MISSION STATEMENT

Dr. David Angwenyi, is our Founder. He grew up in the village of Nyanchonori, Kenya. In 1994, David emigrated to the U.S.  He has his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration.  Dr. Angwenyi currently teaches Biology at Hopewell Valley Regional School in New Jersey. 

David's passion for connecting and inspiring others led him taking many student groups to Kenya, starting in 2007.  

David's student groups & parents created the Hopewell-Keroka Alliance (HKA) that successfully fundraised and built infrastructure for the village including an access road, a high functioning well, electricity, and a medical center, to name a few.

Global Connections Foundation was then created to encompass a larger community to fundraise and build the Risaga Connections Center!

Dr. Angwenyi's Awards:

• Brazil Educators Cohort - 2012
• Entrepreneurship of the Year Award by StartUpAfrica - 2018
• Excellence in Education Award by Committee Teaching About United Nations (CTAUN) - 2010
• Fullbright - Teachers for Global Classrooms by United States Department of State - 2012
• George Washington Leadership Award by Cyrus-Lodge of Trenton, NJ - 2014
• Global Teacher Prize Award Nominee - 2016
• Kiongozi Award by Hopewell-Keroaka Alliance - 2017
• Life Changer Honor Roll by National Life Group - 2018
• Top 100 Visionaries in Education Award - GFEL - 2021

Ruth Haines is our Executive Director (ED), and is directing our daily operations. She is a liaison to our Kenyan board members and staff, manages our Village Empowerment Projects, Entrepreneur Development Programs and our Mentorship Team, organizes our fundraising events, manages all financials and budgeting goals and is dedicated to steering us to fulfill our mission.

 Ruth's experience and passion has been 40 years of involvement in non-profits relating to missions in Haiti, prison ministries, school fundraising & events, chaplaincy, trauma recovery and inner city homelessness and substance addiction volunteerism.  

Ruth is a TedX speaker on the subject of seeing the value in ALL people and the impact mentorship brings to the direction of someone's life. 

Ruth has been an executive administrator and project manager in the corporate world and an entrepreneur that has forged many businesses empowering and supporting women and children. 

Ruth has been married to Steve Haines for over 30 years and is the proud mother of 5, now adult, children and 4 grandchildren!

Steve Haines Chief Operations Officer (COO) 

Steve notes that our amazing team of directors, board members, advisory groups and volunteers, in the U.S. & Kenya, are committed to building teams that empower the community of Nyanchonori, Kenya through Educational and Entrepreneurial endeavors. We are putting our vast combined experiences into action.  

In addition to his work with GCF, Steve is an entrepreneur and author with many pursuits and passions, mainly in youth development and education.

Steve is the President and CEO of Advantage-USA, an International Educational Consulting Company dedicated to global education and language immersion experiences. 

Steve spent 20 years as a teacher, and has written and delivered his unique, interactive teacher/leader training course that has taken him to China and Uganda, training close to 4,000 teachers.

 Steve is also the founder and Executive Director of Camp Concepts, Inc. where he designs and directs summer day camp programs for children ages 2-16. Steve has been a camp industry leader and for over 30 years.

DIRECTOR OF BRANDING & MARKETING

 Steven is invaluable for his talents in Branding and Digital media and is helping Global Connections Foundation to build a successful brand that will be recognized around the world.

Steven is a graduate from Waynesburg University, near Pittsburgh, PA and is currently pursuing an additional degree in education at Wilson College while teaching at Rhema Christian School in PA.

Steven recently got married to the lovely Sophie Haines, a reading specialist in education and they reside in Waynesburg, PA.

DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS IN KENYA.

Enock was born and raised in Nyanchonori, and still lives there with his wife and 3 yr old twins. After his 0-level was completed, he proceeded to Kisii National Polytechnic in September 2011 to study Telecommunication Engineering and he graduated in 2013.

Enock has dedicated his whole adult life as a volunteer in trying to educate his peers in Kenya to maximize their free time to get busy doing something constructive rather than involving themselves in drug abuse, crime, etc... These struggles are a result of frustrations due to lack of  job opportunities.

Enock is delighted that GCF introduced him to opportunities such as the Football Club/Soccer Team and the upcoming Risaga Connections Center facility that will empower his fellow youth and the elderly as well.

