Staff

John Ahrens

Founder, Executive Director, New York, USA
"WCDP has been a dream of mine since 1993 and I am overjoyed to watch it come to life with the incredible guidance and support of an amazing group of individuals."

Mr. Ahrens graduated from Michigan State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Wildlife Management and Zoology. He spent two years living in Uganda as a Peace Corps volunteer before continuing his education in the Wildlife Management Masters of Science program at the University of Missouri - Columbia. Ahrens then moved to Los Angeles and completed a Master of Arts program through the African Area Studies Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, majoring in Development Studies, with an emphasis in African Political Economy.  Most recently he has completed a Master of Business Administration, majoring in Public Administration, from University of Phoenix.

Keith Riek Opio

Uganda Program Director, Kampala, Uganda
Mr Opio is the life blood of WCDP with hands on, direct participation in everything we do as an organization. He has been responsible for developing, implementing and coordinating our microfinance program and has guided the community based organization programs. He works tirelessly for WCDP contributing not only his time, freely, but also working to raise funds for supporting our administration and development.

Mr. Opio is responsible for raising funds to build a school in Bulaga, Uganda.  He recognized the need for more assistance and developed WCDP's Microfinance Program in 2007, which now extends to 16 communities and has provided hundreds of loans to more than 100 women and youth.  He also provides assistance and guidance to several community youth sporting groups, including donation of trophies and sporting equipment to encourage team activities.

Mugabe Andrew

Uganda Administrative Director, Kampala, Uganda
Mugabe Andrew has a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Uganda Management Institute and a bachelors Degree in Development Studies from Makerere University. He has training in Monitoring and Evaluation/Project management and over six years of working experience in Program Monitoring and Evaluation/Project Work. He has served as a Monitoring and Evaluation Project Assistant for a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Anti-Corruption Country Threshold (ACT) Program from September 2007 to December 2009, Data Consultant with Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)/USAID Project (January-March 2011 and July/August 2011).

Currently, he is a Research Fellow (Evaluation) with National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (NIMES) Programme. Besides, he has done many consultancies with local and International Organizations like World Vision’s Evaluation of Area Development Programs in Bundibugyo District (Rwebisengo) and in Kibaale District (Kasambya) in 2010. From 2005-2007, he served as a Research Assistant for a USAID funded project; Strengthening Decentralization in Uganda Phase II (SDU II).

Stella Natukunda and Kiberu James

Uganda Support Staff - Finance and Accounting
We have two volunteer staff working in Uganda to support the work that WCDP does.  Both are Makerere University students in Accounting and Business Management.  They will be growing the financial support services, managing WCDP finances and providing business development support in the communities.  They will also be working to bring more volunteers into the communities through the University Intern program.

Anyanwu Okechukwu John

Nigeria Program Director, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Mr. Anyanwu graduated from Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, majoring in English.  He spent six years teaching in a federal government girls college at Umuahia Abia State where he was distinguished as "The Most Indispensible Teacher".  He served as Secretary of the EPCL Cooperative, Thrift and Credit Society Ltd., where he was able to secure a loan from the bank for the members to invest in agricultural and industrial business development for his community.  More than 200 youth benefited from the program, and their successes continue to this day.

In his hometown, Mr. Anyanwu coordinated the Awareness of HIV/AIDS and the Importance of African Child Education program.  He also sponsored a health seminar for "Omu Amawam" and distributed medications and medical supplies to the locals.  Most recently he was involved in an Aamawom community water project in Abia state, which has recently entered phase one.  He intends to pursue a Masters degree in Human Resources Management.

Chukwuekezie Philomena Ngozi

Nigeria Financial Officer, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Mrs Chukwuekezie Ngozi Philomena graduated from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria with Bachelor of Science degrees in Accountancy. She spent some years working in the Computer/Accounts Section Board of Internal Revenue, Katsina State.

As the Secretary of Aluminyi women meeting of her hometown, she also worked with members in giving loans to aid poor women in their Agricultural business and other petty trading development. And today over 100 women are beneficiary of these projects and they have their success stories to tell.

Philomena was also an ex-financial secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society. She kept up to expectations with regards to her standard of discipline, orderliness, integrity and devotion to humanity. Due to her high interest in humanitarian services, she played active role in protecting and saving lives in the country.

In 2005 she was involved in the capital projects of providing fully kitted first aid boxes for secondary schools in Katsina metropolis. She also participated in the general sanitation of Katsina town during the world volunteer day.

She is already studying her Masters Degree in Management Science at University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She intends to further her Doctorate degree in Human Resources Management.