Chief Executive Officer Expand Nicola Chevis - Chief Executive Officer Nicola joined Vision Aid Overseas in March 2017. Since 1994 Nicola has worked for different International Non-Governmental Organisations starting with Oxfam GB coordinating their work in East Asia and then in Mozambique, with GOAL Ireland as a Country Director in Sierra Leone and with Voluntary Services Overseas first as a Country Director in Vanuatu and then as their global head of programming planning and monitoring and evaluation based in London. Latterly she worked for Save the Children International firstly for their Global Campaign to reduce maternal and child mortality and for the last 3.5 years as their Deputy Director and then Interim Director for their Child Protection work globally. Nicola brings her strengths in driving high quality programmes, institutional funding, working with volunteers for development impact and leading high performing teams to the CEO role. To contact Nicola, email [email protected]
Country Manager - Ethiopia Expand Belachew Paulos - Country Manager Belachew Paulos joined Vision Aid Overseas in April 2016. He was born in a small town in Ethiopia called Yirgacheffe, 395 km away from the capital city, Addis Ababa. In 2012, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Optometry from Hawassa University. Since graduating, he has been working as an Optometrist at Zewditu memorial hospital in Addis Ababa. In his spare time, Belachew is the President of the Ethiopian Optometry Association. To contact Belachew, email [email protected] Team members Aster Berhanu - Programme Manager Aster Joined Vision Aid Overseas in May 2021. Since she graduated from Jimma University in 2007 with Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she has been working in different governmental and non-governmental organizations for almost 14 years. Starting as health care worker in a remote health centre, she has been working with World Vision Ethiopia as health Facilitator, health specialist and Emergency response coordinator and with The Fred Hollows Foundation as project officer, project coordinator and finally as technical advisor. To contact Aster, email [email protected] Meron Mideksa Wakjira - Junior Finance Officer Meron joined Vision Aid Overseas in August 2019 and works working as a Junior Finance & Admin Officer. She was born in a small town of Ethiopia called Southwest Showa, 90km away from the capital city, Addis Ababa. In 2019, Meron graduated with a Bachelor of Art degree in Marketing Management from Rift Valley University College.
Finance Team Expand Justin Rees - Interim Director of Finance Justin’s career has been as a financial management specialist within the public and charitable sectors. As a qualified Chartered Public Finance Accountant and with senior experience in the health service, education and not for profit sectors Justin’s role is to ensure VAO has the Finance and IT services necessary to deliver its mission and achieve its strategic goals. To contact Justin, email [email protected] Team members Trudy Moody - Finance and Admin Officer Trudy joined Vision Aid Overseas in September 2009 as Finance and Administration Officer. Her role has developed a lot over the years as the charity has grown and she primarily manages the income and expenditure of the charity, including regular donations, memberships and Gift Aid. She supports all the teams at the charity, including Fundraising and Programmes. Before joining VAO, Trudy spent many years working in HR at both British Airways and a pharmaceutical company. [email protected] Fouzia Toufeeq - Finance Officer [email protected] For general finance enquiries please email [email protected]
Fundraising Team Expand Amber Woodward-Brown - Head of Fundraising and Communications Amber joined Vision Aid Overseas in October 2020 and has a very strong background in Fundraising and Communications. Having worked for St John Ambulance, Alzheimer’s Society and Make a Wish UK in various senior roles she brings passion and expertise in community fundraising strategy, volunteer management and key corporate account stewardship. She is a member of the Institute of Fundraising and was invited to sit on the prestigious IOF forum for corporate retention, picked to advise the IOF annual convention as an industry leader. Amber lives on the beautiful East Sussex coast and enjoys sea swimming and family adventures. To contact Amber, email [email protected] Team members Matthew Bentham - Fundraising and Communications Officer Matthew has volunteered for many causes, from local community groups to national charities, and has training in fundraising, graphic design and journalism. He has also worked in a variety of communication roles in local government, academic publishing and environmental groups. He lives on the south coast of England and knows the value of VAO’s work, as he has been wearing glasses since the age of nine. [email protected] Ros Bird - Fundraising Consultant – Institutions Ros has 20+ years experience working in a variety of charity fundraising/marcoms roles including over 10 years with the NSPCC (multi income streams) and more recently as Head of Fundraising for The Virtual Doctors. Ros helps us to develop Trust, Foundation and Institutional Funding relationships. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (International Advance Diploma) and holds a CIM Marketing Diploma. She is an experienced Trustee/volunteer/company secretary. Now living in West Sussex, she has spent several years living in Kenya and has also worked in Zambia. Ros loves hiking and jogging and takes a keen interest in conservation. [email protected] For general fundraising enquiries please email [email protected]
