Our Staff

Together with our supporters, we're just trying to be good neighbors
by lending a hand to people we know can change the world.
Peter Chasse, Founder

Peter Chasse, President & Founder

Peter founded The Water Project in 2006 with a committed group of students in Saint John, NB, Canada where he was serving as a Pastor. Together they set out to complete one water project after hearing of a specific need in Kenya.

It quickly became evident that by equipping people with the right tools for telling the story of water, a movement could take hold. Within three years, and after officially founding the organization in the U.S., TWP had raised its first $1 million of support for clean water projects - almost all through individual and small group efforts.

Together with early supporters and volunteers Peter learned how a lack of safe and reliable water stands in the way of hope. He also quickly realized that only together with local partners, the communities we serve, and you - through intentional relationships - can we change that one village at a time.

Water projects relieve suffering, open doors to education, stimulate economic development, and most importantly introduce a true and lasting hope.


Peter's vision continues to see access to safe water enabling thriving schools, people getting back to work, farming that provides enough food to earn a living, and needless suffering alleviated as health improves.

Most importantly Peter is convinced that providing water to those who need it most is a natural and humble expression of faith that teaches us to love all and serve the poor.

Peter's background in software design, marketing, non-profit development and faith-based ministry enabled TWP to grow rapidly through grass-roots and deeply relational fundraising campaigns around the world. By leveraging and integrating modern cloud-based software solutions he also purpose-built the backbone of The Water Project's unique online project management and reporting tools together with our website. These solutions bring scalable and approachable software tools to the front lines of the water crisis where transparency and accountability are critically needed. Though his passion is helping others find reliable access to safe water, Peter finds his greatest joy hanging out with his wife, three children, twenty-seven chickens, two fish and a dog.

Hear more from our Founder »


Stan Patyrak

Stan Patyrak, Executive Vice President

Stan has been engaged in water programs since 2006 – and across 14 countries. He’s seen impact, seen challenges, and comes to this work asking hard questions to improve why and how we do what we do. His best days are connecting major investors with the meaning and impact they desire (and deserve) from their giving.

Stan joined The Water Project as VP of Strategy and Development in October of 2014. We’re excited to have him working directly with our Development and Program teams. To know Stan is to know his determination towards transparent water programs that last.

Stan lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and two kids. He enjoys good coffee, camping with his family, hiking, and his 1989 VW Westfalia.

Spencer Bogle, Director of Program

Read Spencer's Story

Spencer has a passion for building relationships with our partners so that local questions and local knowledge lead the way in developing solutions to local problems caused by lack of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.

He envisions access to clean water as a right to life, and seeks to build partnerships that challenge political and economic commodification of life’s precious resource. He also believes that charity is best expressed through solidarity with those who are suffering, which opens doors for collaboration in restorative work toward justice in the water sector.

Spencer holds a PhD from Southern Methodist University where he researched intersections of theology and international development, with particular attention to water development in sub-Saharan Africa. Spencer lived and worked in the Busoga region of Uganda for 6 years, where he developed a local water, sanitation, and hygiene program. He loves the adventure of life with his wife and two boys, whether skiing, hiking, or watching baseball. He also loves to read and write about theology and global affairs.

Allison Fechter Gregory, Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Resolution & Learning

Read Allison's Story

Allison brings six years of international development experience to The Water Project. Most recently, she worked as a graduate research assistant for The Water Institute at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a focus on monitoring and evaluation of water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) programs. She helped WaSH implementing organizations leverage monitoring and evaluation data to maximize the impact of their WaSH programs. Allison loves data – collecting it, analyzing it, and most importantly, using it to identify strategic opportunities for improvement.

Allison has a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Tufts University. Allison loves traveling, spending time outside, and finding exciting new ways to perfect her process of brewing pour over coffee.

Courtney Feild, Director of Marketing

Courtney’s diverse nonprofit experience includes over 15 years of fundraising and marketing experience within affordable housing, aging services, the arts, and economic development sectors. At The Water Project, she works to deepen the connection of our supporters with the impact of their giving, and provides "soon-to-be" supporters with opportunities for impact. We’re so excited to have her passion and experience working for those in need of sustainable, clean water.

Courtney has a Master of Science in nonprofit administration from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art, Temple University. Courtney lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with her husband and three kids.

