Who We Are
Staff
Africa Bridge has one field office located in Tukuyu, Tanzania and a headquarters office in West Linn, Oregon. Three full-time employees work in the Tukuyu field office:
Martha Mmbando is a Senior Project Manager. She has been with AB since January 2005, and has seen the organization grow from a one village operation in Idweli, Isongole Ward, to now encompassing seven other Isongole Ward villages and eight Masoko Ward villages. Martha works closely with all the animal and agriculture coop groups to ensure that members and their children are truly benefiting from the project activities. Martha’s strengths lie in her diplomacy, organization, work ethic, and commitment to AB’s mission.
Medard Mwebesa joined AB in March 2008 as the Project Coordinator for our Most Vulnerable Children Committees (MVCC) Project. Medard is often in the field training, supporting, and encouraging the MVCC members in their efforts to provide essential services for Isongole and Masoko Ward MVCs. We thank Medard for sharing his technical skills and for his dedication to strengthening community MVCCs to care for their own vulnerable children.
Willick Siingwa joined the AB team in June 2008 as our book keeper. In addition to his accounting skills, Willick has talents as a contractor, skillfully assisting AB with pricing, purchasing, and delivering materials for our Masoko Ward Clinic and multiple school classroom construction projects. Willick is a true team player, helping out on all AB projects, ranging from the logistics of ordering and following up on 1025 pairs of shoes, 27,500 exercise books, and 2200 meters of uniform materials for our scholarship project, to tracking, tagging, loading, and delivering cows for our co-op groups.
The West Linn, OR office is located on the campus of Marylhurst University. It is staffed by two part-time employees and many volunteers.
Alexia Halen joined the AB team first as a volunteer in February 2008 and joined staff in January 2009. She has lived in Oregon for over 20 years and her experience ranges from being a social worker to political campaign manager. As Development Coordinator, Alexia’s role at AB is to get the word out about the work of our amazing Tanzanian team through event planning, volunteer coordination, and public relations.
Mary Frances Baldes is the most recent addition to the AB team. She is responsible for all facets of donor management and communications including the latest appeal, newsletter, or grant. In addition, Mary Frances participates on the Marketing Committee, Website Committee, and Events Committee. When she’s not at AB, Mary Frances loves to enjoy the great outdoors with her husband and three sons.
