Argentina
Program Director
Marcela Mennucci is licensed in Social Communication, with a focus on Institutional and Community Planning. She has experience working with a variety of NGOs and organizations in the public and private sectors. In 2002, as a Communication Planning intern in Vida Estudiantil (a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ, a non-profit university organization based in the United States), she organized and lead internal meetings, as well as institutional events within the community. Marcela has also earned a great deal of experience in child development, not only studying Kindergarten Education, but also working as a volunteer in the children's “Hospital Zonal Especializado Dr. Noel H. Sbarra.” She has always been committed to confronting the reality of social conditions. She has carried out volunteer work in social projects with children, as well as marginalized and vulnerable individuals. Finally, she has worked with a variety of community organizations local to La Plata, such as the Library for Blind persons and Fundación Leer, a foundation that helps children and adults to become literate.
Program Coordinators
Anne DeLessio-Parson, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston University receiving her BA and MA in Political Science. While in Boston, she tutored students at public and charter high schools, in addition to working with the GEAR-UP and Upward Bound summer programs. Anne developed an interest in International Development after spending a semester studying Spanish at Verítas University in San José, Costa Rica. After returning to Boston, she focused her studies on International Relations, Public Policy, and Latin American Politics. Following graduation, she had a wonderful experience as an FSD intern with a sewing cooperative in greater La Plata, Argentina. Anne has traveled throughout Latin American, including visits to Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brazil, and Peru. She is thrilled to be part of FSD and to support interns as they experience life in La Plata.
Fabian Almendros was born and raised in General Alvear city – a province of Buenos Aires - where he got an extensive experience in the social communication field working for over 13 and 4 years at the local radio and TV station respectively. In 1998 he moved up to La Plata where he started his studies as an English Translator. In 2001 he got involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, a non-profit university organization based in the United States. He was part of the leadership team and participated in different social activities/missions within the community. Fabián was also both an English and Spanish tutor for the past 5 years. However, realizing that there is a lot of work to do in his country regarding sustainable development and improving people’s well being, he decided to become a full-time member of FSD. Over time he has built incredible interpersonal relationships with foreigners, making him both confident interacting on a daily basis and passionate about taking care of FSD interns.
Bolivia
Program Director
Mauricio Ramirez Parra, a native Bolivian with extensive experience with the international community. Mauricio has been the Director of FSD in Bolivia since it was initiated in 2000. He is also involved with various projects in agriculture and the environment. He has been the coordinator for Farmer to Farmer, financed by USAID since 1996 in Cochabamba, developing projects to assist agricultural producers with technical assistance in the areas of beekeeping, livestock, and the production of fruits and vegetables. He is currently the President of Partners of the Americas in Bolivia, an organization that works in the areas of health, agriculture, art and culture, search and rescue, women’s issues, rehabilitation, and justice, with volunteers from North Carolina and Bolivia. He has experience with volunteers since 1995.
Program Coordinators
Becky Hollender has undergraduate degrees in conservation biology, zoology, and environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2005 she completed her Masters at the Institute for Social Studies, Den Haag, Netherlands in Development Studies. She has enjoyed living, working, and studying in numerous countries around the world including Canada, Costa Rica, Suriname, Madagascar, Togo, and Holland. She has been involved in various sustainable development related initiatives at multiple levels in the US and abroad. She has experience teaching/participating in experiential education programs similar to FSD, most recently in Costa Rica where she led groups of American students on service-learning trips to rural communities with International Student Volunteers. In her free time Becky loves wilderness backpacking, travel, running, dancing, playing the violin, and going to concerts.
Maria Antonieta Angulo is an Agronomics Engineer. She has worked in many organizations. Her activities includes: Rural development, native women groups advising, soil conservation, town development and computer packages training. With the Peace Corps and the Spanish Cooperation Offices she handled micro financial issues in Mizque and Aiquile, teaching women how to obtain micro-credits in order to have some income after the earthquake that took place there in 1998. She also atendedperi-urban nurseries (Pitufos – in Pacata neighborhood). At the Cochabamba governor’s office, she did some consulting, classifying productive chains with an exportation potential. Her hobbies are: playing volleyball, reading, listening to music.
