Malaika’s staff lies at the heart of everything we do. We employ a 100% local, Congolese team on the ground, supported by a small international team and an army of pro-bono volunteers around the world.
School Staff
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Achille Kabongo
English Teacher
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Adrille Kibombe Kisula
Nurse
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Alain Mbayo Kadiata
French Teacher
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Bavon Musabila Ngeleka
Year 6 Teacher, Primary
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Benjamin Yumba
Art Teacher
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Charlaine Mamba Faila
Assistant IT Teacher
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Donat Tshisuaka Mukendi
IT Teacher
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Eric Kabamba
Year 4 Teacher, Primary
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Etienne Muyumba
Year 3 Teacher, Primary
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Eugenie Mwape
Year 2 Teacher
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Jacques Kubadilwa
Science, Geography, and History Teacher
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Jean de Dieu Musenge
Math Teacher
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Joseph Lumbula Kazaku
Music Teacher
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Judith Kilonga N’tensya
Math Teacher
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Maguy Safi Makanda
Physical Education Teacher
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Moise Lumbala
Year 5 Teacher
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Natacha Mosakwa Bayindo
School Administrator
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Odette Tshilemb
Year 1 Teacher
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Rebecca Mbayo
Special Projects Advisor & Teacher
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Rigobert Kisontwe
Educational Consultant
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Sébastien Samudinda Ngwej
Science Teacher
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Therese Mabaka
Kindergarten Teacher
Achille Kabongo
Kabongo Achille is an English Teacher at the Malaika School. After teaching at the Community Center where he supplemented and strengthened the education of young Congolese boys and girls, he began teaching at the school in 2020. In his free time Achille enjoys football.
Adrille Kibombe Kisula
Kibombe Kisula Adrille, is the nurse at Malaika and has obtained her nursing diploma in 2015 at the ITM ONESS. Outside of work Adrille enjoys music.
Alain Mbayo Kadiata
Mbayo Kadiata Alain teaches French at the Malaika school. He is originally from Sampuse and completed his studies at the Superior Pedagogical Institute (ISP) in Lubumbashi, earning a degree in French and African languages. Outside of teaching, Alain loves to practice sports, especially football.
Bavon Musabila Ngeleka
Bavon Musabila Ngeleka teaches 6th primary at Malaika and also serves as vice director of education at both the Malaika School and the Malaika Community Center. This role allows him to work with Sylvain and Therese to oversee all aspects of education and student life at Malaika. With 21 years of teaching experience, his goal is to bring to Malaika his educational contributions and also help the girls receive primary health care.
Bavon has a degree in pedagogy and a degree in teaching, administration and nursing care (E.A.S.I.). His favorite sport is soccer.
Benjamin Yumba
Charlaine Mamba Faila
Charlaine Mamba Faila joined the Malaika team at the end of 2020 as an IT teacher. She brings a strong background in and passion for mathematics and science to the staff, including a bachelor’s degree in computer science / information systems engineering from the Protestant University of Lubumbashi. She is motivated to pass along the knowledge she has acquired throughout her academic career and also to learn and add more to her domain of knowledge. She wants to provide local Congolese girls with quality training in science and the desire to do more in the future, regardless of their background.
Donat Tshisuaka Mukendi
Tshiswaka Mukendi Donat, has a bachelor’s degree in computer network and telecommunications. He is an IT teacher at Malaika School and Community Center and has a true passion for technologies. Donat truly enjoys teaching the girls about new technologies as they are always eager and interested to learn.
Eric Kabamba
Kabamba Mutombo Eric is the Year Four Primary teacher at Malaika. He has a state degree in general education and has been with Malaika since 2014. For the moment, Eric lives in Lubumbashi, apart from teaching, he enjoys playing football and reading.
