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 British 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 non-profit and public sectors, and her areas of specific knowledge include Development Management, Youth, and Human Trafficking. Prior to joining FSD, she was 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 she looks forward to contributing to FSD’s mission and objectives.

Program Coordinators

Fabián Almendros is originally from General Alvear, a small town in the province of Buenos Aires, where he gained extensive experience in the field of social communication working for local media. In 1998, Fabian moved to La Plata and began his studies in English translation. He volunteered for six years with Campus Crusade for Christ, a non-profit organization based in the United States, and this experience sparked Fabian’s interest in development. He was part of the leadership team of the organization and participated in a variety of social activities and mission projects in several communities in northern Argentina. Fabian also has experience in the fields of education and translation, serving as an English/Spanish teacher in recent years. Understanding that there was so much to do in the development of his community, Fabian decided to join FSD’s team. His time in the field has been rewarding and challenging. He loves supporting FSD interns and enjoys the learning experience that this opportunity provides.

Katie Muller received a Bachelor’s in Organizational Communication from Central Michigan University in 2007. She first traveled to Latin America during her undergraduate career as part of a study abroad program at the Universidad Austral de Chile. Following graduation, Katie worked as an FSD intern in a health clinic in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua. Before starting as the International Program Coordinator with FSD, Katie had also traveled and conducted research in other Latin American countries including Peru, Argentina and Cuba. She has worked with many nonprofit organizations domestically and abroad, including the international economic development organization ACDI/VOCA, based in Washington, DC. Most recently, Katie graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Master’s in International Development and a major in Nongovernmental Organizations and Civil Society. She also received a graduate certificate in Latin American Social and Public Policy. Katie is recently married and enjoys traveling, cooking, reading and hiking. She is excited to collaborate with the grassroots organizations in La Plata, as well as the enthusiastic international volunteers who will help the organizations advance their missions.

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 Coordinators

Daniel Carvallo, born and raised in Cochabamba, spent one year in Belgium as an exchange student, an experience that strengthened his approach to and understanding of the social and economic issues in Bolivia. In Belgium he volunteered at a center for the elderly and learned to speak French. He studied Economy with a focus on Development at La Universidad Mayor de San Simon, and is currently getting his postgraduate degree in Project Development and Evaluation with an emphasis on Social Development. In 2008 he became involved with a Tourism Cooperative called “Destino Bolivia,” where he remains part of the project team. At “Destino Bolivia,” he helps develop new ideas for tourism in Bolivia like Ecotourism and Community-Cultural Tourism. In 2008 he also volunteered at the Archdiocesan Foundation for the Disabled, “Padre Ignacio Zalles.” Daniel loves to spend his free time traveling, reading books, going to concerts and the theater, playing fulbito and racketball, and spending time with his friends and family. He feels that his new experience with FSD will help him grow and understand new ideas about development, and he is eager to contribute to the organization.

Julianne Chandler graduated with honors from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University in 2007 with a BA in Anthropology and Latin American Studies. Her interest in multi-cultural exchange, and Latin America in particular, sparked as a young girl when she would accompany her mother in her efforts as a midwife and public health advocate for low-income communities in Central America. Since that time, Julianne has lived, worked, and studied in several parts of Latin America, including Chile, Mexico, and Bolivia, where she worked as an intern with FSD in the fall of 2007. In September Julianne completed an MA in Poverty and Development at the Institute of Development Studies in the United Kingdom. For her Masters Dissertation, she received a grant to carry out field work on the livelihood options and aspirations of women in fishing communities in the south of Sri Lanka, a country emerging from the trauma of a protracted civil war. Raised in the Colorado mountains, Julianne is passionate about hiking, spending time with her three nephews, travel, and playing capoeira, a Brazilian dance/martial art.

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.

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.

Cheryl Finell’s interest in development work and wanderlust sparked in 2002, when she left the U.S. for the first time to volunteer as an English teacher in China. Since then she has had the good fortune to travel and work in a number of different countries and develop her understanding of cultures all around the world. In 2004 she earned her Bachelor’s from Clark University, where she majored in Sociology with a concentration in Peace Studies. She has worked in a variety of non-profits serving people of diverse backgrounds, such as survivors of domestic violence, young mothers, people with disabilities, and formerly incarcerated individuals. She came to Udaipur, India for the first time in 2008 as an FSD intern. She had an incredible time researching women’s and children’s health and subsequently creating a two day training workshop to address some of the prevailing issues. She is excited to join the FSD Udaipur team again as the International Program Coordinator, practice speaking Hindi, learn more about the culture, and help interns have the amazing experience she did.