Dan Kim, Director of Finance and Operations

Read Dan's Story

Dan joined The Water Project in 2019 to help us continue operational excellence within the organization. He's a lynchpin in HR, finance, compliance, working with our partners and everything in between.

Dan spent the last 20+ years working in technology and consulting at both large companies and small startups across a variety of industries. His entrance into the non-profit world came in 2011 when he helped establish a microfinance organization working with the people of South Sudan. This breadth of experience has given him the opportunity to continually learn from different perspectives, to work with people globally, and to take risks and try new things. He is excited to be a part of bringing reliable clean water to the developing world and making a positive impact on people's lives.

Dan holds degrees in Computer Science and Math from Duke University. Originally from Canada, he now lives near Boston, MA with his wife and two daughters. When not working, you can usually find him leading music at his church or cheering on his girls in tennis and gymnastics. And while he loves Boston sports, he still has a soft spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Blue Jays.

DeCruz Pulikottil, Director of Philanthropy

DeCruz is the Director of Philanthropy for The Water Project where he works closely with supporters who seek deep investment into our work.

He has a passion for connecting generous families and individuals to world-transforming work. This is undergirded with a passion for true justice. He comes to The Water Project with over a decade of experience, raising resources for everything from life-saving addiction recovery for people struggling with homelessness to the freedom of enslaved women, men, and children around the world.

DeCruz has a Bachelor’s in Communication from Azusa Pacific University with a minor in Theology. A longtime resident of the Pacific Northwest, he is a fan of the NBA Portland Trail Blazers team, watching Malayalam-language cinema, and dining at interesting restaurants.

Humphrey Buradi Zadok, Director, Regional Service Hub, Western Kenya

Humphrey was born in Nairobi, Kenya and he has spent eleven years in and around Kakamega, Kenya developing the water and sanitation organization that he founded, the Western Water and Sanitation Forum. Humphrey is committed to developing leaders and connecting people. He feels happy to put a smile on the faces of the people after guiding them along a journey toward reliable clean and safe water and sanitation facilities. Humphrey believes that by saturating communities and regions with safe, reliable, and sustainable water access in partnership with The Water Project, Kenya will be a water secure state with healthy citizens.

As a committed Christian, Humphrey is married to Janet and they are blessed with 4 beautiful daughters named; Christine 25, Patricia 22, Daisy 19, and Caroline, 17. Humphrey considers his work with water and sanitation to be a gift from God. Since beginning this work as a family, their lives have changed through the services of “letting the water flow…” Humphrey believes that water is a foundational resource that elevates people from poverty.

Gladys Akinyi, Assistant Hydrogeologist, Regional Service Hub

Gladys Akinyi was born in the Rift Valley Region of Nakuru, Kenya. She has experience in geoscience, which has been improved by working in the Hydrogeological Department in Western Kenya. Gladys enjoys using geophysical methods for site characterization in hydrogeological investigations and analysis by using electrical resistivity imaging and ground-penetrating radar, which aids in delineating subsurface structures and identifying potential groundwater flow paths (aquifers). Gladys believes in incorporating geophysical methods that will enhance our understanding of the subsurface structures and optimize project outcomes within The Water Project.

Gladys’s primary responsibilities include performing environmental impact assessments, inspecting boreholes, conducting hydrogeological investigations, applying for water permits, supervising groundwater drilling operations, and confirming the borehole completion records after drilling.

Gladys believes that, just like water sustains all living beings, The Water Project’s efforts as an organization sustain the hopes and brighter dreams of the communities it serves. Gladys likes hiking, learning more about geoscience, watching movies and documentaries, and listening to music. She loves teamwork and collaboration with colleagues.

Margaret Akinyi, Office Assistant, Regional Service Hub

Margaret Akinyi serves the entire Western Kenya team within our Regional Service Hub. She works hard, loves her work and her teammates. Prior to working with The Water Project, Margaret successfully started a beauty salon business and led it to become an established brand in the area.

When not working she is spending time with her husband and her three kids: Marvel, Rennitah and Bright. She loves traveling and nature and values her openness and sincerity.

Isaiah Sihuli Andoyi, Assistant Water Quality Officer, Regional Service Hub

When we asked Isaiah what he enjoys, he mentioned lab testing for water quality in the same sentence as playing chess, pool, and watching football (soccer). Maybe that’s his degree in BSC Industrial Chemistry with Informational Technology speaking, considering he’s also interested the anti-corrosion effects that aluminum sulphate and chlorine can have on well parts made of metal. Aren’t we all!

