The Children of Kibera Foundation

Full Name (required) Rob Norton, Chairperson (2012-2014) CoKF USA Board of Directors

Biography Details (required) Rob Norton became chairperson of the CoKF USA board of directors in 2012 after serving on the advisory board since 2010. His vision is to lead the organization\'s supporters and staff through a period of growth that is carefully managed and to look forward a sustainable and successful foundation for the benefit of Kibera\'s children. A genuine friend of Kenya and it\'s people, Rob spent some years in his childhood living in Nairobi and travels often to the country. On his most recent visit, Rob brought along some friends from Washington as well as his two children and wife Liz to visit the Red Rose School and other programs supported by the foundation in Kibera. Rob lives in Washington DC and works in communications.

Full Name (required) Curtis Rooney, former-Chairperson (2009-2011), CoKF USA Board of Directors

Biography Details (required) Curtis Rooney has been a member of the CoKF USA Board of Directors since the founding of our organization. He became Chairperson in November 2009 to lead CoKF in the next stage of its growth and the endowment of our programs in Kenya. Curtis is a lawyer by profession and currently serves as the President of the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association in Washington DC. His wife Mittie is a past member of the CoKF Board of Directors too. He can be reached by email crooney@childrenofkibera.org

Full Name (required) Kenneth "Ken" Okoth, Executive Director CoKF

Biography Details (required) Ken Okoth is an international educator and children’s advocate changing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable youth in the Kibera slums of Nairobi where he was born in 1978. Kibera\'s one million residents have minimal access to medical care, quality education, or jobs. Although Ken grew up in a one-room shack with his mother, five siblings and other relatives, the importance of education is a key value he learned quickly. Ken graduated with honors from St. Lawrence University in 2001 and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 2005. Ken’s life trajectory first changed when he won a scholarship from Save the Children Fund to attend Starehe Boys Center, a leading national boarding school in Nairobi that focuses on educating boys from underprivileged family backgrounds, and that has produced many leaders in business, civil society, and government in Kenya. At Starehe, Ken was immersed in the ethos of leadership and service. Ken’s path out of Kibera through Starehe led him to other lucrative opportunities all over the world, but he has found ways to return to the slums as a compassionate advocate to improve lives of children facing the same problems he faced before attending Starehe. In 2006, Ken founded the Children of Kibera Foundation (COKF), using his life story to inspire others and improve educational opportunities for the marginalized youth in Kibera. Ken believes that a good education is vital to help Kibera\\'s children realize their full potential and escape the cycle of poverty, disease, violence, and other indignities that plague this community. He can be reached by email ken@childrenofkibera.org

Full Name (required) Japheth "Jeff" Ochieng, Programs Manager

Biography Details (required) Jeff is the Projects Coordinator and Manager of Children of Kibera Foundation projects in Kenya on a day-to-day basis. Jeff is responsible for receiving and hosting CoKF guests, training and supervising interns and short-term volunteers, developing relationships with CoKF\\'s partner organizations and schools, keeping appropriate financial records, facilitating the selection and mentorship of CoKF scholars, and communications through our blogs, email, and photo galleries. Having grown up in Kibera, Jeff is very involved with the community and the schools that CoKF sponsors. For his work with CoKF and his relationship with local families, he has recently been recognized in Teach Magazine for his exceptional work as a notable face in Kibera. Japheth is currently receiving his diploma in Project Management at the Kenya Institute of Management. Jeff can easily be reached through his email address jeff@childrenofkibera.org

Full Name (required) Leila Atkin, Advisory Board Member, CoKF USA

Biography Details (required) Leila Atkin is the owner and manager of Hawaii Tours Just 4 U and Makai Rover LLC. Living in Kailua Kona, she is a scuba instructor and boat captain.. Prior to moving to Hawaii, in 2001, Leila taught English and was assistant director of Admissions at Stanstead College, in Stanstead, Quebec, Canada. In addition, as coordinator of the St. Francis Literacy Council, she was instrumental in developing the Eastern Townships Poverty Game, piloting Parents as Partners as Learners, and has published numerous articles, handbooks, and student books to promote family literacy. Notably, for 25 years she taught elementary and high school for the Eastern Townships School Board, in Quebec. In 2000, while travelling to Kenya and Tanzania, she visited Starehe Boys Centre and Kibera, with Ken Okoth’s encouragement. Since that time she has remained a constant supporter of education in Kibera, and at the Red Rose School. She was a founding member (2007-2011) on the board of the Children of Kibera Foundation and has worked diligently to raise funds and awareness. She has two sons, Michael and Peter.

