Frank Smith
Frank is an artist (click here to visit his studio) and a retired secondary school visual arts teacher. He still teaches privately in his own studio. After retirement Frank began to devote his time to volunteer and humanitarian work. He volunteers at Camp Oochigeas, a camp for children with cancer, and serves on the Southlake Regional Health Centre’s Artistic Enrichment Committee. Frank is also a member of Friends of the Heart, a meditation and healing centre in Toronto. However most of Frank’s time lately is devoted to his vision of developing ABCD: Art Building Children’s Dreams to further the educational goals and lives of the beautiful children that he has met in Tanzania.
Lynn Bird
Lynn, a retired clinical laboratory manager, brings over 20 years of corporate operational and financial management experience in both private business and in the healthcare field. Lynn is the Past President of the Rotary Club of Newmarket and continues to be active at a district level. Her passion for world community service joyfully fills each day — until the young grandchildren come to visit. Then they command her undivided attention and will surely “teach me all I really need to know”.
Joe Crone
Joe brings to ABCD: Art Building Children’s Dreams his love for children, his music, his passion for teaching and ideas to help us grow and strengthen in our capacity to help our children in Tanzania. One of his visions is to see a ‘twinning’ program between schools in Canada and the schools our children attend in Tanzania for mutually beneficial growth and learning opportunities.
Agnes Kessy
Agnes is the Community Development Officer for Marangu West Ward. She has an advanced diploma in community development with a bias in participatory project planning and management. ABCD is grateful for her expertise and advice on the projects underway in the community.
Rose Nestory Lyimo
Rose has been the Ward Executive Officer of Marangu West Ward since 1999. The WEO is appointed by the District Government as a non-political government employee with many responsibilities for the governance of Marangu West Ward. Rose was a Village Executive Officer for Kyala Village before becoming WEO. She is committed to helping the people of Marangu West and advising ABCD in its efforts to do the same.
Sebastian Fabian Masaro
Sebastian is a second year accounting student at Ushirika Cooperative College of Business, in Moshi, Tanzania. He lives in Marangu West with his family. Sebastian is happy to be able to support his community by acting as the agent/coordinator for ABCD: Art Building Children’s Dreams Canada. Sebastian enjoys reading, football (he is an Arsenal supporter), meeting new people and exchanging ideas. He has a great sense of humour and a very sociable nature.
Terry Maynard
Terry has worked as an instructional designer and facilitator since 1986 for employers such as CIBC, Simcoe District School Board, and Employment Ontario. Terry believes that education is key for developing countries… ”a gift that keeps giving”. Terry is committed to designing effective training and education for developing countries and communities, evidenced by volunteering to design training proposals for troubled teens, people of First Nations, and communities in Inuvik and South Africa. www.unlimitedworth.com
Merrin McHugh
Merrin has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Guelph and has completed the Fundraising and Volunteer Management Certificate Program at George Brown College. She is now working on a Post-Graduate Certificate Program in International Development at Humber College. Merrin has traveled in Africa and Latin America and has volunteered with Amnesty International, Mexico Solidarity Network, OPIRG, Guelph Research Center for Gender Empowerment and Diversity, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Tibrus E. Mlay
Tibrus has been the Ward Education Coordinator for Marangu West Ward since 2001. Prior to that he was a primary school teacher and Head Teacher at various primary schools. Tibrus is very familiar with the schools of Marangu West Ward and is a valuable advisor to ABCD in improving the educational opportunities for the children.