Isaiah helps to run The Water Project’s water quality testing program in Western Kenya, where he (and we quote) “runs water lab tests with utmost accuracy and procedural precision to ensure accurate results with null procedural errors.” If you are after safe water, Isaiah is the professional you want on your side.

When not working in the lab, he joins the Operation and Maintenance team in making sure that communities can count on safe water for years to come.

Chris Carvache, Full Stack Developer

Chris Carvache has been a technology enthusiast for as long as he can remember. As a six-year-old he brought C++ books to the beach and helped his parents pick out their first computer.

The ones and zeros have been an integral part of his life - and he's spent 15 years working in the technology sector with almost exclusively web-based technologies. Chris has built countless websites, apps, and bots spanning many different industries for organizations of all sizes, including Prudential, Intel, and top design organizations in Connecticut.

When Chris is not coding or tinkering with small electronics projects, he spends his time with his family, working on his music project ‘Straplocked’, and trying to create the perfect sandwich.

Olivia Chebet Bomji, Impact Communications Officer

Olivia joined The Water Project (TWP) family in 2018 as a Training Officer for the Western Water and Sanitation Forum in Kenya, which works with TWP to implement water projects in Western Kenya. In 2023, she transitioned to working at our Regional Service Hub as an Impact Communications Officer to record and share the stories of community members. Having grown up in a community without a source of clean water herself, she knows firsthand the struggles brought on by a lack of safe, reliable water.

Her passion is working together with community members to bring change through problem-solving. She loves her work so much because it lifts her spirit when she sees people without clean water celebrate receiving a new water source. In her view, service to humanity is service to God, which is what motivates her to achieve the goals and objectives of her work and those of her organization.

Olivia was born in Bungoma County, Kenya. She lives in Kakamega County with her husband and two beautiful children, Angel and Adams. Her hobbies are singing, cooking, watching movies, taking care of her family, and watching football, too, because she is a Chelsea fan.

Jacklyne Chelagat, Impact Communications Officer

Jacklyne started her career within The Water Project (TWP) network in 2013 as a Field Officer at Western Water and Sanitation Forum in Kenya, which works with TWP to implement water projects in Western Kenya. In 2018, she was promoted to Training Manager, where she oversaw the process of training communities in important hygiene and sanitation topics and developed the organizational standards for the same. Then, in 2023, she joined The Water Project as an Impact Communications Officer, where she records and shares the stories of the people we serve.

Jacklyne has a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies from Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology. She has also attended multiple training and certification programs to help her better serve communities, including The Water Project Training for Issues Surveys (2020), The Global Leadership Summit Training (2019), Kenya Agricultural Productivity Programme (KAPP) (2015), and The Virtues Project Training Program (2013).

Jacklyne was born in Vihiga County, Kenya. She is married to a teacher named Simon and is a mother of four: Precious, Trevor, Stan, and Melissa. She is the last born in a family comprised of 3 boys and 4 girls.

Tess Crick, Senior Philanthropy Officer

Read Tess's Story

Tess is a relationship builder by nature. Connecting with people to help them achieve their goals in giving is the focal point of her work, and she’s fueled by the daily reminder that people are needlessly suffering without access to safe clean water in the developing world.

Before joining The Water Project in 2011, Tess became involved in water solutions in 2008 with her own personal fundraising effort to help a community. Traveling to Rwanda, Tess saw the impact water scarcity has on people. "I saw children with bright minds playing one minute, and going to get water from runoff under a road embankments the next. I knew I couldn't just donate and move on... my heart wouldn't let me."

Tess brings a diverse background to The Water Project that includes 25 years of relationship and project management experience in both for-profit enterprise software ventures, and non-profits development and advocacy work.

Living in Concord, NH with her cute dog Java, Tess enjoys cooking, travel, and almost anything that can be done outside in the fresh New Hampshire air.

Maggie Evans, Donor Engagement Specialist

Maggie joined The Water Project team in 2017 and is responsible for working with our amazing fundraisers and groups taking the Water Challenge. After serving a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Southern New Hampshire University, Maggie wanted to continue to help others and at The Water Project she is doing just that!