India - Udaipur
Program Director
Siddhartha Sharma from Madhya Pradesh in central India, holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in both sociology and rural management. While working in the development sector, he offered solutions to various types of organizations primarily through training, documenting, project planning, and management. He believes challenges associated with development initiatives are enormous, and wants to facilitate learning through sharing of experiences. It is this belief that has persuaded his association with FSD where he wishes to create an enabling environment of mutual learning through meeting different people and organizations. He loves reading novels and traveling to different places especially rural areas where the spirit of development is in motion.
Program Coordinators
After completing a degree in Communication Studies at UCLA,
Lauren Galacia moved to Japan to teach English, study kanji and indulge in the local cuisine. Upon return to California, she began working in the nonprofit sector first as the development coordinator of a social services organization and later as a grant writing consultant and the program director of an NGO that delivers overseas medical care and training. Some of her favorite experiences have involved hands-on international volunteerism—building homes in Tajikistan with Habitat for Humanity and learning about self-sufficient living on organic farms in New Zealand. Lauren hopes her year in India is filled with new insight into international development, colorful people, beautiful temples and lots of yoga.
Neelu Choudary has done her master's degree in Economics from the Rajasthan University, Jaipur. She has been living in Udaipur since 1996 and she is quite familiar with the city and its people. Prior to joining the FSD team she was associated with several grass root NGOs of the Udaipur region as a free lancer. She has traveled a lot to the rural areas to learn directly from the people working to influence change in India. She loves to interact with people. The past nine years of progressively more responsible work experience in development sector have helped her develop ability and expertise as a resource person for anyone living in the area. She takes her time with FSD as an amazing as well as challenging opportunity for her.
India - Jodhpur
Program Director
Smita Sawant worked in the field of economic development and women for 10 years prior to joining FSD. She began her career working with Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), a development organization working with women collectives and rural communities in India. where she got first chance to work with volunteers from USA and UK. While working on different parts of India, Asia and Europe , Smita gained experience in international and community development, cross-cultural issues, and the art of facilitating. Managing different community development programs in the areas of water and sanitation, micro finance, disaster, health and education. Smita has received many awards for her achievements in working with sex workers projects in Mumbai, India. Smita holds a post-graduate degree in Sociology and pursuing post graduation in human resource management from Mumbai University, India. Smita loves to travel, meet new people, discover new cultures and indulge in adventure sports.
Program Coordinators
Lillian Langford graduated from Emory University with a BA in psychology and a focus in music, completing her last semester at the Universita' Luiss in Rome. She remained in Italy for the following 2 years, working, volunteering online as a journalist for a refugee organization, and traveling through Europe. With a developing interest in human rights, she returned to her native Florida and began working as a legal investigator for the Public Defender's office while organizing fundraising events for refugee schools in Africa. In the summer of 2006, she made her second 6-week trip to the Pacific isles of Samoa, Vanuatu, and New Zealand as an assistant to an Emory University-led psychology research trip. In September 2006 she departed for Kakamega, Kenya, where she completed a 2-month internship and worked as the Program Coordinator for the remainder of the year. After meandering overland for a couple months from Kenya to South Africa, she eventually landed in India, where she currently works as the Program Coordinator for FSD's new site in Jodhpur.
Shipra Biswas is of Bengali descent but was born and raised in Jodhpur, making her a very valuable team member for the exploration of the NGO sector in the area and the successful ongoing development of FSD's activities in the region. Having completed her Bachelor's degree from JNV University (Jodhpur) in Sociology, English Literature, and Economics in 2002, Shipra went on to obtain masters degrees in both Sociology (JNV University, Jodhpur) in 2004 and Rural Development (Indira Gandhi National Open University) in 2005. Shipra has been working in the grassroots NGO sector for seven years now, starting first with the FXB Rajasthan Society on HIV/AIDS (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supported project) for two years and then on a Save the Children-funded project with FSD host organization the School of Desert Sciences in Jodhpur. She speaks four languages fluently (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Marwari, a Rajasthani dialect) and enjoys interacting with new people.
Kenya - Kakamega
Program Director
Peter Khamusali Ingosi has a long and demonstrated commitment to community development, with over 10 years’ experience working with communities at the grassroots level, including public, private, and NGO sectors. Peter is a native to the Shikokho, Kakamega community and currently serves as the volunteer Organizational Development Advisor to the Shikokho Community Development Projects. He holds a B.S. in Animal Husbandry, a diploma in Sustainable Development, a Masters degree in Community Development, and benefits from years of fieldwork and hands-on development training utilizing a number of participatory development approaches. Due to his experience and familiarity with the community, Peter often serves as a volunteer consultant and supervisor for various community development projects implemented by outside agencies. Examples include the management of community income-generating initiatives and the establishment and supervision of community groups supporting widows and orphans. Peter is married with three sons and a daughter.
