Village Enterprise Fund's African Staff

Our Organization
African Staff

Wilson Peru serves as the Acting Country Director for VEF Kenya. Before joining us in January 2001, he spent 20 years in agriculture and rural business development in the Kakamega region. He credits VEF's success to its practical program model and an openness to the beneficiaries. "The approach is well thought out and simple. The package enables someone with initiative to move to a higher social and economic level." Wilson holds a BA in Community Development from Daystar University, Nairobi, Kenya.

Richard Mazengo joined VEF in July 1996 as the Tanzanian Country Director. He is also the Pastor of the Kikuyu PEFA Church in Dodoma, Tanzania and chairperson of the Mazengo Primary School Board. He works with VEF "because my heart’s desire is to help the poor people in the rural areas, to help them to generate income for their families through small business grants." He continues: "VEF is unique because it reaches the poorest people in the rural areas and gives training, grants and mentoring, which is different from other NGOs." Richard has a diploma in Bible and Church Ministry from the International Bible College in Dodoma, Tanzania and a BA from San Jose Christian College in San Jose, CA.

Noel Joramu has served as the Assistant Country Director for Tanzania since January 2007. He believes that training is the key to our success in creating sustainable income-producing businesses. Before joining VEF, Noel worked in the accounting department of Dimon Company, a tobacco importer. He has a diploma in Business Administration.

Michael Ewalu resides in Soroti, Uganda and serves as Country Director for VEF Uganda. He joined VEF in January 1997 and holds Ugandan certificates in Education and Entrepreneurship. He worked previously as a counselor and social worker. The father of eight, Michael is active in his community and serves as clan elder, chairman of two schools and member of his parish development committee. Notes Michael: "VEF provides beneficiary training and flexible financing, which helps fight poverty at the grassroots level."

Charles Erongot is the Assistant Country Director for Uganda. He joined VEF in April 2004 and is a passionate advocate of our business model. At USAID/COVOL, Charles fostered agribusiness development and trained rural community groups in nursery management, tree propagation and group dynamics while encouraging environmental conservation. He has served as a program manager for Katakwi Integrated Development Organization and as a research assistant for the International Food Policy Research Institute. Charles holds a BS degree in Forestry.

Roland Amulyoto has served as VEF's Regional Training Director since 2003. Before joining the team, he spent more than a decade in sales and marketing for Guinness, developing their business in Africa, Asia, Europe and the US. He has worked as a Market Research Interviewer, a high school teacher and an Insurance Manager. Rowland holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, a diploma in Marketing Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Sales Management and a Silver Award in Diageo Way of Brand Building. His innovative work at VEF is true to his motto: "Keep things simple and practical all the time."

Churchill Ambaisi worked as a VEF village business mentor for several years before joining the staff as Assistant Training Director in July 2007. He earned his BS degree in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi and trained farmers on emerging agricultural issues. He served as a Farmer Representative at Kakamega District Agriculture Forums. Churchill appreciates "how VEF takes the very poor from scratch to a level where they have sufficient collateral to access credit from microfinance institutions."

Linnet Mutsami is our Kenyan Office Manager. She joined VEF in October 2004 and lives in Kakamega, VEF’s Kenya headquarters. Linnet holds a certificate in Accounting. She is a praise and worship leader at her church and a leader of the Shikulu youth group.

Margreth Sausi started with VEF in September 2006 and manages our Dodoma, Tanzania office. She has certificates in Accounting and Computers and has worked as an accountant in community banking. She believes that business training is key to equipping our small businesses for success.

Betty Iligo joined VEF in November 2006 as our Uganda Office Manager. She is the church secretary and vice chairperson for women for a local Baptist church. Betty notes: "VEF targets grass root people and the poor who are active and ready to work for their benefit." Betty holds a BA degree in Business Administration and a diploma in Marketing and Customer Care. She is also a Certified Accounting Technician through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Betty has 3 children.

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