She is excited to inspire and support folks as they raise money for clean water. She also supports our marketing and communication efforts, helping to create new and creative ways to spread awareness about the water crisis.

Maggie loves being outside, going to the beach, music, and in the fall cheering on her favorite sports team, the New England Patriots!

Jamie Heminway, Copywriter

Jamie is a storyteller by nature. In joining the Water Project, she’s finally found a workplace where her pesky bleeding heart can be useful (and, less importantly, that BA in English Language & Literature from New England College). Born in New York, Jamie learned that kindness is paramount to personal growth and happiness.

At first, when learning to read, she had a difficult time. Then, after a great deal of trial and error, reading clicked. She has never stopped reading or writing since. Whether it was bringing home giant towers of books from her local library every week or writing stories about talking golden retrievers and forest spirits (respectively) on her classroom’s shared computer, Jamie found no pleasure greater than stories.

Becoming a Copywriter for The Water Project fulfills her lifelong dream: storytelling for a living and having “writer” in her job title.

Jamie writes novels (historical, science fiction, fantasy – all kinds) in her spare time. One day, she hopes to be published so you’ll see her work at your corner bookstore. For now, she writes for others during the day and herself at night.

Jamie lives with her husband in Pembroke, NH, with two cats (named Fitzwilliam and Georgiana after the Darcy siblings in Pride and Prejudice) and a bearded dragon named Mike.

Kelli Hilton, Program Reporting Services Officer

Kelli’s greatest passion is helping others. She finds fulfillment in improving the lives of others and helping them reach their full potential. With a vast background ranging from working in elementary education to non-profit client and program management, she hopes to utilize those skills to help bring sustainable, clean water to communities in need. She lives in rural NH with the love of her life, their two young daughters, and two rescue dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys playing guitar, running, and drinking too much iced coffee.

Mark Ingari, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Regional Service Hub

As Monitoring and Evaluation Officer within The Water Project’s Western Kenya program, and rooted within his degree in political science and sociology, Mark discovers what works, what doesn’t, and why, in our WaSH program. Mark believes in every community's unique agency to improve their own future, and loves seeing The Water Project be a partner in that development. He also loves the laughter and teamwork he experiences from the rest of his The Water Project colleagues. (They are a fun bunch, for sure.)

Mark watches documentaries and reads journal articles to learn all he can. And, when not doing those things, you’ll find him in nature, playing football (soccer), rugby, and golf!

Susan Kamole, Water Quality Officer, Regional Service Hub

Susan brings 21 years of water quality lab technician experience to The Water Project’s Western Kenya Regional Hub. She is responsible for coordination of water quality sampling, water quality analysis, and maintenance of water quality testing kits. She lovingly refers to The Water Project's water quality testing laboratory as her second home.

Her passion for people, training in Analytical Chemistry and Bachelor's degree in Community Development have made her into an approachable leader. We're so lucky to have her on our team.

Esther Karimi, Community Liason Officer & Research Facilitator, Regional Service Hub

For most of her life, Esther has drawn great inspiration from exceptional African women who impacted their community tremendously: the likes of Nobel prize winners Wangari Mathaai of Kenya and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. It was from them that she gained the incentive to pursue a Bachelor of Laws degree at Moi University and a post-graduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law. This training background helps her to perform the duties of the community liaison office as well as the research department with absolute efficiency in her quest to impact her community. Her expertise lies in drafting and reviewing all legal documents, e.g. Memorandums of Understanding, which enable work in Western Kenya to flow effortlessly.

As a Community Liaison Officer and Research Department team member, Esther works closely with communities and schools in Western Kenya. The Water Project (TWP) engages communities and schools in order to achieve sustainable outcomes by getting opinions/feedback that will help better the TWP programs and deepen relationships and trust. Esther also received further training in monitoring, evaluation, and research, which propelled her work with the community and has so far produced good results.

Apart from thoroughly enjoying her work with The Water Project, Esther revels in traveling, watching a good movie, and reading a good book in her free time. Her favorite quote of all time is by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: “To girls and women everywhere, I issue a simple invitation. My sisters, my daughters, my friends: find your voice.”