Program Coordinator
Angela "Angie" Muthee graduated from The University of North Texas with a BS in Emergency Administration and Planning. After graduation she worked for several years as a training coordinator in the private sector. In 2003, she joined the US. Peace Corps where she worked as a community development volunteer in northeastern Bulgaria. Her work as a community development volunteer involved various projects linked primarily with social service issues. These projects were initiated by local grass root NGOs in the community and involved issues including domestic and child violence, youth, pensioner and unemployment programs, as well as programs for the physically and mentally challenged members of the community. After completing her Peace Corps service, she returned to Vermont to work on her Masters in Sustainable Development.
Kenya-Mombasa
Program Director
George Agarn is our Program Director in Mombasa. After attaining a diploma in community development and project management, George has worked with numerous community-based organizations and NGOs for over 12 years to facilitate development solutions and social empowerment. His efforts has made a substantial impact in Mombasa on poverty related issues brought about by social injustices among other causes. As a community trainer and counselor, George mobilized people living with HIV to become involved in community-based prevention, care, and support. These initiatives serve to reduce stigma levels and empower vulnerable groups to engage in micro-enterprise for secure livelihoods. George also volunteers and supervises various community development projects implemented by the Kenya Red Cross Society and Pathfinder International. These projects include HIV & AIDS management, women’s empowerment, and micro-enterprise development – especially savings mobilization and income generating activities. George is a member of Behavior Change Communication team in Mombasa district where he works closely with youth. He is a strong advocate to human rights and a member of resource tracing team MOHAANET (Mombasa HIV/AIDS Advocacy Network). George is married with two children, a son and a daughter. He also fosters two orphaned children.
Operations Manager
Denis Dennehy is our Operations Manager in Mombasa. Originally from Ireland, Denis and has been working in Kenya since 2004 to develop community services at a drug addiction treatment center. Duties included the setting up a computer lab to promote visual learning and equipping a library with books on counseling and addiction. In addition, he created an organization named Sponsor an African Scholar (SAAS) which now employs 3 local full time employees. The key activities of SAAS are sponsoring local students for post primary education, delivering drugs awareness seminars, and enhancing the capacity of other grassroots organizations through professional training. He holds a BSc. Business Information Systems followed by a Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Career Guidance and Counseling.
Program Coordinator
Jerusa Bosire is FSD's Program Coordinator in Mombasa. Jerusa is driven by the desire to apply skills and competence acquired through college training and previous volunteering experiences to help improve the lives of people in her community and contribute to FSD’s mission of finding effective solutions to development issues. Jerusa has a BA degree in Sociology and plans to pursue her Masters studies in Gender and Development with an emphasis on the impact of HIV/AIDS on women’s development. Upon graduating in 2004, Jerusa worked with the Red Society as a volunteer in the Action Team for four months then joined Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya (WOFAK) as a volunteer counselor and social worker. WOFAK supports and empowers women and children affected or living with HIV/AIDS. She was responsible for monitoring the progress of members in the income generating activities that the organisation had assisted them initiate, counseling the organisation’s members, Orphans and Vulnerable Children and helping address stigma and discrimination of HIV Positive persons through community sensitizations. For a period of one year she also worked as a part-time lecturer in a local college where she taught Community Development to evening class students.
Nicaragua
Program Director
Maria de Jesus Zepeda, licensed social worker and psychologist, has been the Program Director in Nicaragua since 1998. She is also responsible for the Department of Social Work in the Hospital Ciudad Sandino. One of her functions is increasing attention to and preventioni of domestic violence. She develops projects in the areas of public health and community health, holding workshops in the community of Ciudad Sandino, for people such as health educators, midwives, and volunteers that work with projects to prevent diarrhea and malaria. With FSD she is developing projects involving the training in the prevention and attention to domestic violence to health workers in Ciudad Sandino. With the help of FSD volunteers, she is working to help organizations improve the quality of life in Nicaragua.