Etienne Muyumba
Muyumba Kahozi Etienne is the Year Three Primary teacher and has been with Malaika since 2013. He has a passion for reading and the French language and wants to share this with the girls at the school. Etienne wants to provide the students with the tools and confidence needed to communicate, speak up, and be heard no matter where there future takes them. Etienne loves to travel and discover the world.
Eugenie Mwape
Kitonge Mwape Eugenie is the Year Two Primary teacher and has worked with Malaika since 2018. Her ambition is to be able to help the girls realize their dreams through education and become the leaders of tomorrow. Eugenie enjoys football in her spare time.
Jacques Kubadilwa
Kubadilwa Jacques is the Science, Geography, and History Teacher. He received a degree in Applied Pedagogy with an emphasis on Geography and Environmental Management from ISP in Lubumbashi. Jacques has a passion for nature, loves to play volleyball and enjoys watching cartoons with his two children.
Jean de Dieu Musenge
Jean is the Math teacher at the Malaika school. Jean received his degree in Pedagogy for the Humanities at Bukwashi Institute in Mufunga Sampwe. Jean taught primary school for several years before continuing his studies at Superior Pedagogical Institute (ISP) in Lubumbashi where he received his diploma in Mathematics.
Joseph Lumbula Kazaku
Lumbala Kazaku Joseph is the Music Teacher at the Malaika School. As the son of a philosopher and a musician, he loved classical music from a young age. Joseph learned to play the soprano flute by age six and mastered the piano while in the choir at St. Pierre and Paul Church in Lubumbashi. While listening to recordings of Oscar Peterson and Miles Davis, he discovered a love for jazz music which led him to participate in a workshop with the Rohan Quartet. This training gave him the tools to perform a diverse range of musical styles and genres. He has also collaborated with several notable artists, such as Papa Wemba. Joseph shares his talents and love of music with the students at Malaika.
Judith Kilonga N’tensya
Kilonga N’tensya Judith comes from a large family and received a license in Applied Mathematics at university. She brings a strong background in mathematics to Malaika, where she teaches grades 7 and 8. She comes on board hoping to share her knowledge, acquired throughout her studies and life, and to instill in the students the value of a woman in society. Judith is happy to be a part of Malaika as we aim first at the education of our children.
Maguy Safi Makanda
Moise Lumbala
Lumbala Nguz Moise is the Year Five Primary teacher. Moise received his degree in Applied Demography and has a diverse background, previously working in the Congolese control office, at Trust Merchants Bank, and as a primary school teacher. He actively works against discrimination and believes working together to achieve your goals is vital. Moise enjoys working at the Malaika School to provide a quality education to the girls, and in his free time likes to laugh and have fun.
Natacha Mosakwa Bayindo
Mosakwa Bayindo Natacha is the Administrative Assistant at the school. She enjoys working at Malaika as it is a unique school in the DRC where she is able to share some of her knowledge with the students, developing the educated girls of the future. Natacha is married with three children and is very thankful to Malaika and all of our supporters helping to make change in Kalebuka
Odette Tshilemb
Tshilemb A Mwez Odette is the Year 1 Primary Teacher. She has has a strong background in teaching and her ambition is to provide the students at the Malaika School with the tools they need to reach their potential and instill them with the confidence to become leaders, as they are the ones who will lead the DRC tomorrow. Odette is a mother of seven children and she enjoys CAC sports.
Rebecca Mbayo
Rebecca, who has been with Malaika since 2013, has a degree in English and African Cultures from the Higher Educational Institute of Lubumbashi. Her love for education was inspired by her natural love for children, whom she wants to see happy and healthy, and by her parents. She loves working as the special projects advisor and English teacher at Malaika because it gives her the opportunity to share her knowledge and have a positive impact on the future and the well-being of the girls. Her difficult youth taught her a lot, and with help along the way from God and good coaches she decided she would give back to people in trouble. Along with teaching, Rebecca is interested in projects addressing social justice, violence against women and children, and women’s empowerment.
