Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1961, Cherie grew up in typical, middle class neighborhoods in Toronto, Mississauga, Burlington, and most recently Simcoe, Ontario. She attended Mohawk College (Accounting) and McMaster University in Hamilton (Women’s Studies & Religious Studies) and has worked in real estate since 1980 in accounting, management in ginseng farming since 1992. She is mom two adult step children Amanda and Stephen, and their younger "Tanzanadian" brother Kelvin and is “Mama” to the “watoto” (children) of Tumaini!
Cherie volunteered with the Burlington Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce); with Girl Guides Canada as a troop leader & regional director; as a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization; and has volunteered on several different committees within her church. She is a three time recipient of the Rotary’s "Paul Harris Fellow".
Early in 2009 Cherie tended to her dying father (prostate cancer) nursing him through his death in April. Shortly after his funeral she vowed to realize a lifelong dream to “give back” some of the many blessings she has enjoyed over the years. Africa, and its’ terrible need has tugged at her heart for many years.
A local newspaper ran an article on Tanzania and helping children and the link was Oddo. They met initially over the internet, Cherie decided to make a trip to Tanzania to investigate and the rest as they say, is history.
Mr. Oddo Joseph Ndonde was born in the village of Songea in southern Tanzania, August 23rd, 1964. The eldest of seven children he trained in the seminary and studied to become a Roman Catholic priest. He is married and has four healthy children, Elizabeth, Joseph, Ruthie and Reuben.
Oddo is well qualified to assist children in need and has attended several training programs and courses over the years including: Public and International Relations; African Traditional Studies; Conflict Resolutions; Children’s Rights; Clinical Pastoral Education (Counseling); Counseling for Traumatized Children; Project Planning and Management; Financial Management for Development Organizations; Gender and Good Governance and Civics Participation in Local Governance.
Since 1997 Oddo has dedicated himself to working with vulnerable and orphaned children in different organizations before cofounding Tumaini Children’s Foundation with Mama Dee. He has held the positions of Central Manager, Project Manager, Counselor and Assistant Director and has been a member of the Executive Committee of the National Networking of Organizations working with Children in Tanzania (N.N.O.C.) and participated in forming the Forum for Child Concerned N.G.O.’s in Arusha (F.O.C.N.A.)
Joining Mr. Oddo on a walk through the streets of Arusha is all the validation he requires as most adults and the many street children of “town” refer to him as “Teacher”.
Leslie has been educator for over 30 years and currently works as a Literacy/ Numeracy Coach with Grand Erie District School Board. Leslie first travelled to Tumaini in 2017 for what she knew would be a life changing experience. She returned in 2019 and plans to return regularly to the children and adults she has grown to love, respect and appreciate. Having always had a passion for facilitating excellence in youth and an interest in Africa, Tumaini was an easy fit for some of Leslie’s life goals. Leslie continues to support Tumaini by participating in ongoing educational growth ventures, in guidance and care for Tumaini children, and in supporting the many fundraising requirements needed to run the foundation. In 2021, Mama Dee nominated Leslie as the Executive Director of Tumaini Children’s Foundation Canada.
Tine Migerode first traveled to Tanzania in 2010 when she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in memorial to her uncle. She returned in 2012, to Tumaini on her first volunteer visit and has returned many times since, but we can no longer call Tine a volunteer for she has become our #1 DADA!
Born and raised in Wetteren, BE, Tine earned her Masters degree in Finance and Accounting and among an endless of skills and talents she brings to Tumaini, Tine also manages and audits our finances and prepares our Tumaini Tanzania financial statements.
Having fallen in love with our children, and our system of running Tumaini like a family instead of a business, Tine has dedicated her volunteer hours (and those of her husband Tom and family and friends) to Tumaini by establishing and running a Tumaini Belgian support organization: www.tuchifo-belgium.org
Tine is mother to Lowiek and Nore and she adres this role, but she reserves a big piece of her heart for sharing love with her young Tumaini brothers and sisters!
TUMAINI TEAM TANZANIA
Frank attended University of Dar es Salaam, obtaining his B.A. in History and Archeology, and then began supervising field studies in university. He worked with Ifakara Health Institute dealing with HIV+ victims. Frank taught secondary school for four years before joining our Tumaini team, bringing his skills to us in Administration and Project Management.
