Our Team
Staff
Raymond Gilbert
Country Manager
Brian Singer
Brian’s commitment to Tanzania started when he spent two years in Tanzania with the Peace Corps. He has a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University in Social Change and Development and has spent more than 20 years assisting low-income entrepreneurs in New York City and the Twin Cities.
Gerson Mdamo
Accountant
Gerson recieved his bachelor dregree in Business Administration and Accounting from St. Augustine University. Prior to working with Project Zawadi, Gerson worked with Orkeeswa Schools Organization, AKO GROUP LTD, and the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project.
Regina Mkama
Sponsorship Program Manager
Regina has a Diploma in Education. She has 20 years of experience teaching young students. She wasa board member of Compassion International Tanzania (CIT) in Bunda for eleven years. She volunteered with Project Zawadi prior to joining the team as staff.
Nehemiah Kipande Method
Tenda Teachers Program Manager
Nehemiah is passionate about teacher training and professional development. He holds a Bachelor of arts degree in Education from the University of Dar Es Salaam. Prior to joining Project Zawadi, he worked as a head teacher. He has experience working with people with special needs, children, teachers, and refugees.
Goodluck Estomih
Model Schools Program Manager
Goodluck's experience is in siting, designing, providing construction supervision, capacity building and sustainable management of integrated water projects in rural communities. He is a graduate from Sokoine University of Agriculture with a degree in Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering.
Brianna Darling
Chief of Operations
Rooted in the relationships she built as a Peace Corps Volunteer, Brianna has a deep love for Tanzania. She has a Masters of Science in International Development from Michigan State University. Her thesis research explored the dynamics of power and positionality in development work. She lives in Richfield with her husband, two daughers, chickens, and whatever other rescue animals are passing through at the time.
Edgar John Mwansasu
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Edgar holds a master’s degree from the University of Saint Augustine Mwanza-Tanzania. He has a background in monitoring and evaluation, research, public policy advocacy, group facilitation, and public relations. Before joining Project Zawadi, Edgar worked with Measure Evaluation Tanzania/USAID. Prior to his role as Monitoring and evaluation Officer, Edgar worked as the Tenda Teachers Program Manager.
Lilian Emanuel Charles
Counselor
Lilian holds a BS in Psychology and Counseling from Jordan University College in Morogoro and a Certificate in Rural Development and Planning from the Institute of Rural Development and Planning in Dodoma. She has experience in individual and group counseling and providing mentoring and lifeskills training in a variety of settings.
Benard Maziba
Apprenticeships Coordinator
Benard is a former Project Zawadi sponsored student and graduate of Mwanza Vocational Training Centre's carpentry program. His unique perspective and knowledge of the Nyamuswa area are invaluable as the special projects assistant.
Gingiri Mwesa
School Clubs Coordinator
Gingiri is a former Project Zawadi Merit student and a 2018 graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam with a Bachelor of Education. He brings his knowledge, skills, and energy to the Tenda Teachers program.
Eliminata Marmetus
Model Farms Coordinator
Eliminata holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Economics and Agribusiness from Sokoine University of Agriculture, she has eight (8) years of experience working with various NGOs in supporting small-scale farming practices and empowering rural communities.
Farouq Shaban
Teacher Training Coordinator
Farouq has a bachelor of arts in education from Makerere university. He 6 years as an education coordinator. He has skills in curriculum development and leadership. He has worked with both local and international organizations to promote development in primary and secondary education.
Amina waziri shehoza
Teacher Training Coordinator
Amina is a teacher holding a Bachelor degree in Adult and Community Education. She has four years of experience in training at two different institutions.
Aziza Ngume
Teacher Training Coordinator
Aziza has a Bachelor's in Languages and Interpretation/Translation from the Muslim University of Morogoro. She has more than 6 years experience in teacher training, education and social development programmes, and project implementation. She has worked with young girls, street children and refugees in education programmes from different NGOs.
Erasto Katozi
Teacher Training Coordinator
Chukista Malima
Data Clerk - Tenda Teachers
Chukista is a former Project Zawadi sponsored student and graduate of St. Anthony Vocational Training Centre. This unique perspective is invaluable in her work as a data clerk providing support to the Tenda Teacher Professional Development program.
Theresia Muliaza Amos
Theresia was born and raised in village of Nyamuswa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies. Her family worked hard to put her through school and needed extra support once she was in secondary school. She joined the PZ community in 2017 as a merit student. She became an intern with Project Zawadi in 2021 and now coordinates the Girls' Safety in Schools and Community program.
Sarafina Shayo
Office Operations Support
Ibrahim Said
Driver
Tabani Stima
Security
Wandwe Masebe
Community Mobilizer
Wandwe, who has deep connections in the community, works to support the Model Schools program. He has been youth leader in the Nyamuswa community for about 10 years. Now he assists with collaboration efforts that combine their resources and energy to ensure students have enjoyable and productive days at school. He is also the chairperson of the Chamriho 5K committee.
Warioba Wright
Community Mobilizer
Warioba is a local entrepreneur based in Nyamuswa, and is well versed in activities that go into managing community-based projects. In his role as Community Mobilizer, he collaborates with community partners to ensure project sustainability, manages supply inventory, and coordinates with local contractors.
Interns
Msegere Maregesi Mabeba
School Safety Intern
Msegere is Project Zawadi Alumnus who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health System Management from Mzumbe University. He completed his degree in July 2023. He has joined the Student Support team to gain work experience, learn and help. He helps with office activities, student counseling and empowerment clubs. When he's not working he likes to read motivational books, solve puzzles and spend time with friends.