She has put her passions into action most recently by serving as a translator and advocate for Malaika’s students during their first webinar series with a global audience. She eloquently and thoroughly explained the problems facing her students in general but specifically during the time of lockdown to a hugely positive response. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys reading, walking and being in the company of children.
Rigobert Kisontwe
Sébastien Samudinda Ngwej
Samudinda Ngwej Sébastien, a teacher of biology, physics, chemistry, botany and zoology, comes to Malaika with 11 years of teaching experience. He sees his work at Malaika school as a challenge for the future, in which his hard work and honesty will help train his students in science to give them useful skills for the world of the future. Sébastien believes this will add to an already existing climate of loyalty and hard work.
Therese Mabaka
Madame Thérèse Mabaka Anjelani is a kindergarten teacher at Malaika and has been for the past 12 years. With a strong passion to see the students of Malaika reach their full potential, she supports the day-to-day running of the school as vice director of education and serves as school counselor, where she advises the girls in matters concerning their sexual health, hygiene and education.
Her role also extends to the wider community as she supervises community center mothers and provides them with health education and general life skills including hygiene, housekeeping, laundry and family planning. She imparts a great deal of knowledge, helping them to take care of themselves and their families through skills such as soap making, cutting and sewing, food preparation, etc.
Thérèse has a strong vision to see the girls of Malaika’s school become leaders in their communities. She believes that the community will be transformed through the girls’ education and looks forward to seeing the first class of students at Malaika, who enrolled 12 years ago, receive their state diplomas next year and progress on to further education. Thérèse has a degree in French and African languages and is a wife and mother, with several grandchildren too!
Community Center Staff
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Chancelle Ngoy
Volunteer Coach
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Deborah Baruani
Volunteer Coach
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Divina Kalenga
Teacher and Coach
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Genevieve Kindele Kalenga
Teacher
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Gerard Umba wa Umba
Coach
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Ildephonse Kangela
Teacher
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Israel Kazembe
Volunteer Coach
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Joëlle Kalobe Ngolwa
Assistant Teacher
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Penuel Kisimba
Volunteer Coach
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Rosette Baruani
Volunteer Coach
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Smith Kamwabu Kayemb
Teacher
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Russel Kisimba
Volunteer Coach
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Strong Mpiana
Coach
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Sonya Shannon
Program Design Advisor
Chancelle Ngoy
Ngoy Chancelle is a Volunteer Coach at the Community Center. Chancelle is graduate in political and administrative science. She joined the center to learn IT, got involved in sport, and eventually became a coach. Her passion to work with children makes her one of the most caring female coaches at the Community Center. She loves her community and enjoys singing gospel music.
Deborah Baruani
Baruani Deborah is a Volunteer Coach the the Community Center. She joined the community center to learn IT before discovering the impact that sport can have on a girl’s life. After the training, Deborah is now working with us as a coach in Sport for Social Development. She loves food, being well dressed, and loves waking up in a good mood.
Divina Kalenga
Kalenga Divina is a Teacher at the Community Center. She began attending classes at The Community Center shortly after the center opened in 2013 and was determined to play football despite being the only girl on the pitch at the time. Divina kept studying, playing, and improving so Malaika invested in her future by paying for her to go back to school. She now has a degree and uses her education and skills to teach and coach others. The girls at the center recognize her determination and look up to her as a role model.
Genevieve Kindele Kalenga
Kindele Kalenga Genevieve is a Teacher at the Community Center. Genevieve joined Malaika after teaching at a primary school. She loves music and even sings in a choir, while her favorite sport is football. Genevieve chose Malaika because of our commitment to girls and women. She hopes to use her knowledge and experience to help the boys and girls of her community grow and become responsible adults.