Mama Aloyce, aka Tumaini, is one of very few loving step mothers in Tanzania. The struggles of daily life don’t usually include caring for the children of another, and yet, this mama loves both Aloyce and Junior as if she had given them life herself. Abused and neglected by the boys’ father, and having given birth to two more children (Vanessa and Stanley), she came to us very sick. Tumaini located her a home and we found sponsorship support for all of the family. In thanks, she has joined our team of loving mamas, giving care to our children, especially little Glory who now regards her as her own mother!
Mama Chi was one of our first mamas and continues to support Tumaini in this way.
TUMAINI TEAM CANADA – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Davies retired from a 37 year career in banking in 2010, the same year he joined us at Tumaini as Treasurer.
John has volunteered with Heart and Stroke for almost three decades, with the Simcoe Panorama since 2011, the Norfolk General Hospital Golf Tournament since 2013, and volunteered on the Canada 150 campaign in 2017.
John studied Business Administration at St. Lawrence College and carries his Professional Financial Planning designation.
John is one of our founding directors (2010).
Born and raised in Simcoe, Ontario, Lisa and her husband David own and run two successful businesses:
The Dolmor Salon – http://dolmor.com
& My Top Drawer – http://mytopdrawer.com.
Lisa is mother to two sons, dedicated to supporting her community (and Tumaini) philanthropically and loves to be active! She is one of our founding members on the Board of Tumaini and has volunteered her support since 2010!
Bobbie Jo attended Mohawk college and graduated from the Pharmacy Technician Program. She continues to work in Pharmacy and runs a successful wedding planning/decorating business: https://www.facebook.com/Unveiled-Custom-Wedding-and-Event-Design-354199401264719/
Bobbie Jo is married and has two boys. She first visited Tumaini in 2015, fell in love with every one of the children and has returned to visit them several times. She joined our Board of Directors in 2017.
Becky Pow first visited Tumaini in 2011 with her sister and friends. She was moved by what we do at Tumaini and decided she wanted to help. Becky has been a volunteer with Tumaini since 2011 and officially joined the board of directors in 2018.
A mother of three adult children, Becky has worked for over twenty years as a Parent Program Assistant and Community Screener for Hearing for the Norfolk County Health Department. Sympathetic to children, especially with learning challenges Becky has brought her heart to Tumaini, spearheading fundraising drives, assisting with organization and sorting in our Tumaini House (warehouse), and is our go to resource for just about anything that needs constructing or repair. She is an angel (malaika) and we are very grateful to have her!
“Dada” (Sister) Sydney first volunteered with us at Tumaini in early 2018, helping teach in the local secondary school, running a math camp for our Tumaini children as well as bringing volleyball to our family!
Syd studies Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo and she expects to use her knowledge and skills to help improve a dire water situation in Tanzania. She joined the Tumaini board in 2018.
Director of Child Welfare and Social Work
Sharon has over 39 years of experience in the field of social work and has a strong passion for children and families resulting in a 33-year career in child welfare. This passion brought Sharon to Tumaini for the first time in January 2018 and has since returned on numerous occasions.
Sharon has been deeply impacted by the experiences she has had during her visits to Tumaini. She is actively involved in providing support and guidance to the children and staff of Tumaini; assists in the Tumaini donation barn and participates in ongoing fundraising efforts. Sharon has a Master of Social Work degree from McMaster University. She has been a Board Member since 2019 and began the role of Social Welfare and Child Well Being Lead for Tumaini in 2021.
Lauren is an Educational Assistant with the local school board and worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor for 8 years.
She has been involved with Tumaini since 2015 and has travelled to Tumaini three times. On her trips, Lauren typically assists with school work and teaching swimming lessons. She joined the Tumaini board in 2021.
For over 30 years Pam has worked as a pharmacist in various roles including dispensing, business operations and leadership. She currently works for a health tech start up that develops clinical decision support tools. In 2018, Pam, her husband Kevin and daughter Maddie did an epic family travel adventure that brought them to Tumaini to volunteer. The experience was deeply impactful and led to an enduring love and connection to the Tumaini community. Pam and her family continue to raise funds and awareness as well as look for ways to bring more like-minded people together to join this worthy effort. Pam has a pharmacy degree from the University of British Columbia and joined the Board in 2021.