About this image: Children from the surrounding village gather at the school for Community Reading Day. Here they read the book Children Just Like Me.
Our Board
Gretchen Seibert: Gretchen is a public school teacher and director of the U.S. board. She has earned a Masters Degree in Education, a certificate in Special Education, and Administrative and Supervisory certificates. Gretchen has presented at local and national education conferences, and received awards for excellence in teaching.
She first came to Uganda in 2007 on a fellowship to research the war in the North and complete volunteer work. Gretchen helped create the Mtaala Foundation after meeting Alice, a local Ugandan woman who was single-handedly trying to build a school for vulnerable children.
Amy Mullarkey: Amy is an accomplished professional photographer and a member of the U.S. board. Amy has spent many years involved in charitable work, and joined Mtaala Foundation's board after volunteering to teach a photography workshop at Awegys Secondary School in Uganda.
Nick Taussig: Nick is the founding Director of Salon Pictures UK. His recent productions include the crime thriller Offender and Plan B's highly praised debut iLL Manors. He is the author of three novels, and recently completed his fourth, The Distinguished Assassin. His commitment to charitable work was born while writing his third novel, Gorilla Guerrilla, which tells the tale of a child soldier. Nick founded the UK branch of the Mtaala Foundation.
Bob Fest: Robert taught biology and environmental science in the public school systems of New Jersey for 14 years prior to becoming a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania. He has a Master of Science degree in Biology along with undergraduate degrees in both Biology and Nursing. Robert is the recipient of many national and international awards in education and science. Most recently he was chosen as a representative for the U.S. Department of State's Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program and the International Leaders in Education Program to Sumatra, Indonesia. He has also worked in Costa Rica, Japan, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania on both global education and wildlife research projects.
Within the Mtaala Foundation, Robert serves on the Board of Directors along as the Project Leader for the Maternal & Children's Health Clinic. In his free time, he travels the world with his wife and two young children and enjoys competing in triathlons and the occasional marathon.
Within the Mtaala Foundation, Robert serves on the Board of Directors along as the Project Leader for the Maternal & Children's Health Clinic. In his free time, he travels the world with his wife and two young children and enjoys competing in triathlons and the occasional marathon.
Rhi Patel: Rhinal Patel is Head of Publicity at Revolver Entertainment in the UK. Before this she worked as a publicist at Avalon, the leading comedy entertainment company. She has traveled extensively. Born to East African parents, Uganda holds a special place in her heart.
Doug Seibert: Doug has been a senior project manager of construction for more than 25 years, working for large companies and running his own consulting firm.
Doug’s projects have included: multi-million dollar mixed use town centers, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey, Pleasure Island at Disney World, and AMC's 42nd Street Theater in Manhattan.
Doug joined the board as treasurer in September 2008 after traveling to Uganda and witnessing both the tremendous need and resiliency of its children.
Doug’s projects have included: multi-million dollar mixed use town centers, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey, Pleasure Island at Disney World, and AMC's 42nd Street Theater in Manhattan.
Doug joined the board as treasurer in September 2008 after traveling to Uganda and witnessing both the tremendous need and resiliency of its children.
Foundation Managers
Andrew Wegoye, U.S.A.
Born to a family of ten children, Andrew grew up in Kigo Village, attending most of primary at a local school. Great need and scarcity characterized life in Andrew’s family, but he was very lucky to obtain an education. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Agriculture from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. He worked with a charity organization, then at a microfinance institution before moving to work in a bank. Working in the corporate sector greatly improved Andrew’s finance and business skills, but he didn’t find it fulfilling, his work there not having any direct impact on the lives of the many needy children in his country.
He joined the foundation in 2007 as the Ugandan Country Director. “The need in my country is diverse, great and hardest on children, but giving them access to education will turn their lives around in a matter of time,” says Andrew. In 2010, he moved to the US and is currently pursuing another Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Drexel University, PA. He looks forward to finishing nursing school and using his newly acquired skills to impact the lives of the children in yet another way.
He joined the foundation in 2007 as the Ugandan Country Director. “The need in my country is diverse, great and hardest on children, but giving them access to education will turn their lives around in a matter of time,” says Andrew. In 2010, he moved to the US and is currently pursuing another Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Drexel University, PA. He looks forward to finishing nursing school and using his newly acquired skills to impact the lives of the children in yet another way.
Hannah Wilkinson, U.K.
Hannah Wilkinson is the Foundation Manager at Mtaala UK. She has a masters degree in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London and has visited the Awegys School in Kigo, Uganda that Mtaala supports, where she worked with the Country Director, meeting with prospective new students for the school. In the UK she works with the Board of Directors to utilise fundraising opportunities; from art auctions, music events and being awarded Small Charity of the Year by the Pearson Group, a multinational publishing company.
Our Team in Uganda:
Agnes Nabulo: Agnes is Mtaala's country director in Uganda and is responsible for managing the entire foundation while supporting the development of the school and physical, emotional, intellectual, and social well-being of Mtaala's students.
Volunteers: Our dedicated community volunteers in Uganda include: Robert Nam, Lawrence Okullo, Francis Douglas Ayo, Francis Okema, and Arnold Oceng.
Volunteers: Our dedicated community volunteers in Uganda include: Robert Nam, Lawrence Okullo, Francis Douglas Ayo, Francis Okema, and Arnold Oceng.