Gerard Umba wa Umba
Gerard Umba wa Umba has long wanted to work at an organization such as Malaika. Working with Malaika is one of his dreams, which will allow him to bring his contributions, knowledge and experience to young people who already have talents but need a coach. He believes he can support Malaika’s vision through developing good education and sport while also deepening his professional experience. As a young coach, Gerard would like to take advantage of the training organized within Malaika, which will allow him to go far, in order to contribute to the development of his community.
He was born in Lubumbashi, is married to Esther Mwanza and is a father two three children. Before joining Malaika, initially at the Community Center, Gerard worked at C.S. Les Rejetons. He studied E.P Maongezo primary school, attended secondary school at the Madibisho Institute and obtained a state diploma in general pedagogy. He is Christian and a fan of gospel music and loves black and white.
Ildephonse Kangela
Kangela Mutombo Ildephonse is a Teacher at the Community Center. He has a strong background in education as both a teacher and a principal. After receiving a scholarship, Ildephonse went to South Africa where he studied human rights, trauma and other courses for four years before returning to the DRC to work with a local NGO, continuing his career in education, with an added focus on the education of girls and women. Ildephonse uses his love of football and experience in education to help improve the lives of all those attending the Center.
Israel Kazembe
Kazembe Israel is a Volunteer Coach at the Community Center. He is from Kalebuka and joined the center as a student but eventually got involved in sports and eventually became a coach. He loves music and playing football and would like to be an architect in the future.
Joëlle Kalobe Ngolwa
Joëlle Kalobe Ngolwa brings former experience to her position as an assistant teacher at the Community Center. She was the only one of five children in her family to go to university, where she received a state diploma in general pedagogy at the Kamweneja Institute. She was born in Lubumbashi and has a daughter named Schiphra with her husband Idriss. In addition to her work as a teacher, Joëlle loves practicing football and music. Her favorite meal is mackerel, okra and foufou, and her favorite color is red.
Penuel Kisimba
Kisimba Penuel is a Volunteer Coach at the Community Center. Penuel joined the center in 2013 when it opened. After attending literacy classes he decided to learn coaching techniques and eventually becoming a coach for youth at the Community Center. He keeps on learning English and improving his French skills. He loves dancing and teaching it to youth, and he would like to develop his mechanic skills in the future.
Rosette Baruani
Baruani Rosette is a Volunteer Coach at the Community Center. Even though she is very quiet she the most careful and attentive coaches. Rosette stopped her studies in grade 5 as her parents couldn’t afford her studies but came to the center to continue her education. Rosette began playing football at the center and prior to her training at the community center, she was very shy. However, her time learning and coaching at the center has helped her open up and communicate more. She likes playing sports and listening to music.
Smith Kamwabu Kayemb
Kamwabu Kayembe Smith is an English teacher at the Malaika Community Center. Prior to Malaika, Smith was an interpreter as well as a teacher of English, African Sociology, and Esthetics. He has his state diploma in Literature and graduated university with a degree in English and African Culture (Applied Pedagogy). Smith was motivated to join the Malaika staff due to his desire to help young people and after learning about Malaika’s work to educate girls and support the community. Given his love for football, Smith is happy to be teaching at the center, where football is an everyday activity!
Russel Kisimba
Strong Mpiana
Heritier Mpiana Kayembe Strong is a Coach at the Community Center. He has been with Malaika for seven years, first as a student and then as a staff member. Strong studied English and IT before studying coaching techniques for football and other sports. In addition to working as a Coach, Strong is at university.