Programmes Team Expand Anne Buglass - Director of Programmes Anne Joined Vision Aid Overseas as Programme Manager in September 2015. She liaises with our staff and partners overseas to manage and develop our international programme work, as well as supporting the development and deployment of Professional Volunteers. Prior to joining Vision Aid Overseas, Anne was Deputy Director of Operations at an international volunteering organisation. To contact Anne, email [email protected] Team members Ibrahim Abdallah - Deputy Director of Programmes Ibrahim Abdallah is a Public Health and International Programmes Development Specialist with over 10 years’ experience. In the past 8 years, he has been actively involved in policy planning, advocacy, influencing and innovative programme development within the health and social services sectors. He has worked directly in areas of health systems strengthening, Social Enterprise for ASRH & Family Planning commodities and services financing, Social and Behavior Change Communication, Research, Monitoring & Evaluation, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health, Adolescent Sexual reproductive health, Nutrition, Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, Child Protection and Safeguarding. Ibrahim has a background in Psychology, Public Health, Programme development, Project Management and Economic Policy Management. [email protected] Karen Sparrow - Education and Training Director (Volunteer) Karen Sparrow is Head of Global Programme Training at Peek Vision, a non-profit, social impact technology start-up leading ground-breaking work to develop smartphone solutions to reduce avoidable blindness across the world, and especially in low- and middle- income countries. She trained at Cardiff University and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine where she gained a Masters in Public Health. Her work focuses on mentoring and training optometrists and eye health professionals for non-profits, Universities, NGOs and national Optometry associations. She has also been involved in policy and regulatory work in the UK, Europe and worldwide. She works closely with a number of bodies on global optometry and eye health education, including the World Council of Optometry, Vision Aid Overseas and the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers. She has volunteered for NGO Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) since 2007, leading many teams to Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia and Botswana, helping to provide sustainable eye health solutions with local partners. As Education and Training Director (volunteer) she also supports and delivers new volunteer and team leader training in the UK as well as overseas eye health education programmes. This has included creating and evolving volunteer training, and a review of University-based training and support, resulting in the creation of clinical modules for Optometry Schools. Currently she is supporting a complete review of VAO training materials in refraction, paediatric optometry and low vision, in order to ensure our materials match our partners needs, are in line with best practices and global standards and support eye health personnel to use their skills effectively in their setting for improved patient care and outcomes. [email protected] Judith Trigg - Professional Volunteer Co-ordinator Judith joined Vision Aid Overseas in 2014 and coordinates requests from our country programmes for support through our volunteer programme. This includes facilitating remote work groups, overseas assignments and training courses. Judith also assists with administrate projects and procurement. She has visited all our programme countries, gaining a good understanding of how our Professional Volunteers can enhance our programmes. Prior to joining VAO Judith had 9 years’ experience in a management role in the voluntary sector, having previously had a career in business travel. In her free time, she enjoys live music, travel and spending time with her family. [email protected] For general volunteering enquiries please email [email protected]
