founder - executive director

jerald malamba

Jerald Malamba Wayoga-Founder, Executive Director at Africompassion Organization

Born in Tanzania in 1981, a speaker of both Kiswahili and English, Jerald is the bridge between two continents. 

Born to a mother who was infected with HIV/AIDs and could not raise him,  he was brought up by his grandmother and eventually lived in an orphanage when his grandmother became sick. 

His gratitude to God is immense. He was called to work in the ministry and has been an effective leader for more than eight years. He’s also worked  as an educator at a  Seminary School in Mwanza- Tanzania.

Jerald has worked with different National Churches and local government leaders, Schools and institutions around the regions of the Republic of Tanzania and beyond the Tanzanian border.

Jerald carries the responsibility for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of Africompassion in Tanzania.

Jerald  believes that ‘Everyone needs some kind of help in their lifetime. If nobody helped the poor or needy, they most likely would not live a very long life.

He is committed to providing quality education to children and youth in Tanzania. Through his dedication, he hopes to see  “Africompassion find ways, sustainably and innovatively,  to empower communities to fight poverty through water well projects , health and education.”

CO-CEO

steve whitehouse

Steve Whitehouse’s degrees in Business Management and Computer and Information Systems, his experience with technology (Word Perfect, Novell, FamilySearch), his experience with education and finance (as a founder and cfo of Karl G Maeser Preparatory - maeserprep.org), and his current work as an in infrastructure engineer at Brigham Young University, all combine to help him  contribute to the progress and development of Africompassion. He is also familiar with non-profit organization practices, procedures, and governing regulations. 

Steve served an LDS mission in both Belgium and France. When first acquainted with Africompassion, Steve felt  a spirit of enthusiasm and commitment  to building and lifting the individual lives of the people who live in Kogaja village and who abide in the Ikoma ward in Tanzania. He hopes to do this  “one person, one family and one village at a time.”

Steve and his wife Janiel are the parents of four children and grandparents to one.

CO-CEO

reid anderson

There are few things that Reid J. Anderson hasn’t done. In the business field, he’s worked  sales to ecommerce, to Christmas lights. Reid has been a business owner, manager, and worker. He is a successful entrepreneur and is the owner and CEO of RRR Metals in Salt Lake City, UT. (https://www.rapidrecyclinginc.com/)  He earned a business management degree in 2012. In the fun field, he’s a photographer, a rock climber, scuba diver and furniture builder. 
Reid has a strong tie to the East African people having served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Kenya and Tanzania from 2005-2007. In addition to loving the culture and the people, he also speaks Swahili.

In 2008, he married Jessica Reeves Anderson, who shares his passion for service. In the fall of 2021, they helped dig a borehole well in Kenya using a Village Drill they acquired. (villagedrill.com)
 

cfo

kent meyers

Kent L. Meyers hopes to see Africompassion reach its goal of helping people become self-sustaining. He plans to do this with his talents in budgeting, financial control processes, and helping to create a viable endowment. His experiences of over thirty years in finance, and committee work with university endowments, with foundations and sovereign investments funds around the world, bring a valuable perspective to Africompassion.

In addition to serving his wife of fifty-three years, seven children, and thirty-one grandchildren, he has also served three missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Almost as impressive, at age seventy-six, Kent plays basketball three times a week.

We are thankful to have Kent Myers with Africompassion who stated, “I decided maybe I could make a difference.”

director

april van tassell

April Van Tassell has spent her life helping others–as a mother, a professional clown, and a community organizer. She is a business owner, a photographer, a motivational speaker, a writer and mentor to young mothers.

April comes to Africompassion with a big heart opened wide from overcoming her own trials and tribulations. With the help of God, she has overcome abuse, depression, and debilitating physical ailments. 

Some of her goals for Africompassion include: Assisting in meeting the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of orphans in Tanzania; seeing that every child has a sponsor to the age of 16; personally following through to make sure  that the Africompassion school is built and is debt free.

April is dedicated to her religious convictions and writes, “Jesus tells us clearly in the Bible it is our responsibility as obedient followers to care for orphans and widows.”

director

rosie gremmert

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