Argentina

Program Director

María Alegre is FSD’s Program Director in Argentina. Born and raised in La Plata, she graduated in International Studies from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. In 2008, she was awarded a Chevening scholarship and moved to London, where she obtained a diploma in Democracy and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and interned with a parliamentary and public affairs consultancy in Westminster.

María has project management experience in the nonprofit and public sectors in areas such as Development Management, Youth and Human Trafficking. Prior to joining FSD, she was the senior advisor for the Ministry of Social Development of the City of Buenos Aires, assistant director for the Development Agency of the Province of Buenos Aires, policy analyst at the Center for the Implementation of Public Policies Promoting Equity and Growth, and academic coordinator at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella.

María has traveled throughout Latin America, Europe and Africa. In her free time, she plays soccer with friends and attends concerts and plays. She is inspired and motivated by social change and sustainable development, and looks forward to contributing to FSD’s mission and objectives.

Program Coordinator

Ashley Nee graduated with high honors from SUNY Purchase earning BAs in Art History and Cinema Studies. Leaving New York, she traveled extensively in South America, reinforcing a long standing love of Latin America. During her travels she learned about FSD and, upon returning to her hometown of San Francisco, began working as the Alumni Relations & Events Coordinator for FSD. Ashley's interest in grassroots conservation efforts informed both her desire to be an IPC in Argentina as well as her continued interest in documentary film. When she's not exploring the city, Ashley enjoys SCUBA, yoga, running, swimming, and exploring .

Bolivia

Program Director

Mauricio Ramirez Parra has served as the Director of FSD's Bolivia program since it was initiated in 2000. A native Bolivian, Mauricio has extensive experience with the international community. He has been involved with various agricultural and environmental projects and has served as the coordinator for Farmer to Farmer, financed by USAID since 1996, in Cochabamba. In this capacity he supported projects that provided 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 incorporates volunteers from North Carolina and Bolivia. Together, volunteers address the areas of health, agriculture, art and culture, search and rescue, women’s issues, rehabilitation, and justice. Mauricio has experience working with volunteers since 1995.

Program Coordinator

Tricia Sweeney is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, and got her first taste of travel during high school, spending her summers in the Dominican Republic with a small group of volunteers dedicated to building homes. She attended UC San Diego and received a B.A. in International Studies and Literature, and spent a year living and studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Back at UCSD, she worked as a research assistant for the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, traveling to Jalisco, Mexico to research the connection between migration and health. She’s continued to return to the Dominican Republic, and has spent the last few months helping to grow Liga Masiva, a direct trade social enterprise, launching with organic coffee grown in the Dominican Republic. Tricia has discovered a belief in the power of business to create social change, and a passion for connection through community. Her experiences abroad have been some of the most profound in her life, and she can’t wait to share this experience as program coordinator in Cochabamba.

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 that works with women collectives and rural communities in India. Through SSP, Smita was afforded her first opportunity to work with volunteers from the US and UK. While working in different parts of India, Asia, and Europe, Smita gained experience in international and community development, cross-cultural issues, and the art of facilitating. She has also managed different community development programs in the areas of water and sanitation, microfinance, disaster, health, and education. Smita has received many awards for her achievements working on sex workers projects in Mumbai, India. She holds a post-graduate degree in Sociology and is pursuing a post graduate degree in Human Resource Management from Mumbai University. Smita loves to travel, meet new people, discover new cultures, and indulge in adventure sports.

Program Coordinators

Madhu Vaishnav, Born and raised in the Old City of Jodhpur, Madhu joined the site team in the Blue City after years of collaboration with FSD, both as a host mother and a Hindi teacher. Madhu always wanted to start a career as a social worker and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to work full time with FSD as it allows her to follow a dream and to meet new and interesting people along the way. After getting her M.A. in Hindi and History at Jodhpur University, Madhu taught primary school children at the Sri Aurobindo Centre of New Education and spent as much time as she could with her husband and two sons—Gyan (8) and Arnab(5). Madhu-ji, as we call her, has also worked as a translator, even providing subtitles for a Dutch film maker’s documentary about Dalit children in Rajasthan, and a Hindi teacher for foreigners living in Jodhpur. Her understanding of Rajasthani culture and her familiarity with Jodhpur help her solidify FSD’s place in the community, and her ability to teach and translate both Hindi and Marwari—the local dialect spoken in this part of Rajasthan—make her an wonderful addition to FSD’s family in the Blue City.

Sukie Zietz graduated with honors from Mount Holyoke College in 2009 with a BA in Anthropology and a certificate in Culture, Health and Science. She is passionate about multi-disciplinary, innovative, social justice-based approaches to issues in international health and development. After graduating, Sukie spent nine months in Eastern Uganda, six as a FSD intern in Jinja where she worked to develop an income-generating project to help sustain the livelihoods to a group of rural farmers living with HIV/AIDS. Her experience in East Africa exposed her to the complex set of opportunities and challenges that she hopes to commit her life and career to addressing. Sukie enjoys traveling, learning about different cultures, reading and seeking out new music. She is excited to take on the role of Program Coordinator in Jodhpur and immerse herself in the local culture.