Emma Kelly, Program Manager

Emma is committed to improving the sustainability of water and sanitation services in all contexts. While at the Water Institute at UNC, Emma explored topics such as the long-term management of rural water systems, effective pathways for repair and rehabilitation, and financing for reliable operation and maintenance. In her previous role with REACH Initiative, she managed a team providing information services directly to the humanitarian WASH response in Yemen - improving the quality of the emergency WASH response, while also planning for the reconstruction of Yemeni WASH infrastructure destroyed in the conflict.

Emma has a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her spare time, she loves to experiment with a new recipe, go to the theater, and spend time with her family.

Stanley Makwata, Operations and Maintenance Officer, Regional Service Hub

Stanley brings over ten years of borehole maintenance and service experience to The Water Project. Working within The Water Project’s sustainability program, his work to partner with communities and schools to maintain and repair water wells leads to what he really loves – seeing the happy, healthy faces of communities with water that they can count on, year after year.

Stanley is married with 3 children. When he’s not working on a water well or with his family, he is on his motorcycle enjoying competitive motor racing.

Catherine McManus, MERL Associate

Catherine began her career as a civil engineer but over time her interest has evolved to be focused on the relationship between engineered and human systems, especially when that relationship affects reliable access to safe drinking water. 

Catherine has a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Engineering and a Master of City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC, USA), and an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University (Boston, MA, USA). When she is not thinking about or boating on water, Catherine likes to hike, cook, and read - all preferably outdoors.

Tom Murphy, Program Officer

Read Tom's Story

Tom joins The Water Project after working as a humanitarian journalist for the past 8 years. His work appeared in publications ranging from the Guardian to Foreign Policy to NPR, covering topics including water in India, agriculture in Kenya, public health in Haiti, and electricity access in Ghana. Prior to that, he managed AmeriCorps volunteers in Philadelphia and volunteered for a year with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Western Kenya.

Tom is a graduate from the College of the Holy Cross, where he met his wife. He lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with his wife, son and labradoodle. He enjoys a good cup of East African coffee, a well-made craft beer, watching classic movies, skiing, Chelsea FC, the Yankees, and the lakes and mountains of NH with his family.

William Muruli, Water Point Service Coordinator, Regional Service Hub

William’s education includes a Diploma in Management Information Systems and Business Management. He is also a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA-K), and has worked in partnership with The Water Project for over 11 years to help implement audits of our teams. Today, he serves as Water Point Service Coordinator within our Regional Service Hub, where he helps to lead a program ensuring prompt and timely maintenance and repair of water wells in the region. In his role, he helps lead The Water Project’s dispatch program, which responds to communities and schools in need of ongoing service and support on their water systems. William maintains a live inventory of spare parts and directly engages with Water User Committees on maintenance/repairs, as well as accounting for their contributions to The Water Project’s sustainability programs.

William’s favorite part of his job is when a community calls our toll-free maintenance/repair hotline number needing assistance with their water system, because he is confident that there is a system in place to keep water flowing for communities, long after projects are installed.

William is married and has two sons. He loves watching football (soccer) and listening to music.

Samuel Ngidiwe, Program Officer

Samuel has a passion and a decade of experience working alongside and supporting under-resourced communities as they use their local knowledge and skills to bring meaningful and lasting change. Samuel has experience in supporting project implementation, using data for decision making, and program improvement.

Prior to his role as a Program Officer at The Water Project, Samuel was a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist for the Networking AIDS Community of South Africa (NACOSA). While there, he supported partners in implementing a five-year HIV project focused on community and health system strengthening (through clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund.

Samuel has a double Master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa and in Development Management from Ruhr Universität Bochum in Germany.

During his free time, Samuel loves listening to African music, watching documentaries, traveling, doing outdoor walks, and road running.

Josh Nyaga, Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Regional Service Hub

Josh is the Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Officer working at the Regional Service Hub. It is his job to make sure that The Water Project’s work is at its best and to find out the impact that its projects have had on communities.

The Water Project has been the best place for Josh to apply his International Relations and Diplomacy knowledge from Rongo University. Working at the Regional Service Hub under the Monitoring and Evaluation department, Josh understands the boundaries of his interactions with community members and maintains good relations with them. As he interacts with the local government leaders as well, his expertise in the protocols of engagement in a local jurisdiction enables him to maintain a good rapport with government and community leaders. This has helped The Water Project to have an openly friendly relationship with government officials.

