Who We Are
Did you know that over 3 million children are orphaned or living at risk right now in Uganda?
WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO SURVIVAL.
There is an urgent need to assure that the 3 million orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda have access to a safe home, nutritious meals, schooling, and stable communities. Study after study demonstrates that these factors are crucial to a child's ability to thrive, and we know that helping a child flourish doesn't end with a successful guardian placement, but also depends on the stability of the community at large.
LAHU-USA is committed to facilitating empowering, sustainable change in both urban and rural Uganda. We strive to give community members the tools, training, and support to maintain and grow each project, and believe that this holistic approach fosters permanent change that will improve lives.
With your help we can improve the lives of millions of Ugandan children and their communities!
FOUNDER/PRESIDENT
Harriet Zaffoni
Harriet Zaffoni, Founder and President of Lend A Hand Uganda-USA (LAHU-USA), is inspired and motivated. Her deep-seated compassion for the millions of at-risk and vulnerable children in her native Uganda inspires her humanitarian efforts. Her motivation is the mandate to make their lives better.
After working side by side with members of LAHU in Uganda, Harriet recognized an urgent need for better funding so more children could benefit. When she returned to her home in New York, she founded LAHU-USA, a sister organization that works closely with its Ugandan counterpart.
Harriet has rallied the combined forces of her U.S. friends, contacts and connections to wage battle against the poverty, homelessness and abuse of vulnerable orphans and children in Uganda. Funding vocational programs and basic services for the children is LAHU-USA’s primary goal.
Through events such as the Annual Poker Tournament, LAHU-USA Gala, Summer Soiree in New York City, the group raises funds to support LAHU’s horticulture & agricultural and vocational projects. The programs help at-risk orphans and vulnerable children in the safe setting of their communities creating brighter futures.
Amy Noelle proudly serves on the Board and she is the Director of Operations assisting the President in all aspects of the organization. Professionally, Amy manages a team of analysts to administer, oversee, and optimize the employee benefits for major corporations. By navigating challenges and changes as they occur, she makes sure her beneficiaries are properly cared for, both professionally and philanthropically. A thriving former business owner, Amy instinctively grasps the bigger picture and the bottom line, also contributing in the review of financial statements.
Fenton Aylmer has been affiliated with LAHU-USA since the spring of 2017. He serves on the Board and is LAHU-USA’s Treasurer.
Fenton has over 3 decades of experience as a Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and senior risk executive in large regional and money center banks. After his corporate career, he became an independent risk strategist working with Boards and C-Suite executives in the financial services industry helping them improve risk culture and proactively identify and avoid risks that threaten their strategic objectives.
He is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RiskCounts, a risk advisor and Risk & Compliance-as-a-Service company. He is also helping a ClimateTech company broaden the utility of their platform to help banks assess climate risks in their loan portfolios.
MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Stephen Kisambira
Peter Dressel
Steven Conyers has over 20 years of experience in providing business focused Information Technology services. Significant expertise includes creative approaches to solving business problems with technology, reducing operating costs and improving competitive advantage, revenue potential, and the timeliness and usefulness of information.
LAHU-USA is excited that he has been a founding member of the board, lending his expertise to the growth of the organization.
MEET OUR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING/BOARD MEMBER
Petia Abdur-Razzaaq
Petia Abdur-Razzaaq has been a part of the Tribal Council of LAHU-USA since 2014. She was recruited by Harriet over lunch one day, and without hesitation, has been an instrumental part of the marketing efforts for the organization ever since.
Petia brings with her over 20 years of experience in digital marketing. She began her corporate career at boston.com, where she developed effective online marketing campaigns for major clients such as Dunkin Donuts and Fleet Bank. Over the past ten-plus years, as the Lead Digital Strategist and Founder of The Stylista Group, Petia and her team have developed and implemented digital marketing plans that have produced outstanding measurable results.
Petia was one of the original Speakers for Constant Contact’s Local Authorized Experts program. As a member of the program, she delivered best practice presentations on email marketing and social media at local events and business expos in New York City. Today she holds a similar role as a third-party Trainer for the Grow with Google Program.
LAHU-USA is excited to welcome Petia to our Board of Directors and looks forward to her efforts to build a strong marketing team.
MEET OUR UGANDAN COUNTERPART
Princess Mazzi Margaret Wampamba
John Kwamya
Princess Mazzi Margaret Wampamba
Margaret-Anne Mazzi Wampamba was born in Uganda years ago. She is now a retired civil servant of the United States Government at the National Science Foundation (NSF). She also worked at other U.S. government agencies, i.e. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). At NSF, she worked with scientists in various directorates supporting scientific research funding.
Before moving to USA, Ms. Wampamba lived in the United Kingdom where she did her college education. She also attended college in Paris, France for both traditional and modern French language.
During her retirement she continues to support those who seek funding for scientific research especially in materials science. Her main hobby is writing. She has published 3 children’s books, one poetry book and her latest novel, The Virgin Journey, which is a trilogy.
Ms. Wampamba is very well travelled all over the world and she enjoys gourmet entertaining. She loves the arts and thrives on donating her time to the unfortunate all over the world. She lives in Kampala, Uganda and Falls Church, Virginia, USA.
MEET OUR TRIBAL COUNCIL LEADER
John Kwamya has been leading the efforts of the volunteer Tribal Council that is responsible for organizing LAHU-USA’s events and fundraising endeavors throughout the year.
His is an experienced business transformation executive at Citi and has with deep expertise in driving growth, reducing costs, improving operations, and successfully creating solutions for complex business problems.
He received a Master’s in Chemical Engineering and an MBA. He is certified in Lean Six Sigma and has practiced in a Master Black Belt capacity (since 2007).
MEET OUR DOCUMENTARIAN
Peter Dressel is LAHU- USA's official documentarian, using his 10+ years of professional experience to help LAHU - USA show the world what we do, who we are, and how our projects unfold. Peter was a part of the team traveling to Uganda in the Fall of 2014, where he captured some wonderful images that you'll see all over our website. When he's not taking photos with us, Peter specializes in interior photography for interior designers and architects in New York. He is also known for his portraiture and documentary photography, and you can see more of his work on his website: www.peterdressel.com
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Amy Noelle
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Fenton Aylmer
Our 501(c)(3) certificate is available upon request: info@lahu-usa.org