We value the support of partners in our activities.

Partners

GWEN WAGES

Gwendolyn Miles Wages grew up in northeast Mississippi and earned a B.A. in biochemistry and molecular biology from University of Maryland in 1995. She worked 20 years in biotechnology in the field of clinical molecular diagnostics and Quality Assurance in Maryland, California, and Oregan. In 2001, she and her husband John M. Wages, Jr (originally from Tupelo) returned to Mississippi where she attended the University of Mississippi and earned a Master’s degree in sociology in 2007. She and her husband taught workshops for Heifer International and worked to establish the state’s chapter of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group. In 2006, she was a board member of the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP. From 2011-2014, she worked as a volunteer at the Charles Street Cummunity Gardens (Sunnyvale, CA) and BioCurious (a non-profit science education and technology center, biocurious.org). In 2014, she joined her husband John om developing and launching Permaculture Design.

JOHN WAGES

John M. Wages, Jr. grew up in northeast Mississippi and earned a B.S. in biochemistry from Mississippi State University in 1983 and a Master's degree in biology from Johns Hopkins in 1988. He worked 16 years in biotechnology in the field of clinical molecular diagnostics (DNA-based testing) in Maryland, northern California, and Oregon. In 2001, he and his wife Gwendolyn Miles Wages (originally from Starkville) returned to Mississippi where he taught in the Natural Sciences Division of Itawamba Community College and consulted in the fields of clinical molecular diagnostics. In 2004, he was elected to the Lee County Election Commission. He and his wife taught workshops for Heifer International and worked to establish the state's chapter of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group. In 2006, he was an invited speaker on DNA forensic testing at the Mississippi Public Defenders' annual workshop. Since 2004, he has served as associate editor (Senior Editor, since 2012) of the Permaculture Activist, a quarterly magazine of solutions based on ecological design. In 2014, he acquired the business and relaunched the magazine with a new name: Permaculture Design. In 2011, he returned to northern California as VP Technology Development for Panorama Research, a life sciences incubator in Silicon Valley. At Panorama, he has been instrumental in establishing several new projects that have been spun out as separate companies in the fields of polymer science, cell separations, and advanced biofuels.

ANTENEH ENDALE MAMO

Managing Director of Visions of Ethiopia Tours

Mr Anteneh Endale Mamo was born in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia. He holds a diploma in Tour Operations from Lions Ethiopia Tourism College, as well as other tourism related qualifications from Germany.

Anteneh has been working in the tourism sector in Ethiopia and Germany for 12 years. He established his own tour company in Ethiopia in 2010, called Visions of Ethiopia Tours, where he is Managing Director. Visions of Ethiopia Tours specializes in high quality photography tours in the Omo Valley region, Southern Ethiopia.

Anteneh is involved with various charitable organizations in Ethiopia. He has played a critical role in our Ethiopian operations helping to secure and deliver high quality medical equipment to medical centers in the Lower Omo Valley, Southern Ethiopia.

Banchwosen Mechal

Banchwosen Mechal leads the clinic in Turmi, South Omo zone, Ethiopia She integrates emergency obstetrics, gynecology and general surgery. She was born in Jinka, South Ethiopia on 23 April 1981. She completed High School in Jinka in June 1998, graduated from Yirgalem School of Nursing with a diploma in clinical nursing, from the University of Hawassa with a Bachelor of Science in public health in September 2006, and again from the University of Hawassa with a Masters of Science degree (MSc) with integrated emergency obstetrics & gynecology and general surgery in January 2012. A life in surgery was tough and challenging given her background having grown up in this rural pastoralist and totally male dominant community. After receiving all her education, she joined the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia and has been serving the pastoralist Hamar community in health care. Since the year 2000, she has been head of more than two health centers, providing curative and preventive services to clients at the out-patient and in in-patient level, actively participating in outreach health care services, provide major and minor operation services to different natives and providing on-job trainings to health care workers. In September 2015, for her accomplishments and commitment to serve the community, the Zonal and district government awarded her a Certificate of Recognition. In October 2000, she was assigned to lead Turmi medical center where she successfully managed and directed the health care team of 26 members. Currently she and her team provide; emergency obstetric care such as cesarean section delivery, abdominal hysterectomy, emergency gynecologic surgery, laparatomy for bowel obstruction, peritonitis, resection and anastomosis of bowel, thoacostomy, cystotomy, orthopedic care: such as treating fracture by reduction and immobilization by use of traction and plaster of paris. Emergency life support care and managing any emergency patients from this rural pasturalist communty. Banchi is the mother of two children's aged 7 & 3 years old.

Darius JANTUNG

Darius Jantung was born on the Komodo island of Indonesia in 1990. His parents are farmers and he is the youngest of five chilldren. After graduating highschool Darius worked as a waiter in a bar at Gili Air Island before returning to Komodo and working at PT. Grand komodo Tour and Travel as a travel guide. He has since in enjoyed this job so much that he continues to provide tour guides to this day.

RONNIE SHAW

Ronnie Shaw received his Bachelor's degree in American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley in the fall of 2003. In conjunction with research on West African dance, his passion as an avid dancer and academic, he was compelled to study abroad at the University of Ghana in West Africa, which changed his life.

After living in Ghana his commitment to creating progress in Africa was solidified: "People often refer to Africa as a place of absolute hopelessness but there is a spirit of kindness, love, and humanity that I'd never experienced in my life prior to going to Ghana. It is my goal to utilize the vibrant beauty of African culture, dance and music, and weave it into a tapestry of change for the well-being of the people."

Ronnie graduated from the University of California Los Angeles in the Master's of African Area Studies program in the spring of 2006, and runs Sankofa Center's volunteer program throughout the year.

LESLIE LOVEN

Leslie is a career Executive Assistant who currently works for Velocity Pharmaceutical Development and is responsible for providing high-level support to the team, as well as managing the daily operations.  Previously, she was an Executive Assistant at CMEA Capital supporting the Life Science team. She began her career 20 plus years ago as an Executive Assistant supporting the Vice President, Stores and Operations at Pottery Barn and The Limited, Inc.  Leslie studied Business Administration at San Francisco State University.

“After working with Dr. Larrick for the last 6 years, he has opened my eyes to the world outside ours.  To be able to help Juvare has been very rewarding for me.  I am very proud to be associated with such a wonderful organization.”

Daniel D. Thomas

Daniel D. Thomas is one of the most well-known and respected Real-Estate Brokers in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Since starting his Career at the age of 19, he has climbed the ranks to become a Top Producing Realtor in his Area with Millions of Dollars in Closed Transactions.  By the age of 23, Daniel became one of the youngest Real-Estate Brokers in the Country to open his own Firm (Daniel D. Thomas Real-Estate) in Fairfield, Connecticut.  After a successful stint as an Office Owner, Daniel took the next step, and merged his Office with RE/MAX Right Choice; raising in the Ranks to become the companies top agent under 30 Years Old. RE/MAX is the largest Real-Estate Company in the World, and Daniel's Branch is the Top Producing in Fairfield County.      Daniel’s Passion stretches beyond Real-Estate, as he believes in making small differences in his local community. In 2009 he set up the Daniel D. Thomas Scholarship Fund, which offers College Scholarships to students from modest backgrounds. He is also involved in quarterly food drives for his local rescue mission as well as donating regularly to The Children's Miracle Network (Helping to find cures for childhood diseases). When Daniel isn’t selling Real-Estate, he enjoys traveling with his wife, playing chess, and meeting new people with big hearts and great ideas. A Quote from Daniel : "Live for the Beauty in Life, Work for the better of the World, & Your Journey will not be wasted"

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