ASFE Board Members - USA
Ashley Washburn
Founder and President
Ashley Washburn has a BS Degree in Business Management and Marketing from Montana State University. Prior to starting a family and raising her four sons with with her husband Jay, she worked in sales and marketing in the construction industry. She served 9 years on the Board of Trustees at both the Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Ct and 7 years on the Board at The Covenant Preparatory School, a tuition free independent middle school for underserved boys in Hartford, CT. In her heart she is always in Tanzania with the ASFE students.
Jay Washburn
Treasurer
Jay Washburn has Master's Degrees in both Finance and Education. He has been a History/Social Studies teacher at Glastonbury High School since 2005. Before embarking on a teaching career, he was President of a family-owned business that manufactured and sold industrial sewing machines around the world. " Ashley and I fell in love with the Tanzanian culture and people during a trip to Tanzania with our four boys in 2006." ( Jay Washburn)
Kay Hurst
Vice President
Kay has a BA in Liberal Arts with a focus in Behavioral Studies from Oklahoma City University. She has a career of working for international companies in Information Technology and now does consulting work in the same field.
She has a past history of serving on the Boards of other Oklahoma City based charitable organizations related to HIV/AIDS and equality.
Kay shares a passion and love for Tanzania and its people, especially those close to ASFE and BEE.
Eva Barnes
Board Member
Eva is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Eva fell in love with Tanzania while volunteering there in 2009 and 2010, and wanted to help ensure that all children had the access and means to a primary and secondary education. After working for 12+ years in consumer marketing, Eva changed careers and now currently works as a Development Officer for Partners in Health.
Marybeth Hodson
Secretary
Marybeth holds a Master's Degree in Psychology and works as a professional independent educational consultant placing international students in US boarding schools, colleges and universities. She has been on the ASFE Board of Directors nearly from the inception. Marybeth is the mother of 2 daughters who have traveled with ASFE and helped with our programs and considers the commitment to ASFE a family affair.
JoAnn Lohneiss
Board Member
JoAnn Lohneiss is the mother of FIVE daughters and very active in the public school system in West Hartford, Ct. Prior to starting her family she worked at SNET and now runs a family owned business. She is an active board member who hopes to meet our Tanzanian students in person in the near future.
Tanzania Staff and
Board Members
Glory Mosha
BEE Montessori Preschool Head of School and Board Member
Glory, the youngest of eleven children raised by her single mother after her father passed away when she was one, originates from the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. She moved to Dar es Salaam to stay with her brother after completing Secondary School in 2010. She received her certificate in Computer Application from Tegeta Computer College and joined the International Montessori Teachers College in Dar es Salaam receiving her Diploma in Education and Child Care in 2016.
Glory joined Asante Sana For Education in early 2017 to help with the start up of BEE Montessori Preschool. Under her direction as head teacher BEE grew from 15 students in 2017 to 92-100 students since 2020.
In January 2023 Glory was promoted to Head of School.
Azizi Issa Mkwinda
Director Students Empowering Students
Azizi is originally from the Masasi District in Mtwara Region in the southern part of Tanzania. He is the first born of four children, three sons and one young sister.
Azizi finished Form Six at the Chidya Boys’ High School in July, 2020 and joined the Tanzanian Army Training Program for three months which he completed in November 2020 after which he attended The University of
Dar Es Salaam (UDSM). He did very well in his studies and received his Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies (BADS) in July 2023 as well as receiving a computer certificate award.
Vanessa Msengi
ASFE Financial Analyst
Vanessa was born in Tanzania's Mtwara region but raised and lives in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. She is the third born in a family of 4 children, 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
Vanessa graduated from the Institute of Rural Development Planning of Dodoma in 2022 with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and Investment Planning and Management. She has a passion for community wellness especially youth development.
Vanessa joined the ASFE Team as a Financial Analyst starting in January 2024.
Albina Simon Stowa
Teacher at BEE Montessori Preschool
Albina is the third of nine children from the Singida region of Tanzania where her parents both still live. She graduated from Secondary School in 2010 and had her son, Innocent, in 2012.
Albina’s parents cared for her son when she moved to Dar es Salaam in 2014 to study English followed by getting her Diploma in Education and Child Care from the International Montessori Teachers College in 2016.
Albina and her son joined BEE Montessori Preschool in early 2017 . Her son was one of BEE's first graduates and is now attending Kigongoni Pre and Primary School Bagamoyo.
Salome Wandwi
BEE Montessori Preschool Teacher
Salome, the oldest of 3 children raised by her mother, completed her secondary education in 2011.
She graduated from Mtumba Teachers College in 2014 with a Certificate of Nursery Teaching and then joined International Montessori Teachers College in Dar es Salaam where she received her Diploma of Early Childhood Care and Education in 2016. Salome is grateful for the support of her mother and uncles who made her education possible.
