, he attended military training at Bulombora JKT (821 KJ) in Kigoma for three months. After graduating he joined Del Monte (T) Limited, a class one construction firm located in Dar es Salaam as Civil Engineer. He worked for more than four years with this firm in various projects varying from small to large in road construction, building construction, and drainage structure construction. He was also involved in constructing and supervising Tanzanian strategic projects such as Standard Gauge Railway Project (SGR), Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) in Rufiji river. In November, 2022, he joined Karimu Tanzania as the local leader for all construction projects.
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Swaiba Abdul Makenya - Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Swaiba received an ordinary diploma in clinical medicine from the Center for Education Development in Health Arusha (CEDHA) college in 2019. She worked as a volunteer in hospitals in Tanzania, in some national health projects such as Malaria project at National Institute Of Medical Research (NIMR -TANGA), in HIV/AIDS, GBV, STDs, and TB screening, as well as a member of NGOs focusing on family planning methods. She held leadership roles as team leader of the EPIC project and JHPIEGO. Swaiba joined Karimu in December 2020 as the local leader of the health area.
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Victoria Reuben Kachulu - HR Manager and Local Program Area Lead - Tanzania
Victoria pursued a Bachelor in Business Administration and Human Resource Management at Arusha University, graduating in 2016. She volunteered at Meru Community Bank in Arusha, working as Customer Service Officer and Operation Officer for a year. Later, she joined the NAF group to work as Human Resources Officer at Naf Beach Hotel. She joined Karimu in 2019 to lead the financial services area after she was certified as a Village Savings and Loan trainer by Stella Tungaraza, International Facilitator of Saving Groups, Entrepreneurship and Federation. Victoria also drove Karimu’s health program through December 2020. She became a Street Business School Certified Lead Coach in 2021 and is the local leader for the Entrepreneurship Program. In 2024, Victoria was also promoted to Human Resource Manager for Karimu Tanzania.
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