Meet the Lalafofofo Team
Laura Vaughan, Executive director
In 2015, Laura and her three sons moved to Moshi, Tanzania to attend school and perform service learning. With this experience came the beginning of Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa. Prior to moving to Moshi, Laura held positions at Genentech Inc. and ALZA/Johnson & Johnson in Regulatory Affairs. As Executive Director of Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa, Laura focuses on poverty alleviation, improved access to education, and women and girls’ empowerment. She leads summer immersion trips from the U.S. to the Tanzanian Maasai Bush and works with Maasai women on economic empowerment. A graduate of the University of California, Davis and Utah State University, she holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences and an M.S. in Plant Science. Laura enjoys hiking, skiing and traveling, and lives with her husband and three sons in Silicon Valley, California.
Gaudencia “Gaudy” Mtunga, Tanzania COuntry Manager
Gaudy co-founded Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa with Laura Vaughan in 2015 and has been working as the Tanzanian Country Manager since then. Gaudy lives in Moshi, Tanzania and has a degree in Accounting. She is currently pursuing further education in social work. An experienced translator familiar with the impoverished areas of Kilimanjaro, Gaudy serves as a women’s advocate in Boma Ng’ombe. Gaudy’s enthusiasm and expertises benefit Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa abundantly.
Justin Mtunga, Program Manager
Justin began working with Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa in 2018 as our go-to handy-man. He can fix and build anything, anytime. Justin visits projects in the bush on a regular basis, implementing and monitoring all programs. In the Spring of 2021, Justin became the Program Manager for our Solar Technology Program and has overseen all installations and community feedback. This Fall Justin has also become the Program Manager for our new Public Health & Sanitation Program.
Monica, Group Home Coordinator
Monica has been working as the "mama" at the group home where our Maasai girl scholars live in Moshi since January, 2021. Monica works full-time taking care of the girls who go to school in Moshi, and is herself a single mother. Originally from Kilimanjaro, Monica is a hard-working and gentle soul. We are so excited to have her in our our family.
Nicole PIres, program manager
Nicole is a graduate of Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in International Studies with concentrations in Human Rights & Humanitarianism and Spanish. Nicole has lived in Tanzania, China, Chile and Spain, speaks Spanish and is learning Swahili.
Since May 2020 Nicole has been working with Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa as the Program Manager for the Girls Scholarship Program. As a member of the Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa team, her passion is to empower girls around the world through education and community.
Bertha, Data Coordinator
Bertha has been working with Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa since the beginning. Given her background in accounting, Bertha began as the on-the-ground accountant for Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa in addition to collecting and organizing all field data in Tanzania. This year, she also begun conducting field visits for the Stunting Prevention Program. We are so grateful to have Bertha on our team!
CLaire Clapp, Social Media Coordinator
A recent graduate from the University of Puget Sound, Claire studied International Political Economy and Spanish with an emphasis in global development and health policy. Claire joined Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa as a college intern in January 2021 for three semesters before coming on part-time in 2022. She is enthusiastic about working with other dedicated individuals to accomplish the shared goals of female empowerment and poverty reduction.
Modesta, Program Manager
Modesta joined Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa in 2020 as a program assistant for the Girls Scholarship Program, where she worked with Gaudy on administrative tasks and programming for the scholars. In 2021, Modesta became the Tanzanian Program Manager for the Stunting Prevention Program and conducts weekly visits with participants and female community leaders. Modesta loves speaking with young women about their passions and helping ensure bright futures for all Maasai girls.
Abraham Molel, Tanzanian Community Liaison
Finally, Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa’s local community liaison, Abraham Molel, joined the Tanzanian staff in June 2015. Abraham is a respected Maasai village elder in Boma Ng’ombe, and his family lands are adjacent to Sanya Station public school. Abraham is often seen riding his "piki-piki" or motorbike checking on the school, hence providing us with first-hand observations on our progress. Welcome to Abraham! We feel confident that our mission will flourish as a result of working with him.