About us
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Signs of Hope in Africa, started in 2003 after the founder volunteered in the village of Jambiani, Zanzibar in Tanzania. After working in the village for two months with five Deaf children at the local school and teaching English to several villagers, Kristi saw ways in which some project work could support locals in their struggle to meet everyday needs. Signs of Hope started to take shape and has been growing ever since.
Founder and President
Kristi Falconer
A freelance sign language interpreter working with the Deaf community since 1992, in Victoria British Columbia, Canada, Kristi has been active in community building projects both locally and internationally as well as within the Deaf community. She travels extensively and has done presentations and facilitated workshops in Canada, the United States, Cuba, Tanzania, and Scotland. She is a strong believer in positive role modeling and mentoring of children and youth who will become our future leaders and humanitarians. She volunteers with local NGO’s as well as several international organizations. Kristi inspires all those she meets through her passion, commitment, and dedicated approach to Signs of Hope in Africa and she truly believes that Together we CAN make a difference.
Vice-President
Colleen Pritchard
Born and raised in beautiful Victoria, B.C. Canada. Colleen is a Registered Massage Therapist with an insatiable appetite to learn and help people achieve optimal health and wellness. Colleen brings to Signs of Hope in Africa a background in public relations, marketing and fundraising. Colleen believes that all people, have the right to high quality, compassionate, and comprehensive health care and education. Through her volunteer work she looks forward to bringing her commitment and dedication to these causes. In her spare time she loves the outdoors and spending time being creative with her husband and family.
Treasurer
Candice Madalena
Born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, Candice attended the University of Victoria and graduated in 2009 with a BSc. She took advantage of the co-op option for her program and spent one of the placements volunteering overseas in Uganda, Africa. There she immersed herself in Ugandan life, taught computer courses, and volunteered at a hospital. Her main interest was in understanding the culture and the different way of life so that she could educate other people in the western world. Now she works at the Innovation and Development Corporation, the technology transfer office for UVic, in hopes of continuing to work her way up in the science side of business.
Director
Mrisho Haji Vuaa
Born and raised on the island of Zanzibar, upon completing high school, Mrisho enrolled in a Hotel and Tourism training program which led him to eventually be hired as the Hotel manager in one of the local hotels in Jambiani. He has also completed a Project Planning Management Program, a Human Resource Management Program and has been trained as an HIV/AIDS educator. Along with his hotel management work, he worked for three years as a Public Relations Officer with the Pro-Poor Tourism Project in Jambiani which ended in January 2009. Mrisho is a Board member of the Jambiani School, a Director with Hands Across Borders Society and a Director of Signs of Hope in Africa. He is also responsible for training and mentoring the recipient families of Signs of Hope in Africa’s Family Sponsorship program.
Secretary
Brittany Scarrow
Born and raised in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario Canada, Brittany attended the University of Victoria and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science. She works at the Innovation and Development Corporation, at the University of Victoria and looks forward to furthering her career in the science side of business. Brittany believes that all children and families have a right to basic necessities and education. She was inspired by the simple and effective community support provided by Signs of Hope in Africa to children and families in the village of Jambiani, Zanzibar in Tanzania and wanted to be a part of the organization. She brings an administrative skill set to Signs of Hope