MEET OUR BOARD

KWAME FEROMPONG

CHAIRPERSON

  • A 2023 recipient of “The Timothy Bowles Africa Human Rights Award”, Washington, USA. The Award was established in honor of the human rights activist, Timothy Bowles, who has devoted his life to fighting for the rights of marginalized communities in Africa. The award aims to recognize and celebrate the unsung heroes who continue his legacy by striving to create a more equitable and compassionate world.

    Mr. Frempong is the pioneering founder of the Pan African Centre for Climate Policy, dedicated to addressing Africa's urgent climate challenges through sustainable solutions. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from York University, Canada, Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health from University of Roehampton, UK, he brings over two decades of invaluable expertise in policy formulation, project management, and coordination focused on Africa's development.

    In public service, Mr. Frempong held critical roles with Ghana's Youth & Employment Ministry, spearheading youth empowerment programs that continue to create change. He has also collaborated with leading private and non-profit organizations in the US, Canada, and Africa, where his sharp policy and project coordination skills have been instrumental.

    An astute entrepreneur and climate solutions enthusiast, Mr. Frempong has catalyzed numerous youth social enterprise startups, unlocking opportunities for young changemakers. His oversight of projects backed by the City of Toronto, World Bank, UNICEF, and Ford Foundation demonstrates his commitment to global impact.

    Notably, Mr. Frempong was selected to advise the UN's expert group on youth in the global economy, shaping key strategies. Appointed by Cuso International in 2016 as an Organizational Development Specialist in Nigeria, he empowered communities through the YOULEAD initiative.

MARTIN MWANIKI

TREASURER

  • Mr. Martin Mwaniki is a Finance Officer at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He has over 15 years of experience in the United Nations Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions in the Caribbean and various African countries.

    He has also worked for several commercial banks including HSBC in New Jersey, New York Community Bank, and Barclays Bank of Kenya.

    Besides his professional career, he is a Christian, a father of five wonderful children, and one beautiful wife. In his spare time, he likes to participate in all matters that glorify Christ, spending time with family and friends, running, traveling, and giving back to the community.

HEIDEMARIE MARTHOL

SECRETARY

  • Heidemarie Marthol completed a full career as a secondary school teacher.

    Her educational background includes an Honors Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Education and Certifications as a Life Coach and Personal Trainer. She also completed two years at Bethel Church’s Supernatural School of Ministry.

    She has a passion to minister to women through the training of spirit, mind and body and through the creativity of the prophetic arts. She desires to see the wealth of the Kingdom in its fullness here on earth and the joy of the gospel reach all nations.

LUCY KOOIMAN

BOARD MEMBER

  • Lucy Kooiman is a retired Healthcare leader and a business owner. Prior to her retirement in October 2022, she worked in the American Healthcare system in various leadership capacities. Her last role as the Administrative Director of a Psychiatric Department in a catholic hospital, opened up opportunities to work with the local legislative bodies to help improve mental health laws.

    Her passion to work with disadvantaged population especially women, began while she worked as a Crisis Counsellor in a domestic violence shelter for women. During her 11 years of service in the shelter, she felt compelled to pursue nursing so she could also offer medical care to women who often came with physical, mental and spiritual injuries. After obtaining her Bachelor's degree in Nursing, she received her Masters in Science Health Administration.

    In her 27 years of medical career, she served as a community leader with a focus on mental health issues. Her desire to empower women is driven by her own testimonies of victories through God's grace.

    She is a mother of 8, 4 grandchildren and has been blessed with a dotting husband.

ROSE EGOLET

BOARD MEMBER

  • Ms. Rose Egolet is the co-founder and CEO of 4 Generating Real Opportunities for Women (4GROW), a Canadian charity that has partnered with rural grassroots organizations across several districts in the subregion of Teso, in Uganda.

    Currently, she is volunteering at Kilimanjaro Women’s Education Information Community Organization (KWEICO), Moshi as a Resource Mobilization Advisor on community project surveying the correlation of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and mental disorders in some of the wards in Moshi Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania. She endeavors to advance policies and practices consistent with Crossroads International vision to advance women leadership, economic empowerment, and the right to live without violence and poverty.

    Rose has been an educator for the last 31 years both in Canada and several other African countries. She volunteered to create school and community partnerships that raised awareness and provided opportunities for students from marginalized communities to engage in travel abroad to conferences, and to contribute to community development work among other youth and neighborhood families.

    Through her work in the various organizations, she aspires to one day make a world where justice and equality is reality for women and girls.