Sonya Shannon
Sonya is a humanitarian, social entrepreneur and advocate for women’s empowerment, youth and community development in Africa. With over 10 years of experience working in the field of international development, she has contributed to causes centered on strengthening local communities. In addition to development initiatives, Sonya has worked in the area of refugee rights in Africa as a legal advisor crafting cases for asylum for clients seeking resettlement. A supporter of localization, power sharing and creating locally-driven wealth in emerging markets, she’s currently committed to helping the poor to profit through access to markets for smallholder farmers in Africa and premium product development. A deep believer in the power of education and a lifetime learner, Sonya has a BA in international relations from Wesleyan College and a MA in conflict resolution from Nova Southeastern. She is also a certified coach and has volunteered her time and services in support of clients in Africa. Giving back through mentoring, volunteering and project support is a large part of her work. She is deeply committed to the development of Congo and Africa and joined Malaika in 2010. Sonya was fortunate to attend the inauguration of the Kalebuka Football for Hope Center where she represented Malaika as the inaugural center manager at the center’s opening. Since joining the team, she has worked to support the mission by conceptualizing impactful programs on program design, development and implementation. More than a decade later, she remains an avid supporter of Malaika and the community of Kalebuka.
Support Staff
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Aimee Kunong
Maintenance and Cleaning
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Alphonse Bomboko
Security Guard
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Amani Nimuboma
Security Guard
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Aubin Yumba Ilunga
Maintenance
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Bernadette Kapeshi
Chef
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Corneil Kalaba
Security Guard
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Cynthia Umba
Administrative Assistant
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Dina Marie-Claire Mukendi
DRC Advisor
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Dominique Kalembwe
Agronomist
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Henriette Mbutu
Maintenance and Cleaning
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Hyacintha Bisimwa
Program assistant
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Jaime Thomas
Outreach and Communications
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Jean Claude Kabeya
Security Guard
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Louise Pineau
Program Assistant
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Marta Reed
Program Assistant
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Martin Tshanda
Security Guard
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Patrick Tshovu
Driver
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Salima Etoka
Higher Education and Special Projects Advisor
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Sandrine Longolongo
DRC Advisor
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Sébastien Kikunguru Kembele
DRC Advisor
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Alexia Tizzano
Human Rights & Special Projects Advisor
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Wilson Kalenga
Security Guard
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Isla Pearson
Digital Marketing Manager
Aimee Kunong
Alphonse Bomboko
Bomboko Kazadi Alphonse is a Security Guard at the Community Center and has been with Malaika since 2013. He wanted to work as a security guard as a gesture of support for Malaika providing the girls in the community with an education. Alphonse and his wife Michou live in Kalebuka and have seven children. His favorite sport is football and he enjoys listening to music.
Amani Nimuboma
Nimuboma Diomede Amani is a Security Guard at the Malaika School. He has four children and one of his daughters attends the Malaika School. He enjoys working at Malaika and works hard to ensure the school is secure.
Aubin Yumba Ilunga
Ilunga Yumba Aubin is the Head of Maintenance at Malaika. He holds a diploma of General Mechanics and attended both Kolwezi at Ukwell and Mutoshi/Chuma, studying metallurgy. Aubin’s previous work experience includes marketing, factory work, training at the Minister of Infrastructure in the Province of Katanga and working in metallurgy in the mines at Shituru and Kambove. His past experience and his dedication make him a huge asset to Malaika. While he looks great in Malaika pink, his favorite color is blue and he enjoys watching football and listening to music.
Bernadette Kapeshi
Corneil Kalaba
Kalaba Kandu Corneil is a Security Guard at the Malaika School. He joined Malaika in 2013 and has a daughter who attends the school. Corneil likes to give back to Malaika as a guard considering all that Malaika has done for Kalebuka. He and his wife Clémentine have seven children and in his free time he loves watching football.
Cynthia Umba
Umba Banza Cynthia is an Administrative Assistant at Malaika. She enjoys working at Malaika because it the first school in the DRC to provide a free education and ensure the future for girls. Cynthia is thankful to the donors who support Malaika and enjoys cycling.
Dina Marie-Claire Mukendi
Dina Marie-Claire Mukendi is a computer scientist, passionate about new technologies and literature. She has over 17 years of experience in projects management and telecommunications industry.
Believing in social change through education, technology and innovation, and being concerned about finding solutions to global challenges, she is engaged in helping empowering Congolese girls through her action as a volunteer.