Sierra Leone Team Expand Alfred Yambasu - Country Director Alfred Yambasu is an experienced public health specialist and program manager. Previously he was a health program manager for GOAL Sierra Leone for 3 years, gaining experience of the Sierra Leonean Health systems working in both preventive and curative health institutions. Alfred has experience working with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and National and International non-governmental organisations such as Vision Aid Overseas, GOAL Sierra Leone, St Luke society, the Shepherds Hospice and Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF-Belgium). He has managed funding from various funding agencies including UNICEF, EU and USAID successfully. Alfred became Sierra Leone Country Director for Vision Aid Overseas in 2014. To contact Alfred, email [email protected] Team members Allieu Saccoh - Programme Officer Allieu FB. Saccoh is the Programme Coordinator for Vision Aid Overseas. A position he has held for the past five years, from April 2016. He is a Sierra Leonean and hails from Kenema District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Allieu Like the country director, is a Health Care Worker and a Public Health Specialist with both Clinical and Public Health experience. Together with the Country Director, he has successfully coordinated and completed eye care projects with VAO in Sierra Leone. [email protected] Joseph Karimu - Community Mobilizer (PEC programme) Joseph Moiwo Karimu is the Community Mobilizer for Vision Aid Overseas. A position he has held for the past two years, from June 2019. He is a Sierra Leonean and hails from Kailahun District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Joseph Moiwo Karimu is one of the two community mobilizers implementing the Primary Eye Care Project in Sierra Leone Salamatu Munu - Community Mobilizer (PEC programme) Salamatu Munu is a Community Mobilizer for Vision Aid Overseas. She has been working on the Primary Eye Care project (PEC) to mobilize and sensitize community people since 2019. Salamatu is a Health Care Worker with Public Health experience. She has successfully mobilized and participated in the implementation of two Eye Health Projects with VAO in Sierra Leone. Morei Yambasu - Driver (Eastern Province) Morie is a professional driver and mechanic who has served VAO for over 7 years. His professional driving and mechanic experience has seen a lot of UK volunteer outreach activities to Sierra Leone very successful and safe. Angeline Samuels - Finance Officer Angeline F Samuels is the Finance Officer for Vision Aid Overseas a position she has held for 2 years, from June 2019. She is a Sierra Leonean and hails from Bombali District in the northern province of Sierra Leonean. She has very good financial expertise in both private and public sectors and has worked for local, national and international organizations in Sierra Leone. Joseph Gbao - Office Assistant Joseph Gbao is the Office Assistant for Vision Aid Overseas Kenema office. A position he has held for the past one year, from January 2020. He is a Sierra Leonean and hails from Bo District in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. Joseph Gbao has kept both the Kenema office and VC in a Hygienic condition with Infection Prevention and Control experience.
Zambia Team Expand Godfrey Mwelwa - Country Director Godfrey Mwelwa is a development professional with 24 years experience in development work. Godfrey is a graduate of the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo where he obtained a degree in International Relations in 1991 and has several certifications. Godfrey is an effective leader and professional whose areas of expertise include Partnership Development, Resource Mobilization, Public Relations and Networking Community mobilization and Participatory methodologies, strategic Planning, Project design and implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation. Godfrey currently serves as Country Director for Vison Aid Overseas based in Lusaka Zambia. His role is to develop and lead the Vision Aid Overseas’ Zambia programme to support its mission of enabling people living in poverty to access affordable glasses and eye care. The Country Director is responsible for planning, implementing and managing the Vision Aid Overseas’ programme in Zambia to meet the objectives of accessible, comprehensive, quality eye care for all. This position reports to the Director of Programs. To contact Godfrey, phone +260 977774204 or email [email protected] Team members David Mwitumwa - Programme Officer David Mwitumwa is the Programme Officer at Vision Aid Overseas Zambia Office. His role is also to assist the Country Director to develop and lead the Vision Aid Overseas’ Zambia programme to support its mission of enabling people living in poverty to access affordable glasses and eye care sector. He also provides Technical Support on the Vision Centres equipment setup and maintenance. Before joining Vision Aid Overseas in 2008, David worked for Zambia electricity supply co-operations (ZESCO) as lines patrol officer under National Control Centre (NCC) for maintenance of 11kvs and 33kvs. [email protected] Wendy Musonda - Project Officer Wendy Musonda is the Project Officer at Vision Aid Overseas Zambia Office. Prior to her current role, she served as a researcher on the MasterCard Foundation’s Youth Think Tank research program, and led a team of researchers on a separate project sorely responsible for disseminating research findings to the necessary government bodies and relevant stakeholders. Passionate about youth engagement and leadership, Wendy also serves as a board trustee for Restless Development Zambia hub, specifically under people and safeguarding. Fuelled by her passion for quality education, human rights and development, she studied a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with education and is currently pursuing a second degree in bachelor of Laws (LLB).