David is currently the founder and CEO of a multi-million dollar company, an industry leader by the name of Asphalt Care Equipment, Inc. David started the company as he was working his way through Wharton Business Program. David has a strong aptitude towards business development, finance planning along with setting best practices in policies and procedures. Over his 42 year career, David has been involved in building businesses in the areas of retail, construction services and real estate investing. He currently serves on the Board of several local committees including; the Economic 

Development Corporation and the Bensalem Impact Group. David is active with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and is part of their Founders Society.  David is also involved in supporting several Prison Ministries. 

Utpal Kapadia is an IT executive with over 30 years of global experience working in USA, India, and Japan. He has extensively worked within BFSI domain with fortune 500 clients. He founded SKAPS solutions with a vision to bring all his learnings, experience and network, to serve small-businesses, startups in early stage and nonprofit organizations, with a mission to help them access the same kind of expertise and resources that Fortune 500 companies leverages for success. Utpal is an engineer with a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications from University of Mumbai. He is also professionally trained by KMPG for CMM assessment for IT firms and has assessed Patni Computers (Capgemini), a global IT services firm at CMM level IV. Utpal's mantra for success is to always find solutions that are win-win for everyone involved. He has been actively involved in charity and volunteer work within local communities and global initiatives. He currently serves on the board of a couple non-profits and is a technology advisor to a non-profit association serving members in PA, DE and MD region.  

Debbie has been teaching 4th grade in the School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for 22 years.  She sat on the Building Committee and Site Selection Committee at her school as well. Debbie has also been the Director of Expressions Day Camp for nine years. This camp is for children 6 - 18 yrs of age who have social skill deficits such as High Functioning Autism & Asperger's Syndrome.
In 2019, Debbie twice, took 2 groups of students to China with the Global Youth Foundation and can't wait to go back!
Debbie is married with a wonderful son named, Adam! 

Vincent was born and raised in Kenya where he attended the University of Nairobi Kenya.  Vincent Immigrated to the United States in 1998.  He currently serves as the Senior National  Vice-President of Invida Financial Network. This holistic financial service organization helps families and business owners put their financial houses in order. As a financial advisor for the past 12 years, Vincent has proven instrumental in providing education-based solutions to families, communities , churches and small business owners.

Previously, Vincent worked as quality control manager at Beiersdorf E.A in Nairobi Kenya. 

He also spent some time as a High school Mathematics /chemistry teacher in the Baltimore Maryland school system.  In addition, his experience includes analytical chemistry for the Baltimore water treatment and senior environmental chemist in the  Department of Environment  for the state of Maryland.

Vincent is the founder and president of UNCLE VINCENT MONGARE FOUNDATION.  Inspired by the self-sacrificing way his Uncle, Stephen Momanyi,  took Vincent under his wing to love, care and mentor him, this foundation is his WHY and PURPOSE to give back to others in the same loving way.  In honor of his  Uncle Stephen's sacrificial love and effort, Vincent now works to provide the same mission of love towards others.

Vincent’s efforts have been graciously recognized by others as he has been recognized by the following awards: 

2021- Invida presidential award- in recognition of life change and impacting lives in the community 

2020 - INVIDA FN -MVP of the year 

2019 - Men Impact Change Honoree

2018 Agent Do Good Award winner- Issued by National Life Group 

2015 ACA "ACE" Award Recipients American Classic Excellence-Issued by American classic Agency 

Romy Toussaint also known as: “The Energy Queen.” helps people  transform their lives through habits that give them abundant physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy so they can show up fully present, in integrity, and on purpose so they can do their unique work in the world.

She is a certified transformational conscious leadership life coach, a certified Yoga Health Coach.

She is a professional speaker and presenter on the benefits of conscious leadership, mindfulness, yoga and wellness. She is an expert at customizing and facilitating physical activity breaks and mindfulness sessions at conferences and workshops for all types of groups and organizations.

Romy has introduced hundreds of people to the benefits of yoga and mindfulness for over 25 years. She owned a successful private yoga studio and yoga school for 10 years, and managed another thriving studio of 12 plus teachers. She studied alignment-based yoga, Kundalini, Hatha, Vinyasa yoga and meditation with a variety of teachers.

Romy is married to her life partner for 35 years and is the mother of 4 amazing sons and a grandmother.  Nature is her favorite playground and she is committed to living the kind of life where she has the flexibility to do her work wherever she is or wants to be; set her own schedule; have time and energy to be of service to her family and friends and be able to travel and experience the world.  Romy graduated from the University of Rochester with a B. A. in International Relations and Third World Studies.  Look for  Romy roaming in a trail somewhere out there!