India - Udaipur

Program Director

Roma Bhardwaj is the Program Director of FSD’s Udaipur program. Before joining FSD, Roma was Urban Block Coordinator with the renowned NGO Seva Mandir where she focused on women and children's education, health, and other issues. She has a Masters degree in Human Resource Management from Udaipur University (Mohan Lal Sukhadia University). Roma is originally from Udaipur and has great contacts throughout the city, including within the Allied System (government and NGOs alike). She has one seven year old son, and she enjoys social work, working with interns, talking to people, building relationships, and helping the local community.

Program Coordinators

Ashutosh Rawat, originally from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, has worked in the field of Sales and Marketing for eleven years. Before joining FSD, Ashutosh worked as a Branch Manager with India Infoline Limited, a brokerage firm in Guna, Madhya Pradesh. His interest in development flourished through his wife, who has been involved in this field for eight years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree and is currently pursuing his MBA. He is very excited to join the FSD team and utilize the relationship-building and mediation skills he has developed in his previous jobs. Ashutosh is looking forward to meeting people from different backgrounds, sharing his experiences with them, and making them feel at home in his country.

Amanda Shuck graduated from Centre College with a Bachelor’s in International Studies and Government in May, 2009. Following commencement, she moved to San Francisco where she served as a Communications Intern for FSD. During this time, she gained insight into the fundamentals of the organization, including the structure of its programs, development model, and the purpose of sustainable initiatives and a local, community-driven approach. Her time with FSD dramatically changed her perceptions of international development, and she is ecstatic at the opportunity to be part of the FSD staff again and put her knowledge and passion into practice in Udaipur. Amazed by India’s vivacity and welcoming spirit she is also happy to return to the State of Rajasthan, where she had the pleasure of visiting a couple years ago.

Kenya - Kakamega

Program Director

Peter Khamusali Ingosi has a long and demonstrated commitment to community development. Born and raised in the Shikokho district of Kakamega, Kenya, Peter has more than ten years of experience working with communities at the grassroots level, including public, private, and NGO sectors. He holds a B.S. in Animal Husbandry, a diploma in Sustainable Development, a Masters degree in Community Development. Peter currently serves as a key Advisor to Shikokho Community Development Initiatives, ensuring the ideas and needs of the community are incorporated into the design of each project. Peter has also consulted on numerous community development projects financed by both local and international government agencies as well as NGOs, with projects ranging in focus from microfinance and small business development to human rights, health, education, and quality of life for widows and orphans. Peter is married with three sons and a daughter.

Kenya - Mombasa

Program Director

George Agarn is FSD’s Program Director in Mombasa. After attaining his diploma in Community Development and Project Management, George has worked over 12 years with numerous community-based organizations and NGOs to facilitate development solutions and social empowerment. His efforts have 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 microenterprise 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 microenterprise 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 for 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.

Program Coordinators

Jerusa M. K. Bosire is the Program Coordinator for the Mombasa Program. She is driven by the desire to apply skills and competence acquired through college training and previous volunteering experiences to improve the lives of people while positively contributing to the organization’s mission of finding effective solutions to development issues. She is a Sociology graduate who completed her undergraduate studies in December 2004. Upon graduation, she worked with the Kenya Red Cross Society as a volunteer in the Action Team for four months, then joined WOFAK (Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya) as a volunteer counselor and social worker. She has also worked as a part-time lecturer in a local college where she taught an evening Community Development class to diploma students.

Nicaragua - Ciudad Sandino

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 working to prevent 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 training others on 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 Coordinators

Jenna Harvey is FSD’s International Program Coordinator Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua. After a 2004 trip to visit the Guaymi Indians of Costa Rica brought her face to face with a community completely different than her own, Jenna developed a passion for learning about different cultures, languages and regions of the world. This interest sparked a desire to pursue a degree in Global and Development Studies in college. In the spring of 2010, after graduating from the University of California at Santa Cruz with honors, Jenna was anxious to gain real world experience in the field of development. She set off to Tola, Nicaragua to serve as an FSD intern with the Nicaraguan NGO, La Casa de La Mujer. During her time as an intern Jenna wrote and received a grant, and collaborated with a group of local women to start a small business, a baking cooperative. She is fascinated with continuing to learn about, and contribute to, the process of achieving sustainable community-based development in an interdisciplinary context. She has a particular interest in Central America, women’s empowerment, and gender dynamics within the informal economy. In her spare time she enjoys reading, riding her bike, going to the beach and dancing, although she has yet to learn to dance as the Nicaraguans do!

