USA

Jessica Peyla Nagtalon, Project Director

As the Project Director, Jessica is responsible for fundraising and donor relations, project administration and reporting. Jessica also oversees the strategic direction of NEF, but she relies on input from NEF’s Program Coordinator, the School Advisory Committees, the beneficiaries and the community at large on how to have the greatest impact. She maintains regular communication with the team in Kenya to ensure the smooth operation of the Scholarship Program. Jessica has over 20-years experience working in administration, operations, event coordination, project management and grant writing with not-for-profit organizations. Jessica holds two Master’s Degrees: an MS in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco and an MS in International Development Studies from the University of Amsterdam. Her greatest joy is being a mother to her son.

kenya

anne truphosa, Program coordinator

Ms. Anne Truphosa joined NEF in August 2019. Anne has dedicated her career to helping her fellow Kenyans through community health and education. She is resident of Funyula, where she works for the Ministry of Health.

Anne is responsible for executing and monitoring NEF’s activities at Busijo and Bujwang’a Secondary Schools. She also provides mentorship and guidance to the students through regular group check-in meetings, one-one meetings, and home visits, as necessary. Anne is also responsible for organizing the annual NEF-sponsored health workshops. Anne meets with the NEF beneficiaries, their parents/guardians and the School Advisory Committees on a regular basis. 

Kenya

Edmond Ogombe, program consultant

Mr. Edmond Ogombe helped launch NEF in 2012. He served as NEF’s Field Officer from 2012-2019 until he moved to South Sudan. Edmond returned to Kenya and NEF after the pandemic. In his current role, he provides programmatic and strategic support, and serves as coordinator and mentor to NEF’s college and university students.

Previously, Edmond was the local Development Coordinator in Samia District for CABE and a LEAD Mobile Advisor with the Ministry of Devolution and Planning in Bunyala Sub-county. These positions have given Edmond valuable experience working with community groups on topics such as agricultural innovations, value chains, livelihood skills, climate change adaptation, and financial and project management. A Kenyan national, Edmond holds a Degree in Development Studies from Mt. Kenya University, and a Certificate and Diploma in Social and Community Development from Bumbe Technical Training Institute and Siaya Institute of Technology respectively. 

NEF School Advisory Committees

The NEF School Advisory Committees or SACs, comprise 5-6 members from the Busijo and Bujwang’a Secondary schools’ administrative and teaching staff, as well as the guidance counselor. The SACs are key partners in ensuring the success of the NEF scholarship program. They help implement NEF-sponsored activities at their schools, provide valuable insight on challenges, needs and opportunities, and monitor the academic progress of their students supported by NEF.  The committees meet at least once per term with the students and their parents/guardians, and they communicate on a regular basis with Anne, NEF’s Program Coordinator.  

NEF Advisory Board

NEF has an international, volunteer Board of Advisors that meets at least twice a year and communicates as needed to give input, to react to ideas and questions from NEF staff, to review the progress of NEF beneficiaries and the NEF program in general, and to make suggestions for improvements. Furthermore, because NEF is fiscally sponsored and cannot legally have a Board of Directors, NEF’s Advisory Board carries out some of the same roles, such as fundraising and monitoring NEF’s financial health.