Power to Learn!

Meet the Team

Emmanuel

Emmanuel Baleke

Co-Founder

Mr. Baleke coordinates all the activities of SOH. He also handles the communication between Sowers of Hope-US and other nonprofit partners. Emmanuel works with the members of Sowers of Hope–Bukavu to help them reach a better understanding in order to reach their goals. Mr. Baleke has a degree in biochemistry and Peace Studies. He is now a teacher at a secondary school, while dedicating the remainder of his time to Sowers of Hope.

Alicia_vial

Alicia Vial

Co-Founder

Mrs. Vial has worked to improve the lives of others throughout the world including a wilderness therapy program for troubled teens and among the Mayan Women in Momostenango, Guatemala. Mrs. Vial graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School and currently serves as an attorney in Portland, OR. She completed an externship in Ghana from May - June 2007, and a study abroad on International Human rights in Tel Aviv Israel with Whittier Law School.

Matt_colling

Matthew Colling

Executive Director

Matthew graduated with an M.S. degree in sociology with a focus in international development from BYU. He has taught Multicultural America at an undergraduate level at BYU. He is currently working as the Program Director for HELP International, a non-profit that sends over one hundred students and young professionals around the world annually on humanitarian missions. He has worked with non-profits in Europe that helped victims of human trafficking. In Guyana, he worked for the Madray Motoo Foundation, installing donated computers in schools throughout the poorer regions of the country. He conducted a Social Impact Assessment in Ghana for Empower Playgrounds Inc. as a consultant. He has consulted Biological Filters and Composting Inc. in Ghana to improve their marketing strategy and to secure funding for product development. He has worked closely over the past 3 years with BYU's annual Hunger banquet which raised over $27,000 in 2008-2009 alone. He has recently helped co-found another non-profit called SainTerre. The non-profit aims to improve sanitation systems across the developing world and will begin operations in Mali during the spring of 2010.