Josh enjoys serving people and ensuring those around him are comfortable and have what they need. He believes he’s in the right workplace to practice his passion for helping and impacting the community. He loves driving and being able to drive his team out into the field with all its adventures is truly something he enjoys every day. He enjoys travelling and exploring new places, challenging himself to adapt to different ways of living. He enjoys watching football with friends. He loves spending time with the people he loves and holds dear. Above all, Josh loves Christ, knowing that he’s living the purpose He created him for.

Brian Otieno, Hydrogeologist, Regional Service Hub

Brian Otieno holds a Bachelor's Degree in Earth Sciences from Maseno University, and is currently pursuing his Master's program in Geology at the University of Nairobi. He is well-versed in both groundwater and surface water hydrology.

His work at The Water Project entails borehole drilling supervision, borehole inspection using down-the-hole cameras, conducting hydrogeological surveys, lithological logging of the subsurface stratum for drilled boreholes and hydrogeological/hydrological data analysis.

Brian knows acute water shortage is one of the major predicaments being faced in many parts of our African countries. His passion has always been to be part and parcel of the solution-finders in matters related to the water crisis. Brian is very happy The Water Project has given him this opportunity in their aspiration to provide clean and safe water for needy communities.

Prior to his role as a hydrogeologist at The Water Project, he worked as a drilling site agent for Export Hydro Pumps and Services (Africa) Ltd. While there, he supported in the drilling supervision of emergency boreholes that were installed by the government of Kenya during COVID-19, through Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA), with an aim of mitigating the rampant spread of the COVID virus, among other projects.

When he’s not in the office or field, Brian is an avid piano lover, spending most of his weekends playing piano and singing.

Andrea Pavkov, Program Reporting Services Officer

Andrea finds great joy in her reporting role at The Water Project. After living in Mozambique, Africa for several years while working with orphans, she’s intimately aware of the challenges lack of clean water and hygiene has on children.

She’s a humble force, and sees herself a steward of the stories of those we serve. She loves sharing the impact of the sustainable, life-enriching solutions being provided for those facing life with unsafe water in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Andrea is married, has two fantastic sons, a lovely daughter-in-law, and one adorable baby grandson. She lives in her home in the woods of central New Hampshire with her husband of twenty-five years and their spry, old dog. She enjoys swimming, watching foreign movies, exploring New England, and trying new ethnic foods.

Amy Shellenberger, Operations Associate

Amy brings over 18 years of diverse nonprofit experience to The Water Project. She’s been involved in building sustainable communities, creating education opportunities for girls, and polar bear conservation. We’re thrilled she has decided to add “creating a world where everyone has access to clean water” to her mighty resume!

Amy first learned of the water crisis many years ago through a friend’s fundraising campaign seeking support of clean water projects. She kept an eye out for employment in the water sector as she moved throughout the Rocky Mountain West and finally to New Hampshire, where her path at last merged with ours.

Amy has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and Bachelor’s degrees in English and French. The Water Project shares Amy with her ‘wake before the sun’ baking role a bakery café in Kittery, Maine. Amy loves gardening, bikes, kayaks, and acquiring new skills. (Up next—welding!)

Fanice Atera Terry, Community Engagement Officer, Regional Service Hub

Fanice is a community development expert with 10 years of WaSH experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development, a Master of Science in Development Studies, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies. As Community Engagement Officer, Fanice implements continuing engagement programs for the hundreds of communities and schools that The Water Project partners with in our sustainability program. These programs focus on continued hygiene promotion and community contributions alongside The Water Project’s maintenance and repair services. She’s especially fond of conducting menstrual hygiene management trainings in schools.

Fanice is married with three children – all boys! She loves poultry farming and being a good neighbor to the women and girls in her community.

Eva Ungaya, Water Quality Lab Assistant, Regional Service Hub

Eva was born in West Pokot, Northern Kenya, where she lived until she was nine years old. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, and she has spent most of her work life working as a Research Assistant in the lab for different projects, all of which touch on different phases of human life. She is currently undergoing training to obtain professional certifications in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).

Eva joined The Water Project as an Assistant Water Quality Analyst, and she performs Chemical and Microbiological tests on water to determine its quality. Eva is also part of the Rapid Response Team, which responds to water emergencies and provides practical solutions to particular challenges.