Prior to joining ASFE she spent several years working at a preschool in Dar es Salaam.
Zauna Hashim Komba
BEE Montessori Preschool Teacher
Zauna, the oldest of two children, was raised by her grandmother and step-mother. After graduating from form 4 secondary school in 2016 she took a year off while her family raised money for her to attend the International Montessori Teachers College in 2018. We first met Zauna in early 2019 when she came to BEE Montessori Preschool for her field study. Poverty again prevented her from returning to college in June 2019 so she volunteered at BEE for the remainder of 2019 and returned to college in January 2020 with full sponsorship from Asante Sana For Education. Zauna graduated from The International Montessori Teachers College with a Certificate of Early Childhood Care and Education in November 2020 and returned to BEE Montessori Preschool as a full time teacher.
Efraim Dastan Missani
BEE Montessori Preschool Teacher
Efraim is the oldest of three children raised by his single mother in Nanyumbu, Mtwara Region, Tanzania.
He graduated from Secondary School in 2015 and 2016 joined Montessori Teachers college after being helped by his Niece. In 2017 he received his diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education, Based on Montessori Philosophy.
Efraim fell in love with the kids while volunteering in church Sunday classes at the age of 15. Efraim is happy now and grateful to serve the kids of BEE and enjoy his career with Asante Sana For Education. He is a wonderful male role model for all our students.
Grace Mwang'ombe
BEE Montessori Preschool Assistant
Grace, the oldest of 5 children, was raised by her grandmother since she was 4 years old.
After graduating from primary school in 2000 she attending a bakery training school for 2 years. In 2002 she was able to join secondary school with the support of donations from her teachers and an after school job as a housekeeper. Upon graduation of Form 4 took a full time job as a housemaid in Bagamoyo. The year prior to joining ASFE she rented a small room and supported herself by selling fruit in the neighborhood.
Grace Is wonderful with the children at BEE.
Dorina Yona Hussein
Cook
Dorina is the 7th of 11 children. She is fortunate to have both parents still together but due to poverty was not able to continue her formal education past primary school when she graduated in 2000. She originally came to Bagamoyo from the capital, Dodoma, as a housemaid. In 2015 she married and now has 2 children.
Prior to joining ASFE Dorina was a cooking for the sisters at a local parish.
Veronica D Mapunda
Cook
Veronica, the 6th of 6 children, is the mother of a 9 year old son.
After graduating from Form 4 in 2006 from Uwino Secondary School attended Hotel Management at Bagamoyo Institute of Tourism. Upon graduating in 2008 she worked at both Skylight Hotel and Malaika Hotel as a waitress and at Gezat as a housekeeper and cook. She joined Asante Sana For Education as a cook for BEE Montessori Preschool in 2022. Veronica is quiet and charming she is happy to work in our team.
Jeofrey Schone
Security Guard
Jeofrey, the oldest of 3 children raised by his mother, never attended school due to extreme poverty. When he joined Asante Sana for Education in 2019 the BEE Montessori Teachers enjoyed teaching him how to read and write allowing him to read and write text messages.
Jeofrey moved from his village Mbozi in Mbeya region to Bagamoyo with his uncle who had him grazing cattle for many years before becoming a security guard at a local college. Joefrey joined us in 2019 as our primary security guard and all-around helper.
Jeofrey has 2 children who live with his wife in Tanga region of Tanzania.
Juma Ramadhani
Security Guard
Juma was born in Ninga Village in Tabora Region in 1990 and raised by his single mom. He completed primary school and then neede to help support the family. Juma is excited to be getting married in February 2023. Juma loves his job as a security guard and all around helper at BEE Montessori Preschool. He is very happy to work at Asante Sana For Education.
Hagai M Mwaigomole
General Assistant
Hagai, born March 2, 1998, is the forth of five children of our beloved cook Lucy who passed away in 2022. During his birth the cord was wrapped around his neck causing a lack of oxygen resulting in Cerebral palsy and occasional seizures.
He completed Primary School in 2017 but poverty prevented him from attending Secondary School. He and his siblings live with their father in Bagamoyo. He joined Asante Sana For Education in 2023 as a general assistant to all. He is grateful and happy working with Asante Sana For Education and we are so happy to have him with us.
Asante Sana For Education is a 501(c)3 orginization in the U.S.A. and a registered NGO (Non-Government Orginization) in Tanzania.
Contact Us:
Email: asantesana4education@gmail.com
Addresses:
P.O.Box 270177
West Hartford, CT 06127 USA
P.O.Box 249
Bagamoyo, Tanzania AFRICA