Nicaragua - Tola

Program Director

Ramiro Adoni Rocha Rodríguez , is the Program Director of FSD's Tola site. He has been involved with NGOs focused on sustainable community development for the last eleven years and loves his work. Some of these organizations include CEPS, Fundación Nueva Generación, ACSUR, Las Segovias, Médicos del Mundo (Spain), and Save the Children (USA). His educational background includes studies in social work, citizen participation, the environment, community organization, conflict resolution, and education. He has been involved with projects including early childhood education, community health, reproductive health, women's labor rights, citizen participation, youth groups, and other issues. Through FSD, Ramiro hopes to continue contributing to improving the quality of life in local Nicaraguan communities.

Program Coordinator

Whitney Caruso Born and raised in the small northern town of Sebastopol, California, Whitney’s traveling bug bit her during a high school trip to Costa Rica in 2005. Since then, she has traveled throughout Europe, and returned to Central America as an FSD Intern in 2010. Through her FSD internship she worked with The Rainbow Network giving a series of community workshops on micro-finance as well as completing a micro-enterprise project by creating a bakery in conjunction with the community of Trinidad Norte. With a degree in Global and International Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Whitney now has her heart set on a career in international sustainable development, and is very excited to join the FSD Team as program coordinator.

Uganda - Jinja

Program Director

Margaret Nassozi Amanyire is a development worker with more than a decade’s experience working with communities on social development. She began her career as a Government Civil Servant with the 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 organization and has done consultancy work with the 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 the 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 has two sons aged 17 and 15 as well as several adopted children.

Program Coordinators

Jonan Nandolo majored in Public Administration and Management at Nkumba University Uganda and holds a Bachelor’s in Social Sciences. Before becoming a Program Coordinator, Jonan worked with Apas consultancy firm as a Research Assistant in health insurance policies, youth, and education before joining Plan International as a volunteer in human resource management. Through Plan International, Jonan developed a love for children by meeting kids from different backgrounds within the local communities. Jonan also worked with VEDCO (Volunteer Effort for Development Concerns) as a Research Assistant in sustainable agriculture farming and produce. He loves entrepreneurship, meeting people from different lifestyles, listening to music, traveling, cooking, and watching movies.

Kirsten Zook graduated in 2009 from Oberlin College where she studied Anthropology and Comparative American Studies. She first traveled to east Africa in 2006 when she spent six months working in Uganda and Tanzania. Over the last four years she has returned numerous times to work with a health clinic, teach primary school, conduct research with at-risk youth and implement a project on clean drinking water. She is passionate about women's reproductive health, empowering youth, and community engagement. She enjoys traveling, learning new languages, reading and writing, and making and sharing art and music. She is excited to be joining the FSD team as Program Coordinator in Jinja.

Uganda - Masaka

Program Director

Anita Sempa holds a Masters of Science Degree in Extension for Natural Resource Based Livelihoods from Reading University in UK and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. She is a linguist, speaking majority of the languages spoken in Uganda while also speaking and writing English, French Kiswahili, and Russian. Anita has experience in Rural and International Development since 1992 working with grassroots communities. She also has extensive experience in communication and management skills for Rural Development, with strong mobilization skills. Over the course of her career, she has been involved in various media activities geared towards reaching rural communities through appropriate media. Anita has engaged in various projects dealing with environmental conservation, water and sanitation improvement, and agro-business, and was active in HIV/AIDS education regarding prevention and stigma reduction. She enjoys working with people from varied cultural backgrounds, and she has a keen interest in governance policy development, women emancipation and equity. Anita was a Board Member of several organizations, including the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) and Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association (UWEAL), and she is a Life Member of the Uganda Red Cross Society. Additionally, she was the Founder of the Rural Integrated Development Organization (RIDO). Anita’s hobbies include dancing, cooking and gardening.

Program Coordinators

Cynthia Adi, from Houston, Texas, graduated with honors from Emory University with a degree in International Studies and a concentration in African Studies. As the child of Nigerian immigrants, she has always had an interest in the cultures and languages of the world. When Cynthia was seven years-old, she traveled to Nigeria and witnessed first-hand the poverty that permeates much of the developing world. This experience is where she developed her initial passion for sustainable development. While at Emory, Cynthia regularly volunteered with the International Rescue Committee as a family mentor to refugee families from Burma, Bhutan, Congo and Iraq. In the summer of 2008, Cynthia was an FSD intern in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, she worked with a women’s organization named AMIFANIC and helped develop an income-generating project for youth sex workers in the community. The following year, Cynthia studied abroad in Uganda where she worked with a women’s organization named CEWIGO. As an intern with CEWIGO, she conducted field-research into the impact of female parliamentarians on women’s human rights in Uganda. Cynthia’s interests include reading, writing, playing basketball and learning new languages. She is super excited about returning to Uganda as a Program Coordinator with FSD and cannot wait to once again eat the staple food of Uganda – Matooke!