Dominique Kalembwe
Kyando Kyando Kalembwe Dominique is the Agronomist at Malaika. He studied agronomy and permaculture at agriculture school.
The farm he manages provides the fruits and vegetables for school meals and vocational training for community members. Dominique loves his job, and he considers the production of more healthy vegetables and fruits for the children at the School and Center his priority. He and his wife live in Kalebuka with their six children. His favorite sport is football.
Henriette Mbutu
Amisi Mbutu Henriette is a Cleaner at Malaika. She joined Malaika as a volunteer in 2013 before becoming a staff members. Henriette enjoys her work at Malaika, helping to move the organization forward, and views the school as a benchmark for other schools. She and her husband Ali have nine children, she enjoys watching football and eating beans and rice.
Hyacintha Bisimwa
Hyacintha Bisimwa is a program assistant with Malaika. She was born in Katanga, DRC, and grew up in Bukavu. At the age of 18, she emigrated to the United States to pursue her undergraduate studies in biology and chemistry pre-health sciences at Auburn University at Montgomery. She intends to further continue her academic learning by completing a PhD in biological education at Auburn University. She is very interested in improving STEM education, in particular through disparities and racial and environmental barriers. She is devoted to sharing her knowledge and empowering young girls to dream big. Hyacintha is passionate about science, or anything STEM related, and she aspires to make changes in young girls’ lives as much as she can, to share the full opportunities she has had in her life. She wants to focus mainly on young girls, because young girls are the women of tomorrow and are the most underestimated people in her culture. She also believes in education and freedom, as there cannot be one without the other.
Jaime Thomas
Jaime works on outreach and communications with Malaika. With a varied background including years of nonprofit work focused in Tanzania, Jaime brings a passion for documenting, supporting and learning about other cultures and people to Malaika.
Jaime studied journalism, photography and French and combines her education with myriad experiences working, traveling, volunteering and studying abroad. She is committed to plugging in and having an impact wherever possible, whether through administration, communications, writing or any other area.
She brings experience in photography, design, web design, marketing and helping with organizational development and projects both on the ground and remotely, and is using this background to tell stories through Malaika’s social media and communications.
Having worked closely and spent much time with the Maasai and now getting to know the people in DRC through Malaika has inspired Jaime to continue pursuits that positively impact marginalized people.
Jean Claude Kabeya
Louise Pineau
Louise is a program assistant at Malaika. She is French native and moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 14. She studied Math, Business and Spanish at A levels. Louise has now been accepted in some of the most prestigious universities to specialise in Business Management where she will join this September. She always loves helping people and sharing her knowledges, and as a young woman she truly believes in education, so she feels blessed to work with Malaika.
Marta Reed
Marta Reed is a Program Assistant with Malaika. She was born in Gdansk, Poland and received her degree in Management and Marketing from the University of Gdansk. Marta went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Human Resources before moving to the United Kingdom. Marta paused her formal career to work as a full-time mother for several years, believing in the importance of teaching her children the true value of life. She joined Malaika to fulfill her dream of helping others. Marta ensures Noella and the entire Malaika team are equipped with the necessary resources and tools to succeed and achieve the greatest impact possible.
Martin Tshanda
Tshanda Musonda Martin is a Security Guard at the Malaika School. He believes in education for all children and is happy to be a part of the staff at the Malaika School. Martin looks forward to helping the girls at the School in any way that he can as well as keeping the girls and the School and grounds secure. He has a special interest in keeping the School and the girls safe, as his daughter is a student at the School. Martin also enjoys football and is a good player, and he hopes to set a good example for the youth of good sportsmanship on the sports field.
Patrick Tshovu
Tshovu Mambu Patrick is a Driver for Malaika. He has been with Malaika since 2019 and enjoys working here because of the education Malaika gives to the girls of Kalebuka. He looks forward to seeing the graduates of the Malaika School become influential people in the future. When he is not driving for Malaika, Patrick enjoys watching football.