Program Coordinator
Mariana Giusti-Rodríguez, originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, recently graduated from Bard College in New York where she majored in Political Science and Latin American and Iberian Studies. During the summer of 2006, she participated with FSD in its Peru program, interning with Asociación SER. There, she assisted in the production of Puno Hoy: del Titicaca al Bahuaja Sonene, a diagnostic compilation of articles on development issues in present-day Puno written by local experts. This experience gained her some great insight on local culture and politics and allowed her to understand the complexity of development issues. After her internship, she was able to travel throughout Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, becoming familiarized with the great diversity of the region and increasing further her curiosity to explore beyond the Andes and into Central America. Mariana is passionate about researching Latin American contemporary politics and, more specifically, indigenous movements and identity throughout the region. It is this interest what motivated her to join the FSD international team and take part of this unique and exciting experience.
Uganda - Jinja
Program Director
Margaret Nassozi Amanyire is a development worker with more than a decade’s experience working with communities to cause social development. She began her career as a Government Civil Servant with Ministry of Gender and Community Development in Uganda, where she worked with Culture, Women and Youth. She later worked as District Community Development Officer in Western Uganda. She has since been working as Coordinator for a Civil Society network organizations, and has done consultancy work with European Union and CARE International. She has facilitated the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of both strategic and action plans for Civil Society Organizations. Margaret is a holder of a Bachelor of Development Studies, the Commonwealth Diploma in Youth and Development and a Diploma in Music Dance and Drama. She is married to Dr. Gideon Amanyire and have two sons aged 17 and 15 with several adopted children.
Program Coordinator
Joel Kisubi is a graduate of social sciences with a major in social administration from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. He recently completed his postgraduate diploma in development management from the Open University in Milton Keynes, the United Kingdom (UK). Joel hopes to complete the requirements of the full distance Masters in Development Management from the Open University in due course. Over the past eight years, Joel has been very involved in community development work, working with both Plan International and GOAL Ireland. He has also worked at the local grassroots level directly with children, families and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the provision of both direct and technical support in the areas of HIV/AIDS, agriculture, natural resource management and health. Joel loves watching movies, reading and traveling. He always creates an excuse to watch a good movie on weekends or takes some free time to read a novel. He tries to travel to a new place every year for adventure and fun. He also loves children very much – which is why he has adopted four children.
Uganda - Masaka
Program Director
Martin Radooli holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies from the Uganda Martyrs University and Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology from Makerere University in Uganda. He has worked for numerous NGOs, including Action Aid International – Uganda, the Uganda Human Rights Commission and the Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA). He has worked mainly on education reform issues, civic education and non-formal education in Uganda. He posses experience in project design, management, coordination and implementation. He has also had experience in advocacy work. Martin loves gospel and world music and during his free time he likes to play the guitar. He is an ardent follower of football and is a fan of Arsenal football club in England, the national Brazilian football team, and the Harambee Stars of Kenya. Martin is married with two children - a son and a daughter.
Program Coordinators
Originally from Boston,
Ned Morgan spent four years in Washington, D.C. attending the George Washington University. He received his BA in International Affairs, focusing specifically on Global Public Health and International Development. His interest in Africa began when he studied abroad in Senegal during his junior year, absorbing the language, culture and music. Before coming to first Kenya and now Uganda with FSD, he conducted research on cataract blindness in India for the Center for Global Development as well as working on a project to target neglected tropical diseases in Africa. An avid traveler, he is always looking for someone to join him on his next journey.
Judith Tindyebwa is a qualified social worker with experience in community development work focusing on HIV/AIDS and youth activities. She holds a first class degree in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University. She has worked with several youth groups both in central and western parts of Uganda assisting them to improve their skills and empowering them to make the right choices regarding their health. While working with Uganda Youth Development Link, Nsambya Hospital and Africare Uganda, she was at the forefront of helping to reduce the prevalence of HIV among youth and her dream is to live to see an HIV free generation. She has trained many peer educators who are spearheading behavior change among the youth for HIV prevention in Ntungamo district. Judith appreciates and believes in the spirit of volunteerism for social development. While working with Africare in Western Uganda, she trained and worked with a team of 45 HIV community volunteers and over 80 teachers who are playing a tremendous role in transforming the lives of children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. In her free time, Judith loves to read, watch movies and travel with friends.