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 Coordinators

Isabel Juanita Mapesa,one of 8 children, was born in Mumias district, in the western province in Kenya. She received a BA in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Nairobi. Upon graduation, Isabel worked as a Field Assistant for Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA-K), an American non-profit research organization based in Busia town, Kenya. Her experience with IPA-K allowed her to study and understand the mentalities of different people and households and their effect on development of the area. She also worked as a Community Mobilizer with Kenya Water for Health Organization (KWAHO), an NGO focusing on water and sanitation issues including providing the local people access to safe water and sanitation facilities. Isabel has observed various challenges and areas of improvement in Kenya such as water and sanitation, health care, women’s empowerment, child education, education for girls, teenage pregnancy and early marriage. These social issues inspired her to pursue a career in sociology and community development aimed at improving the lives and livelihood of the community.

Kirsten McConnell graduated in 2008 from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada with a B.A. in Global Development Studies. She first came to Kenya in the summer of 2007. At that time she was an FSD intern with FIDA (Woman Lawyers Federation of Kenya). At FIDA, her responsibilities were varied but her main project was starting a child therapy center for young girls who were victims of sexual violence. While in Kenya she also worked on an art therapy project directed at those affected by HIV /AIDS and was asked to give leadership training to a local youth group. Upon returning to Canada she served as a peer mentor for Queen’s counseling and disability services and treasurer for the Global Development Studies department student council.

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

Clarence Soza is FSD Nicaragua Ciudad Sandino’s local Program Coordinator. Clarence was born in Nicaragua and raised in the United States in California. He returned to Nicaragua at the age of 12 and finished his high school education in Ciudad Sandino. He then spent 3 years in college majoring in computer sciences, and also spent another year taking graphic design courses. Clarence started his professional experience with the Rainbow Network, a non-profit organization focused on rural community development. While at Rainbow Network, Clarence worked with community leaders in health, education, microfinance and housing programs, which gave him a greater understanding of rural development issues in Nicaragua. After gaining this experience, Clarence began work with FSD as the Local Program Coordinator and is excited to help support the sustainable initiatives of FSD’s many partner organizations and interns in Nicaragua.

Jimmy Waters is FSD’s International Program Coordinator Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua. Jimmy’s interest in sustainable development stems from his time as an FSD intern in Nicaragua during the summer of 2007, where, while interning with El Ministerio de La Familia, he implemented a youth development program and a soccer league in a local elementary school. He pursued his interest in sustainable development further by working as a community development intern for the Rural Family Development Association of Peru in 2009. Shortly thereafter in the summer of 2009, he decided to tackle development from the corporate sector, working in New Delhi, India, as a social business consultant for Mirabilis Advisory, a strategic economic development firm. Jimmy, a Morehead-Cain Scholar, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2010 with double majors in economics and statistics. He is very excited to have the opportunity to return to Nicaragua with FSD as a Program Coordinator.

Nicaragua - Tola

Program Coordinators

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.

Eliseo Garay , is a Program Coordinator of FSD's Tola site. A Managua native, he has been active in his community for as long as he can remember. When Eliseo was younger he danced for six years with a local dance group, which inspired him to co-found VARIDANCE, another dance group. He played with a community basketball team for three years and volunteered in several camp sites around Nicaragua. Since 1998, Eliseo has been working with various NGOs including Doctors without Borders, Movimiento Comunal, and Save the Children doing research on HIV/AIDS, women’s rights, human rights, teen pregnancy, drug use, public policy, and community development. Eliseo also worked at a textile company where he was the instructor of the weaving room. These experiences showed him the value of teamwork and sharing knowledge in an effective way and helped him understand development issues through a different light. Eliseo enjoys learning about new cultures and knowing many different people. He also loves learning new languages, which motivated him to study English and Portuguese. Working with FSD is a huge and welcomed challenge that will help him develop his skills in community development and English. Eliseo is 26 years old and has two young children and a wife named Karen.

Whitney Moret is a California native with a passion for global development, economic justice, and women's empowerment. After completing two years of early college at Simon's Rock College, Whitney finished her undergraduate studies in Sociology and Global Poverty and Practice at U.C. Berkeley. Her experience as an intern with FSD in Nicaragua during the summer of 2008 further inspired her to pursue a career dedicated to service and the fight against poverty. After college, Whitney went on to join the Americorps VISTA program as a full-time volunteer with Shakti Rising, a women's social change organization in San Diego, where she helped run a community education program, teach, recruit and train volunteers, and participate in strategic planning. Interested in social enterprise and community development, Whitney looks forward to working with community organizations and international interns to create a more just world.

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

Sarah Namutebi is a qualified social worker with experience working with various community- based organizations. She holds a second class degree in social sciences from Makerere University, Kampala where she majored in Social Administration. In addition to working with a bank in Masaka, her previous work includes volunteering with local youth groups, particular focusing on child development and the empowerment of youth with disibilities. Sarah is excited to join FSD's team, as she believes that the work of international volunteers can be a motivating force in community development. In her free time, she loves traveling with friends, reading novels, and praying.

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!