Team IEFT Volunteers

Ada H. Banasik, Programs Coordinator
Portland, Oregon, USA

Ms. Banasik is from Poland but currently lives in Portland, Oregon. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Southern Illinois University and is a licensed civil engineer in the State of Oregon. Ada currently works as a water-resources engineer for Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc., an environmental consulting and engineering company and has experience in water conveyance and treatment design, environmental remediation and sustainable engineering design, including low impact development, rainwater harvesting, and "green" infrastructure.

Ada's interests also include grassroots and sustainable development, advocating for rights and empowerment of indigenous cultures and environmental conservation. In her free time, she's usually hiking, kayaking or snowboarding.

Ms. Banasik is currently coordinating IEFT's volunteer and student sponsorship programs and also provides environmental and engineering expertise for IEFT's projects. She also volunteers with the Portland Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), which has partnered with IEFT to design and implement sustainable infrastructure at Orkeeswa Secondary. Click here to learn more.

Contact Ada
Phone: +1-971-275-2665 (USA)
Email: adabanasik@gmail.com
 

Haley Holmer, MPH, Health Education Coordinator
Portland, Oregon, USA

Ms. Holmer has been a member of team IEFT since its founding in 2005 and serves as a Health Education Coordinator. She is responsible for the development of the health curriculum for students at Orkeeswa Secondary School, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and anti-FGM (female genital mutilation) education.  Haley brings over 8 years of experience in the health field, both in biomedical research and public health programming, and has previously served as a volunteer Biology, Chemistry and Physics teacher in Monduli, Tanzania.

Prior to her volunteer work in Tanzania, Haley studied the neural circuitry of Parkinson’s disease at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon and co-authored several peer-reviewed scientific publications. She then transitioned her career from the field of health research to public health programming and is currently serving as a Fellow for Grassroot Soccer in Cape Town, South Africa, where her primary responsibilities include monitoring and evaluation of their HIV/AIDS programs and assisting with curriculum development.

Ms. Holmer earned her MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2008), and her BA in Neuroscience from Middlebury College (2002). She also studied health psychology at the University of Cape Town in South Africa (2001) and has extensive travel experience in Southern and Eastern Africa.

Jennifer Borba von Stauffenberg, Public Relations Director
San Diego, California, USA

Ms. Borba von Stauffenberg is responsible for supporting the public relations and marketing efforts of IEFT. She is a public relations consultant with over nine years of experience in marketing and public relations in diverse industries, including education and conscious lifestyle. Jennifer recently launched Olive PR Solutions where she specializes in developing strategic full-scale marketing and public relations plans for clients nationally and internationally to align with their overall goals. Prior to joining Team IEFT, Jennifer served as Senior Account Supervisor for SZPR, a national boutique marketing and public relations firm where she scaled up marketing plans for clients and was responsible for overseeing account strategy and staff development. Throughout her career, Jennifer has developed strong relationships with regional and national top tier media, and her work has been covered in National Geographic Adventure, Outside Magazine, Family Circle, and Woman’s World.  

Ms. Borba von Stauffenberg received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations from San Diego State University (2001). 

Contact Jennifer
Phone: 619-302-3181
Email: jennifer@oliveprsolutions.com

Kelsey Friedman, Communications Director
Portland, Oregon, USA

Ms. Friedman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication (2007) and has joined IEFT to help expand the organization's communication and development departments. She works in publishing in both editorial and  videography and comes to IEFT with experience in writing, website management and electronic media. Kelsey works with the staff in Tanzania to enhance IEFT's website and  social networking sites. She also creates marketing and multimedia materials and maintains IEFT's donor relations.

Ms. Friedman has volunteered in service learning, with children and special needs adults, at homeless shelters and in journalism at various non-profits.  She has worked for World Pulse, Bend Living and Flux magazines and as a freelance writer.

Ms. Friedman believes that education is the link to social and economic mobility and is excited to help IEFT in its mission to empower Tanzanians to overcome the disparities they face.

Contact Kelsey
Phone: 541-225-8731
Email: kelseyfriedman@ieftz.org

Quinn Brady, Tanzania Office Manager
Columbia, Missouri, USA

Ms. Brady graduated with an Interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts and Science in Human Development Family Studies and Religion from the University of Missouri. Prior to going to Tanzania in June 2010, she worked at a community athletic and recreation center for Columbia Parks and Recreation.

In 2007 Quinn spent four and a half months in Pundamilia, Kenya volunteering with a community center and orphanage. She has also volunteered with numerous youth advocacy and mentorship organizations and serves as the field coordinator for UNITE the World with Africa.  She says she is "excited to be working with IEFT to support the incredible staff and students in Tanzania and to watch the kids come alive and flourish as they are empowered through education and meaningful, lasting relationships with staff and teachers."

Orkeeswa Secondary School Volunteer Staff

Scott Forbes, Science Teacher
Wrangell, AK, USA

Mr. Forbes is a full-time volunteer teaching science at Orkeeswa Secondary School. He comes to IEFT with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Physiology from the University of Wyoming (1999) and a Masters of Science in Biological Sciences from Northern Arizona University (2002).

Prior to coming to Tanzania, Mr. Forbes worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a commercial fisheries assistant area management biologist. He also has experience as a middle-school substitute teacher of math, science and physical education and coaching boys basketball at the junior varsity level.

Mr. Forbes says about Orkeeswa: "Life here is stripped down to the basics providing an ideal backdrop for educating. The students are eager, motivated, and inspirational. I only hope to impart a fraction of what I have already learned."

Lisa Phu, English Teacher
Wrangell, AK, USA

Ms. Phu is the new English teacher at Orkeeswa. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Trinity College (2003).

She has worked for StoryCorps as a lead facilitator for Alaska’s oral history project, as a reporter for Stikine River Radio and Wrangell Sentinel (both in Alaska), as a literature and drama tutor at Lingnan University in Hong Kong and as an English teacher at Bo’ai Experimental School in China.

Ms. Phu has volunteered for community garden projects, sports organizations, political campaigns, children’s foundations and for the media.

Ms. Phu says about her experience at Orkeeswa: "My favorite aspect of teaching at Orkeeswa Secondary School is the out-of-classroom interaction with the students, when our roles as teacher and student are somewhat lifted and we can talk, joke and laugh as friends do."

Ben Frize, Math and Physics Teacher
Newcastle, Australia

Mr. Frize will be volunteering at Orkeeswa for a year as the new math and physic teacher. He earned his Bachelors of Teaching from Newcastle University NSW Australia (2001).

Ben has been an educator for eight years, teaching in Australia and Great Britain. In addition to teaching math and physics, he will be helping struggling students through his experience with learning disabilities.

Ben is enthusiastic about being in Tanzania and working at Orkeeswa.

Become a Volunteer Teacher with IEFT

^ Back to Top