Our Team
A Multicultural Bunch
Our team is the most colourful and diverse bunch of people who all believe in the same thing: that education is the key. We wish to see communities grow through empowerment and collaboration. It’s our belief that by sharing skills, learning from each other and working together, communities can improve. It’s a slow process that we’re after, but usually the more time something takes, the more effective and lasting it will be.
The Bookfeeding Project is an entirely non-profit initiative. All of our volunteers not only work for free in their spare time, but they also pay for all of their own costs (flights, food, etc.) when building and visiting our libraries. That means that all the funds donated go exactly where they should, the communities we strive to help.
Our Administrative Team
Alena is a traveler, chocolate addict, tea lover, hitchhiker, library builder and hyperactive dreamer. She visited around 80 countries worldwide, but her heart was stolen by Africa, where she spent around four years. In Bookfeeding, she is the person “on the ground” and the one who keeps coming up with big schemes and ideas explained in her long emails and midnight voice messages. We are only as big as our dreams!
Alena
Co-Founder, Chairwoman,
Communication Officer
Beba first thought about a way to bring unused books from Europe to India during a volunteering experience in Tamil Nadu in 2013. That was the inception of the Bookfeeding Project, and the first library was built. Currently she lives in (and loves) Afghanistan, where she hopes to open the next library.
BEba
Co-Founder, Secretary
Caro joined the Bookfeeding Team in 2015. She is our fundraising lady who is always looking for new partner organisations for Bookfeeding. Caro loves meeting new people and trying new food. She has previously worked for Aktion gegen den Hunger in Germany is currently doing an internship with giz.
Carolin
Co-Founder, Fundraiser
Known around the world as Romi, she lives in Edinburgh where she works as a Research Analyst. She had been involved with Bookfeeding since 2013 through fundraising and book packing. In her free time she loves hiking, talking about sustainable lifestyle and travelling alone to far flung places. In Bookfeeding she is responsible for new libraries application process and fundraising.
Romana
Libraries Application Coordinator/Fundraiser
Africa has been Míša's second home for the past five years. Currently, a big part of the year she spends in eastern Uganda, in the mountains of Mt. Elgon, where she works for a coffee processing company. That's why she can keep in close contact and support the nearby Ugandan and Tanzanian libraries where she's volunteered in the previous years, especially running workshops on menstrual health and reusable sanitary pads.
Míša
Uganda and Tanzania Ambassador
Konrad joined Bookfeeding in the beginning of 2024 and takes care of all the tasks related to the website. He lives in Berlin and loves to travel, to play football and to play his favorite instrument, the drums.
Konrad
Website Administrator
When she is not meeting up with friends, you will often find Laura lost in the pages of a book or mapping out her next travel adventure. She is currently finishing her master‘s degree in communication and assists in bookfeeding Social Media Matters.
Laura
Social Media Coordinator
Sihle joined the project in 2018 assisting the bean counters in making sure all the financial records add up. Outside of work you will find Sihle probably running, hiking, playing Dobble or watching a soccer game somewhere.
Sihle
Treasurer
Muzahida started her internship with Bookfeeding in February 2025 and she will be with us for at least 3 months.
MUzahida
Intern
Our Team On The Ground
Zacchaeus is the responsible for the library and also the director of the school to which our library is attached. Suzanne, his wife, also takes care of the school and of the big family. You will be staying with them as a volunteer so you will know them very well. They are very goodhearted people and always happy to help.
ZACCHAEUS
He is the founder and in-field manager of Aid India, and the best reference point for your experience in Sathankulam! He does really know the answer to any question! He will be the one answering your emails prior your arrival to the library so do not be afraid to ask him anything. He devoted his life the the home and the children.
Peter
She is an amazing girl who grew up in the Home: thanks to a private local donor she managed to study English Literature at college and graduated in 2017. She is now helping with the organization of the Women's Rights Awareness Week and teaches in our school as well. She still lives in the Home, spending the rest of the day with our lively kids: she plays and helps them out with their homework. She is absolutely gorgeous!
Mathi
The representative of the organization Africa Call and the coordinator of the volunteers who takes care of our library. Mattia joined Africa Call in December 2021. Although, the volunteers change every year or two, Mattia is still there. His goal is to make the library an inclusive place where every person can access its resources.
Mattia
Haggai is an orphan himself and the headmaster of the Timbwane school adopted him and took care of him. Now he is well educated and is trying to give back to the community. He is coaching a local boys’ (homeless, orphaned or poor) football team, which is very good and made it to the league recently. The field is just in front of the school, where the library is located, so you might see him there and join in if you like the game!
Haggai
Madam Tina is a lovely and strong lady who is ready to help whenever she can and is respected by everyone. She is always smiling and always worried about the volunteers' well-being. She will cook for you and will always ask you to sit down and relax. She has many children, some of which are her own, some her sisters and some adopted. She is very generous and you can definitely say that she is the head of the household!
Madam Tina
Pascaline is a young and optimistic girl who speaks English and French and is happy to guide volunteers around. However, she has recently moved to Belgium for a few months. Bookfeeding project opened new opportunities for her and we are very happy for her. Pasy did not forget about her village and will happily guide you through your experience. She can help you pack and get ready before you even leave to volunteer.