Full Name (required) Emily Bernstein, Member, CoKF USA Board of Directors

Biography Details (required) Emily Bernstein joined the CoKF USA Board of Directors in November 2009. She is currently a student at Tufts University with a deep love for Africa. In the last six years, she has traveled to South Africa, Botswana, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya with her family, alone, and with volunteer groups. After returning from a family trip to Tanzania in 2007, Emily decided to take Swahili language lessons to improve her understanding of African cultures and societies in East Africa. She is committed to community service, and has volunteered in Tanzania with an Australian family helping a village become self-sufficient while preserving the environment. She has also worked as a tutor for at risk students through the Kid Power program in Washington DC. In 2009 and 2010 Emily spent her summer volunteering at the Red Rose School in Kibera, learning first-hand about different ways to make a positive difference in the lives of underprivileged children in Kenya through improved education opportunities.

Full Name (required) Mike Copps, Past-Treasurer (2010-2012), CoKF USA Board of Directors

Biography Details (required) Mike Copps joined the CoKF USA Board of Directors as Treasurer in May, 2010. Mike currently works in operations for a management firm in Washington, DC, where he is responsible for financial management and analysis, communications, board relations, and resource management. Prior to joining the CoKF Board, Mike studied to attain his MBA from George Washington University, where he took multiple courses in finance, accounting, and financial management. Mike has worked with multiple non-profits in addition to his private sector experience. He is a graduate of James Madison University, with a BA in English. He resides with his wife, Katie, and his son, Colin, in Washington, DC.

Full Name (required) Sarah Coste, Advisory Board Member, CoKF USA

Biography Details (required) Sarah Coste joined the CoKF USA Board of Directors in January, 2010. A member of the Potomac School faculty in McLean, VA, since 2003, Sarah values educational opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. Sarah plays a key role in organizing and executing the Service, Learning and Adventure trips to Kenya where high school students have a life-changing opportunity to visit our various projects and volunteer at the Red Rose School in Kibera. Sarah is a graduate of Washington College (BA) and Lesley University (M.ED) and resides in McLean, VA.

Full Name (required) Carrie McGraw, Secretary, CoKF USA Board of Directors

Biography Details (required) Carrie McGraw joined the CoKF board in January 2010. She is currently an Allocation Manager at Ann Taylor where she develops allocation strategies and manages a team who distributes product to Ann Taylor Stores. Prior to Ann Taylor, she worked at Gap, Inc. for more than five years as a Merchandise Planner and Store Planner generating inventory plans for all Gap North America locations. In the Fall of 2007, Carrie traveled to Kenya to volunteer at Starehe Girls Centre for ten weeks, assisting the school office with admissions, exam preparation, and IT training for the secretary. She also hosted a university admissions and scholarship session for the girls at Starehe and got involved in teaching ballet, swimming, and physical education classes. Carrie and her fiance Pete have been devoted supporters of the Red Rose School and Children of Kibera since 2006. During her time in Kenya she visited Red Rose School multiple times. She is an avid runner and takes on half-marathon races to raise money for organizations that empower young people such as CoKF. Carrie graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a B.A. in Applied Mathematics with Economics in June 2002. She was a member of the Varsity Track and Field Team at Harvard and was co-captain in 2002.

Full Name (required) Robert Ratemo, Advisory Board Member, CoKF USA

Biography Details (required) Robert Ratemo has been a board member since the founding of CoKF. Robert grew up in Kibera where he was classmates with Ken since early childhood. He also attended Starehe Boys Center and understands the value of a good education in overcoming challenges of growing up in underpriviledged circumstances. He is a strong supporter of CoKF projects and works hard to increase awareness of our organization. Robert earned a Bachelors degree in Computer Engineering from McGill University and a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University. He currently works at LSI Corporation in Allentown PA as a senior test engineer.

Full Name (required) Harold Warne, Project Coordinator for High School Advancement

Biography Details (required) Harold Warne joined Children of Kibera as Project Coordinator for High School Advancement. He earned his B.S. degree in History from Rutgers College in New Jersey. Before embarking on his long career in education, Harold spent three years in the army as Commanding Officer of the 504th Signal Company. He went on to teach social studies at Phillipsburg High School in New Jersey for three years and then returned to graduate school where he received his Ed. M. degree in pupil personnel services from Rutgers University. For the next 32 years Harold worked as a guidance counselor at Mendham High School in Mendham, New Jersey. He has served as a member of the Child Placement Review Board in Warren County and as both a member and as president of the Warren County Technical School Board of Education. Currently, Harold is the chairman of the Phillipsburg Education Foundation and active in numerous educational organizations. He can be contacted through e-mail at harold.warne@childrenofkibera.org.