Our Founder
Chingwell Mutombu was born in West Union, Iowa, while her father studied at Upper Iowa University. When she was two, her family returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The generosity of her family friends and the financial support from her Iowa based godmother allowed Chingwell to return to the USA to complete her high school studies and attend Luther College. After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science, French and international studies, Chingwell attended Seton Hall and received a master’s degree in public administration and international relations. Growing up in a remote part of the DRC, Chingwell noticed how self-reliant and creative people were to support their families. Chingwell began sending her mother small amounts of money to give to women to strengthen their businesses. Saidiana grew out of Chingwell’s small first step. As Chingwell’s says, “Others saw the potential in me and helped make my dreams come true. My mission is to do the same for others.”
Our Team in DRC
Nancy and Bea
Nancy and Bea are our program team in the Congo. Their last names are withheld for safety reasons. They work directly with our clients, receiving grant proposals, making funding recommendations to our Board and supporting and monitoring projects in progress.
Board of Directors
Becky Jasper
Board Chair
Becky, a former Peace Corps volunteer, served in the DRC (then known as Zaire) during 1989-1991 developing sustainable funding projects at a hospital in Mushenge. Today she is Director of International Purchasing at Entrust Datacard. In her spare time she volunteers with nonprofits including Pro Player Foundation who has raised over a million dollars to find cure for MS and is still active, and spent 10 years on the board of Peace Corps Friends of the DR Congo.
risha rathore
Board member
Risha is a Financial Analyst in the Finance Leadership Development Program at General Mills. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, with majors in Finance and Healthcare Management and earned her MBA from Olin School of Business.
Lois Dirksen
Board Member
Lois is President and Partner of LEVEL Brand, a brand development and advertising agency based in Minneapolis. She is a graduate of Arizona State University. Lois has made many trips to East Africa on behalf Wellshare International and has spent time in Goma, DRC.
Georgette nyoum
Board Member
Georgette is an experienced Senior Social Worker and a graduate from National School For Social Welfare Officers Yaoundé. She worked with the Ministries of Women’s Affairs and Social Affairs in Cameroon to empower women and to fight against poverty.
ANDREW JENSEN
Board Member
Andrew is the Cost Accounting Manager at Entrust Datacard located in Shakopee, MN. He graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, NE with majors in Accounting, Economics, and Dance. He also holds additional accounting credentials with a Certified Management Accountant designation from the Institute of Management Accountants.
TOI GIBBS
Board Member
Toi Gibbs is a Senior Procurement professional for a leading aerospace company in Redondo Beach, CA. She holds an MBA from Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. Her passion is customer service and making the impossible possible for both internal and external clients. She seeks to contribute and make a difference for the women supported by Saidiana.
FORMER BOARD MEMBERS:
Pat Gaarder
FORMER Board Member
Pat recently retired after a long, public service career at the Minnesota Historical Society. Much of her experience was in human resources, providing her with deep experience in strategic planning, program administration and problem resolution. Her life-long commitment to social equity brought her to First Step Initiative and its work with the women of Lubumbashi. Pat holds a MA in women’s history from Sarah Lawrence College and a BA from Macalester College.
Ellen Wolaner
Board member
Ellen is Director of Finance and Operations for Wallin Education Partners. Ellen has extensive international experience in Europe and North Africa and speaks French fluently. Ellen holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School and a BS in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University.
ALBERT NYEMBWE
Board Member
Albert was born in Lubudi (Katanga Province) and was a French teacher at L’Institut Technique de Mutoshi, Kolwezi in the Congo. He now teaches in the Districts of Minnesota and Anoka in Minneapolis. After graduating in 1974, from l’Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa), in the Department of French and Latin, he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1999. Albert has also written a number books and dictionaries.
Caitlin Gokey
Board Member
Caitlin is a Senior Planning Analyst and Community Liaison for Hennepin County. She holds an MPA form New York University and has many years of international experience in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Her commitment to advancing human rights and ensuring access to justice for vulnerable populations is evidenced by her work with Vera Institute of Justice.