Niry is a lovely lady who initially contacted us asking for books. From this initial communication the library was born, which she is now responsible for. She lives with her family in the capital, we recommend people to take her number and call her if you need help with anything. She knows the villagers and will be happy to help. She is very nice, easy going and optimistic person.
Thadei is the man behind Bookfeeding library in Majengo. He worked hard to get us to help him build a library in the community where his wife is from. The people love him and he loves giving back. He is working in Moshi town, where you might be staying if you volunteer at Majengo. His daughter Anettah is a sweet girl who occasionally steps in for her dad, when he is not around.
Thadei
Denis is the coach of the basketball teams in Ukonga and loves to see his teams, mainly the women team, winning and advancing in the Tanzanian league (who wouldn’t). He is very likeable and always ready to help. The library is located in his garden. Denis will help you answer any questions you might have.
Denis
Samson is at the heart of this project. He spends everyday teaching, organizing, managing the whole project, library, school and volunteer activities. The kids became his life. He will do what is in his powers to make your stay pleasant exciting.
Samson
Isaac is always smiling and chill, an easy going Rasta. Yes he is Rastafarian, but he does not drink or smoke. He works hard to improve his community, take care of the orphaned children and helps other people to have a good life.
Isaac
Ezekiel is the man behind most of the Simuka’s activities. He is energetic, always somewhere in the field working on new projects and helping communities. Ezekiel is one of the founding members of Simuka Africa.
Ezekiel
Chijoke is not actually at the project, however he knows everything about the project and even knows the area so he can advise you shall you have a question.
Chijoke
Djiby is the secretary of the Fora Diawora youth association and always happy person. He is based in Dakar, but his family lives in Fora Dawara and he therefores visit his family occasionally with volunteers. Djiby is speaking French and relatively good English.
Always smiling, Alusine knows the best restaurants in Freetown and cares deeply about his community. Alusine not only works hard on Bookfeeding Projects, but also makes sure that every visitor to Salon, Sierra Leone, enjoys his stay.
Alusine
Costa is the manager of the library.
Costa
Silver Owori is a community volunteer and ex-student of the Aputir Primary School. We first heard from Silver at the end of 2018 after he was introduced to Bookfeeding by one of his friends. We quickly learned that as well as enjoying building the community, Silver is also a great partner, a loving father to his two children, enjoys watching football, reading books, and is an avid birdwatcher.
Silver
Djiby Mbaye Djiby, the president of the Youth Association is from Fora Diawara. He is currently doing his masters in communication in Dakar and works as a journalist. He is very passionate and active in projects that support the development of rural areas in Senegal.
djiby m.
Emmanuel is responsible for the library. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and is passionate about working with children, has great communication skills, and is very creative.
EMMANUEL
Trintus is a young woman who holds a certificate in child care. She is dedicated to her work and will therefore be of great importance at the library.
TRINTUS
Solomon is our local bookfeeder, who is responsible for this project and its implementation.
solomon
Mariame
Nnabuike
Sunday Amadi
Is a headteacher of the Aputiri Primary School and a teacher of English and Social Studies by profession. He has two wives and twelve children
Owaret Stanley
Is a science teacher but he is also the school´s librarian. He is married and has seven kids. In his free time, he likes to read, travel and watch movies.
Otabong Richard
Kamara Saidu
He is the main man on the ground - volunteering in his community to make this library a success! He is also (KISS Initiative Executive Director & Project Coordinator)
Francis Kachala
She is responsible for running community libraries and will be instrumental in imparting her skills to volunteer librarians. She will also be managing the accounts of the project.
Flora Mpokosa
Our project is lead by Mtusane Stephen Malaka, who is the founder and managing director of the Lisika Unite Foundation. Assisted by 3 board members, with experience in engineering, finance and one is a teacher. We also have advisory committee that consist of school principals and teacher. Currently we have 9 volunteers who will be working on day to day basis assisting in building the library. We will also have children assisting in the project.
Mtusane Stephen Malaka & team
Rubin Nyandwi is a father of four children, one of whom is adopted. He lives with his wife Anitha, who is a journalist, in the Muremera district. Rubin is a strategic planning consultant and human rights defender. He will spend some of his time managing the Gatare community library with the help of local volunteers.
Rubin Nyandwi
Oscar Ndayisenga is an experienced entrepreneur and civil rights activist. He is a father of two girls and married to Julienne, who is a nurse. Oscar is a very friendly person who enjoys computer science and engineering.
Oscar Ndayisenga
Joan Daries (in the middle) is a University of Cape Town Graduate and after serving as a High School teacher through the turbulent years of the struggle for democracy in South Africa, she joined the NPO sector.
She has service here ranged from project coordination to project management and management. At 70 years old, she remains as passionate and committed to promoting social and environmental justice causes that are closest to her heart.
Andréia Amthor, founder of our partner F.I.Z. e.V. chose to support the local NGO MAPAMUNDI and set up a library in their youth centre in her home city.
Andreia amthor
Martha is the heart and director of the Brazilian organisation MAPAMUNDI. With her organisation, Martha takes care of many children in the area by providing a safe learning environment for them. In her little youth centre, she offers different educational and cultural offers as well as tutoring.