CONNECTION UBUNTU
Meet the CONNECTION UBUNTU Board of Directors:
Vicki Poole,
Founder and President,
Partner Management, ICT and Refugee Committees
Vicki was a Senior Public Relations Representative for Evapco, Inc., a worldwide, employee-owned, manufacturing company, for 30+ years. Vicki is very passionate about helping others learn how to become educated and self-motivated, especially girls and women in Africa. Connection Ubuntu is her dream, a life-line to Africa, and Vicki hopes that by learning new technology for their futures, this company gives many African women and girls hope to "be someone."
Raj Iyengar,
Secretary,
Director, ICT Committee
Raj Iyengar is a professional software developer, amateur trombonist, and mediocre (but avid) soccer player. He holds degrees from the University of North Carolina and Drexel University, and has worked for the University of Pennsylvania for over 7 years. Raj wants more people to have those sorts of opportunities. He believes that our lives are enriched by cross-cultural connections and cooperation, and he loves keeping useful computer hardware out of landfills and in the hands of people who can use it.
Wanja Ogongi,
Scholarship Committee
Deborah Becker, Fundraising Committee
Dr. Wanja Ogongi brings much to the table, not only by having a huge humanitarian background but by also being born and raised in Kiangai, Kenya.
As president of the Ahadi Zetu Foundation board of directors, Dr. Ogongi is a key thought leader and is responsible for directing the execution and fulfilment of the mission of the organization. Dr. Ogongi co-founded Ahadi Zetu with the goal of lifting the community out of poverty through provision of education. She views education as the backbone of a successful society and believes that every human being should have the right, privilege, and opportunity to get the best education possible. Professionally, Dr. Ogongi is an Assistant professor of Social Work at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. She graduated from the University of Nairobi with her B.A, earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and her PhD in Social Work from Widener University.
She brings to Connection Ubuntu and Ahadi Zetu great passion for the community we serve, and a strong skillset gained from over 15 years of social work practice years in a variety of settings. We are so excited to have her!
Debra Hempfing,
Lab Application and Fundraising Committee
Deb is an artist and entrepreneur. She is a 1982 Millersville University graduate, Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree in art. She has her own art business, and is President of her own office cleaning company, both under the name of Wood ‘n Glass. Her passion is art, but she also loves getting her hands dirty in beautiful planet earth, growing many varieties of peppers, herbs and tomatoes. Deb loves to travel, mostly to work with those in other countries less fortunate than the USA. “Giving back changes the world, one person, one community at a time!”
Carla Horn,
Lab Application and Scholarship Committee
Carla was employed at YTI Career Institute where she was involved in career focused education for almost 20 years, serving as Vice President Human Resources and Campus President. Her passion of helping students find self-sustaining employment and careers translates well to the mission of Connection Ubuntu. Carla has traveled to Kenya, visiting labs CU has provided, and was touched by the gratitude and enthusiasm of the Kenyans and is pleased to have this opportunity to continue to support our African friends. Carla enjoys time with her family, running, traveling, and golf.
Deb's interest in serving on the board relates to her involvement and caring for the people of Kenya. After traveling to Kenya on three occasions, the
relationships increase and deepen. She participated in medical missions which allowed an immersion within that culture. They are such beautiful and humble people. Working to improve their lives through supplying of computers is inspirational for Deb. She would love to take a greater part in that effort... Plus, she finds Vicki’s efforts inspiring!
Susan Raver,
Newsletter and Scholarship Committee
Bonventure Mwayuli,
Treasurer and Videographer
Bonventure Mwayuli Conyinno recently relocated to USA from Nairobi, Kenya. He was was born
and raised in the rural part of Western Kenya. He moved to Nairobi, Kenya in 1996 to pursue a certificate course in accounting. In 1997, he secured a job as a premium analyst with the American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) in Kenya. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Commerce in 2012. Over time Bonventure continued with studies and qualified to be a Certified Public Accountant in Kenya while also earning his MBA in finance from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, both in 2016. He resigned from his role as finance manager in August 2022 in order to facilitate the
relocation of his family to the USA after his wife secured a nursing Job in Pennsylvania. Bonventure loves photography and enjoys working with people during his free time. He has a YouTube channel
through which he tells human interest stories. Since he came to USA hackers have tried to steal his identity on two occasions. Bonventure hopes that, through his Masters in Cyber Security, he will help the society to come up with ways of detecting and preventing cybercrime.
A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Susan’s career included Human Resource, Benefits, and Facility Management for Evapco, Inc. She was Health and Retirement Benefits Manager for Bon Ton Stores where she developed training programs for store H.R. Managers as well as managing contractual and regulatory compliance for Health and Retirement benefits. Her last job was Vice President, Communication Consultant, and Project Manager for Aon Hewitt, developing and implementing personalized communications that met a broad range of human resource needs. Since retirement, Susan has remained active as a Stephen Minister, Vice President of Everybody’s Quilt Guild, and volunteer at Hanover Area Council of Churches.
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Susan's background in human services and communication will be great assets to our Board. She was our journalist for our 2024 travel team to Kenya and we are excited she has joined the CU team.
Darr was one of the travelers who went on the trip to Kenya to visit some of the computer labs in January 2024. She fell in love with the children of Kenya. Darr has worked in the title insurance industry for over 15 years. She graduated from Penn State with a BA degree in accounting and information systems while working full time so it took her 10 years to accomplish that goal. She was also the first to graduate college in her family. Throughout her work career Darr has had many different jobs and has had to learn new skills along the way. She greatly values education and has been a friend of Vicki, our Founder, for about four years. She loves the thought of taking recycled computers and giving girls of Kenya and surrounding areas computer skills, instead of filling landfills with this equipment. Darr will be a great asset for Connection Ubuntu due to her skills with the public and also due to her compassion for children. We’re so excited to have her on the Board!
Darr Fullmer,
Refugee Committee
Past Board Members:
Dianna George
Joe Subacz
Christen Chew
Megan Malick
Nick Santaniello
Sheryl Shultz
Sallie Shepherd
Cindy Garis August
Connection Ubuntu is a 501c3 charitable non-profit organization founded in 2014 for the purpose of starting computer labs in Africa by providing computers and other technology tools.