Ester Method Nzingo
English Teacher Intern (Kambarage Primary)
Malemi Juma Sinde
English Teacher Intern (Kurusanga Primary)
Salome D. Isaya
Girls Safety Intern
Salome D. Isaya, holds a Bachelor Degree in Planning and Community Development at the Institute of Rural and Development Planning. She was born and raised in the Nyamuswa area and recently joined the team as an intern for the Girls Safety in School and Communities Program.
Semeni Vincent
Girls Safety Intern
Semeni holds a Bachelor degree in computer Science from The Institute of Finance Management in Dar es Salaam. Her experience is in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and she is now learning more about counseling and empowerment club facilitation. She recently joined the team as a Girls Safety in Schools and Communities intern.
Lilian S. Mashenene
Girls Safety Intern
Lilian S Mashenene holds a nursing certificate from Mkula college. She worked at CUHAS Bugando Referral Hospital for three years and has two years of experience supporting NGOs. She recently joined Project Zawadi as a Girls Safety in Schools and Communities Intern.
Idda Romli Myungi
Girls Safety Intern
My name is Idda Romli Mvungi holds a bachelor degree in Logistics and Transport Management from the National Institute of Transport. She recently joined the team a Girls Safety in Schools and Communities intern.
Board Of Directors (USA)
Ian Keith
Board Chair
Ian is an elementary school teacher in the St. Paul Public Schools and a former President of the St. Paul Federation of Teachers. He holds a B.A. in Politics from Princeton University, a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Antioch University in Philadelphia and is a graduate of the Policy Fellows Program at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Lisa Goochee
Vice Chair
Lisa brings a wide range of knowledge and skills as a former teacher, school leader, and non-profit project manager. After completing her student teaching in downtown Philadelphia, Lisa took her first teaching position in rural Alaska and spent subsequent years teaching and travelling around the world. She holds a Bachelor's in Education from Pennsylvania State University, a Certificate in Educational Leadership from SUNY Buffalo, and a Masters in Learning, Design, and Technology from Stanford University.
Ron Aminzade
Ron is a retired emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota. He has been doing research in Tanzania since 1995 and has published a book and several articles on the impact of neo-liberal economics and democratic political reforms on citizenship, race relations, and nationalism in Tanzania. During his thirty-six years at the University of Minnesota, he trained many African Ph.D. students who are now professors in Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa.
Sabina Mugassa Bingman
Sabina is an experienced IT professional and author of a children book “Sanda: The Girl with the Magical Smile”. Born and raised in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, she moved to the US in 1999 and graduated from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul with a master’s degree in Management Information Technology. She enjoys writing, reading, and running. She also volunteers at her local church.
HT Fish
HT has spent the past 25 years leading teams that build and transform large, global businesses primarily at McKinsey & Company and Cargill, Inc. HT also serves on the Board of the Minnesota Children’s Museum (MCM), He earned a BA in Chemistry from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Stanford University. He and his wife, Kathryn, live in St Paul, MN.
Alison Ford
Alison earned a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master of Public Administration with a focus on education policy and school finance, both at Cornell University. As the descendant of a long line of teachers and educators, she is committed to engaging key stakeholders, changemakers, and the community to advance educational equity for all. In her spare time, Ms. Ford enjoys spending time with her two children, reading, biking, gardening, and traveling.
Annie Kneedler
Annie has more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of business and social impact. Her career at Cargill has spanned multiple businesses and functions including corporate strategy, sales, supply chain, operations and corporate responsibility. Annie has worked at both the corporate level and within Cargill’s Animal Nutrition and Health business where she served as the U.S. Business Operations and Supply Chain Director. Prior to joining Cargill, Annie worked to connect farmers to markets across various supply chains in Africa including coffee in Rwanda and horticulture in Ghana. She is also a proud second-generation Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Guinea.
Scott Moore
Scott is a senior executive with experience at companies ranging from startups and midsize companies like Fallon and Augeo to Fortune 100 companies such as Best Buy and Wynn Resorts. He has a life long commitment to education reform beginning with his service as a Teach For America Corps Member, a founding Board Member of KIPP/MN, and as Board Member of the Best Buy Children's Foundation. He lives in St. Paul with his wife and their St. Bernard, Albus, and has two children in college. Scott serves on the Tenda Teachers Committee.
Chris Ritter
Chris is a senior executive with 30 years of experience advising leaders as they transform their organizations across commercial, government, and non-profit sectors. He has an undergraduate degree in African Studies and an MBA in strategy and organizational change. Chris began his career with Teach For America as a high school special educator in Arkansas where he developed a life-long passion to provide children access to a quality education. Chris lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife, three children, and two bunnies Nola and Bama.
Diane Ruonavaara
Diane was the Program Manager for the Michigan State University (MSU) Tanzania Partnership Program (TPP) for 10 years. Her work in Tanzania builds on many years of experience in international community development, participatory research, and evaluation. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Resource Development at MSU.
Diane is an avid organic gardener and loves wilderness canoeing in the Boundary Waters and Quetico. She has three children, 10 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.
Board Of Advisors (Tanzania)
Volunteers
Karen Stupic
Bio coming soon!
Linda Webster
Linda is an education consultant specialising in primary education, language and literacy. She is a key contributer to the development and management of the Tenda Teachers Professional Development Training Program curriculum and e-modules. She has worked as a teacher and consultant for organizations of all sizes in her home country of the United Kingdom and internationally in countries including Tanzania, Kazakhstan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Neria Atieno
Neria served on the front lines of Project Zawadi’s sponsorship program for more than five years. She currently volunteers helping with data entry and communication between schools, teachers, and PZ staff.