About Sukuma for Opportunities
Vision
Sukuma for Opportunities envisions a more hopeful and just future for African youth and their communities.
Mission
We support employment opportunities for the socioeconomic empowerment of youth and their communities in Africa.
Our history
Sukuma for Opportunities began in 2006 from from collaborative work between Kenyan educators, parents and students from youth polytechnics in Kitui District, labor and education policy analysts, and international development volunteers.
This diverse group pooled their knowledge, skills and commitment to social change in support of secure livelihood and employment initiatives for Kenyan youth.
Our fundraising arm is based in the United States, while while our program management is based in Kitui District, Eastern Province, Kenya (see this region on Google Maps).
Board of Directors
Maheisha Adams
Maheisha is a co-founder of Sukuma for Opportunities. She is as an international human rights advocate based in Nairobi with HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya. She has extensive experience in youth development, vocational education, refugee rights and gender programming. Maheisha earned a Masters Degree in Family Relations and Child Development from Oklahoma State University. She has over nine years of experience in designing and implementing programs with at-risk and marginalized groups including youth and women. Prior to joining refugee serving agencies in East Africa, she was a United States Peace Corps Volunteer working on improving HIV testing and counseling capacity in rural Kenya.
Rajasvini Bhansali
Rajasvini is also a co-founder of Sukuma for Opportunities. She is the Interim Executive Director for International Development Exchange, a social justice grantmaking organization that supports grassroots organizations in India, Nepal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mexico and Guatemala. She has over 15 years of experience directing and funding social enterprise projects in the private and public sectors. A native of India, Rajasvini earned a Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) with a focus on technology and telecommunications policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. She also serves on the board of CUSO-VSO, an international volunteering organization.
Joshua Bloom
Joshua is the Youth Development Coordinator for Juma Ventures. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz where he was involved in campus and local events as a student activist. Joshua was the Organizing Director for a pivotal campaign to obtain more funding for student-initiated outreach efforts to low income students of color in California. From there, he began working with youth in Oakland and San Francisco in the areas of workforce development, counseling and advocacy. Joshua is a San Francisco native and takes a lot of pride in his experience with the diverse communities of the entire Bay Area. His passions include youth development and hip-hop music.
Warigia Bowman
Dr. Warigia Bowman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi Department of Public Policy Leadership. She earned her doctorate at Harvard at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Her research interests include environmental sustainability, water and natural resources, governance, land use and land management, rural development, civil society, information and communication technology, reforming the judiciary in Kenya and improving institutional governance in Africa. Warigia has significant work experience in the public sector at the federal, state and local level in the United States. She served at the United States Department of Justice as an honors trial attorney in the Wildlife Section of the Environment Division under Janet Reno during the Clinton Administration. She also has experience in African non-governmental organizations and academic institutions including Kabarak University, the African Technology Policy Network and the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). She has also been a lecturer at the International School on Digital Transformation in Porto, Portugal.
Rebekah Conrad
Rebekah Conrad practices with Woods & Krolikowski Law Firm in civil litigation focusing in contract, employment, real estate and corporate law. She has been a member of the California Bar since 2007 after completing her legal studies at Chapman University School of Law. Since becoming an attorney, Rebekah has consistently participated in pro-bono work including criminal, immigration and family law cases. Prior to becoming an attorney, she worked in technology and business analysis for Allianz Global Advisors, PIMCO and 24/7 Media. During the past ten years, Rebekah has volunteered with numerous non-profit organizations including Kicks for Kenya, NYU Child Study Center, the Dorot Society and the Junior League. In 1995 She interned at the World Council of Churches in Geneva Switzerland, an United Nations organization.
Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano
Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano is the Associate Director for Justice Matters, a national racial justice education policy organization. Lorenzo’s professional background is in the areas of organizational development, capacity building, strategic planning, resource development, and program evaluation. Over the past thirteen years, Lorenzo has worked with social service agencies in the San Francisco Bay area, community based organizations in the South and national organizations building alliances with groups in México and Puerto Rico. He earned two master’s degrees from St. Edward’s University in Cultural Studies and in Organizational Leadership and Ethics. He is currently a master’s candidate in Chicana/o Policy Studies at San José State University.
Cassius Johnson
Cassius Johnson is the Program Director for federal policy development for Jobs for the Future (JFF). He directs Jobs for the Future’s federal policy development and advocacy. His work focuses upon improving educational options and outcomes for the large and growing numbers of low-income youth and adults struggling in today’s economy. Prior to joining JFF, Cassius was Chief of Staff for a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He handled legislation focused on enhancing student disciplinary laws, improving alternative education programs, and addressing the overall quality of education available to out-of-school youth populations in Texas. Cassius earned a Master’s in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin where he was a Barbara Jordan Scholar.
Chemtai Mungo
Chemtai Mungo is pursuing a joint medical degree and master in public health at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Chemtai was born and raised in Kitale, Kenya and came to the United States to complete higher education. Chemtai’s interests lie in improving access to quality health care for women and children in developing countries, and in empowering girls and women in vulnerable positions through increased educational opportunities. She has received numerous research fellowships that have focused upon improving pediatric HIV treatment as well as community education of caregivers. At UCSF, she is active in organizations working to improve awareness of global health issues, as well as strengthening collaborations between American and African health institutions.
Dawn Surratt
Dawn Surratt is a research nurse focusing on symptom management with cancer survivors. She works at the University of California, San Francisco. She has worked as a health educator, acute care nurse, manager and consultant on various public health projects related to reproductive health, STD and HIV prevention and treatment, and cancer control in the United States, India, Brazil and Kenya. She earned a master of science in community health nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to becoming a nurse, she was a special education teacher with middle school and high school youth. She also is a co-founder of Sukuma for Opportunities.
George Ware
George Ware aspired to be a history teacher in his youth, but as he matured he realized that his career interests were in the financial field. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance administration from Langston University. He worked at Langston University in education finance administration for many years and then went on to work for the Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. Since retiring in 1998, George continues to work in finance. He is presently the Director of Finance and Administration of Tulsa Job Corps Center. Tulsa Job Corps Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide vulnerable youth with jobs and education.