Salima Etoka
Salima is a Higher Education and Special Projects Advisor with Malaika. Salima was born in Lemera, DRC, and at the age of 9 she emigrated to the US with her family, because of the civil conflict. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy with a concentration on International and Global Affairs (IGA) from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Salima is a graduate of Trinity College with a B.A. in Urban Studies, Political Science and French. As a Truman Scholar, Salima is committed to public service and is passionate about human rights with a focus on gender equality and equitable access to social services, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In recognizing the opportunities that she received, Salima wants to give back so that others can reach their full potential. She joined Malaika in 2015 because she is passionate about universal access to education and the mission of empowering communities in her home country.
Sandrine Longolongo
Sandrine holds a masters degree in Project Management from the University of Winchester. She currently serves as a representative for a Petroleum company in Congo’s Katanga region. Sandrine is a vibrant, independent and highly ambitious woman, who enjoys working in challenging environments. She is also a TED Speaker!
Sébastien Kikunguru Kembele
Sébastien is a husband and father. He was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and studied social sciences at the University of Lubumbashi with a degree in International Relations.
After his studies, Sébastien travelled almost the entire country, visiting the provinces of Kivu, Central Congo, Eastern Province and Greater Katanga. He has visited a few foreign countries such as Zambia, the Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Belgium and the United States of America.
Sebastien remains convinced that all the men of the earth are experiencing difficulties and that these are common to everyone in developed countries as those in developing countries.
He is among those who work hard to find daily ways and opportunities to improve the living conditions of the people around him and works to use his physical, intellectual and moral strengths, skills and abilities for the well-being of his loved ones.
Former officer of the Public Enterprise Steering Committee (COPIREP), Honorary Mayor, co-founder member and initiator of several institutional and community development projects, including the Community Development Initiatives Support Program (CTB/PAIDECO), Republic Social Fund in Katanga. (Cfr CV in appendix) and advisor to Malaika.
Gifted with a strong inspiration in many social areas, Sébastien remains significant to those around him for his sense of compassion, positivism, volunteer service, decision-making and leader of men. This has led to numerous requests to be involved in tasks and projects of local or even national interest.
Alexia Tizzano
Alexia is a human rights and special projects advisor with Malaika. She is a human rights researcher and a lawyer admitted to the New York State bar. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at Boston University School of Law and a former fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. She does research on gender-based violence, sexual violence in conflict and international refugee law. She previously worked at the European Court of Justice and the European Commission. Alexia graduated from New York University School of Law, King’s College London, Humboldt-University in Berlin, and Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas. Alexia joined Malaika because she is passionate about human rights, gender equality and education, and strives to convey her passion to girls, teachers and the community in Kalebuka, and she enjoys learning from members of Malaika’s community.
Wilson Kalenga
Wilson Kalenga works as a guard at Malaika and previously supported his family as a fisherman. He initially heard about Malaika through his wife, who was volunteering. Now, two of his daughters—Josiane and Lumière—attend Malaika School and his daughter Divina studies at university through Malaika’s New Beginnings program. He is an orphan who was born in Kabongo. He and his wife Silvy have 8 children. Wilson’s favorite sport is karate and he likes fresh fish and foufou.
Isla Pearson
Isla Pearson is Malaika’s Digital Marketing Manager. She was born and raised in The Netherlands and has spent the last five years living in London. At university, Isla specialised in Middle Eastern and North African studies, where she spent time in Morocco researching the link between social media and female empowerment. She believes social media can be used as a tool for women to create valuable connections, access information and self-educate, a sentiment she enjoys passing on to the girls at Malaika! Isla visited Malaika in 2022 and was inspired by the people she met in the local community and the staff team. Her passion to support Malaika in achieving their mission was ignited. Together with the local team and a network of talented creatives, she is responsible for sharing the wealth of uplifting stories coming straight from the community through our social media, website and newsletters.