Working at The Water Project is particularly appealing to Eva because it has offered her a platform to engage the community while providing sustainable solutions to the water shortage as well as access to clean and safe water. In addition, being part of the team at The Water Project has gotten her excited about the prospect of assisting with life sciences research and generating data that can be used to design water emergency interventions and models.

When not working, Eva enjoys spending time with her family, especially her son Jeruel Jelani. Other times, she likes taking time outdoors while enjoying some adrenaline-filled sports and team-building activities that include white water rafting, ziplining, and archery.

Alex Chambasi Vunyali, Operations and Maintenance Officer, Regional Service Hub

Alex holds a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (production option). He joined the Regional Service Hub (RSH) as a trainee in the Operation and Maintenance Department in January 2022 after working at Western Water and Sanitation Forum (WEWASAFO) for one year in the Operation and Maintenance Department, where he had experience in protected springs and ferrocement rainwater harvesting tank repairs.

During his period of training at the RSH, he was introduced to borehole well and hand pump repairs, where he learned pump installation, diagnosis, and fixing. He was later absorbed into the Maintenance Department after completing the training.

Alex can confidently install a pump and make repairs whenever he is called upon. He enjoys listening to music and watching nature programs whenever he is free.

Kennedy Walumbe, Operation and Maintenance Assistant, Regional Service Hub

Kennedy Walumbe is an accomplished professional with a diverse background spanning various sectors. Beginning his career at Kenya Seed Company, he honed his skills in operational management before transitioning to roles at Kamadep Guest House and the Rural Education and Economic Enhancement Programme (REEP), where he further developed his expertise in hospitality and community development. Joining The Water Project marked a pivotal moment for Kennedy, as his commitment to water access and sustainability led him to eventually join the Regional Service Hub (RSH) and ascend to the Operations and Maintenance lead in 2023. With a proven track record of leadership and a passion for service, Kennedy continues to drive impactful initiatives within the water sector.

Joan Were, Operations Manager, Regional Service Hub

As the Operations Manager at the Regional Service Hub, Joan spearheads the coordination of diverse departments, drawing on her background in Environmental Science to bring a blend of interdisciplinary perspectives to day-to-day activities. Through nurturing collaboration and maintaining a cohesive workflow, she drives operational efficiency and alignment with organizational goals.

Embracing the dynamic nature of her role, Joan thrives navigating the complexities of coordinating diverse functions and a dedicated team of experts across various fields. This offers continuous learning which ensures that she remains engaged, motivated, and adept, thereby making the role stimulating.

Joan said working with The Water Project is deeply rewarding as its output directly enhances the health, dignity, and quality of life for communities in need. Having experienced the hardship and painful reality of the water crisis herself, each day her heart is filled with gratitude and a comforting certainty, knowing that a future free from the struggle to access clean and safe water is within reach.

Before joining The Water Project in 2020, Joan served as a Field Officer at Western Water and Sanitation Forum (WEWASAFO) for nearly three years.

Outside of work, Joan is a lifelong learner. She explores various facets of life through reading and engaging with diverse perspectives. Additionally, she gets her hands busy with creating DIY crafts and developing culinary skills.

Nikki West, Major Gifts Officer

Nikki is a energetic and driven fundraising professional, and has worked for direct service nonprofits that serve to empower and uplift underserved communities. She believes that there is no greater joy than helping a donor see themselves in a mission, and being able to guide their philanthropic giving to make the largest impact. Nikki believes her job as a Major Gifts Officer is to help move the needle and increase the giving not only at The Water Project, but increase philanthropic support to this cause area.

Nikki is a native Texan, and currently resides in Dallas, TX (go Cowboys!). She recieved her Bachelor in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University, and her Masters in Business Administration from Oklahoma Christian University. She is very active in her community, and loves giving back through volunteering and serving in leadership positions with young professional organizations.

In her free time, Nikki loves to travel, read, and explore new restaurants. If you are in need of a restaurant recommendation in the Dallas area-look no further! She also enjoys yoga, hiking, cycle, kayaking—anything that keeps her active.

Java, Chief Happiness Officer

Java manages our day-to-day smile generating operations around the office. Her colleagues describe her as relentlessly affectionate, consistently pursuing excellence in attracting near constant belly rubs. Just look at that face. Who could say no?

Her hobbies include... No, seriously, look at that face! Java is very good at what she does.