Board of Directors:
- Debi Holland
- Ginny Cooper
- Susanne Garrison
- Karin Vincent
- Karen Pelletier
Key Personnel:
Susanne Garrison 
Susanne began volunteering in Namibia for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 1997. While fundraising for CCF in the United States she was introduced to the Wildlife Safari located in Roseburg, Oregon, which works to heighten wildlife awareness and has a cheetah breeding program. Susanne and Wildlife Safari teamed up to bring a live cheetah to dozens of schools throughout western Washington and teach thousands of students about endangered animals. She joined the CCF Kenya project in 2001, as a volunteer organizing a new compound for education and a base for game counts. The following year Susanne became connected with 30 primary school children in need of help to pay for tuition and uniforms. Susanne agreed to personally sponsor the children for $70 each. It quickly became apparent that more guidance and aid was needed to keep each student in school. The need for books, school supplies and transportation had to be addressed individually. As 30 students turned into 40 children age 2 to 22 Susanne began bringing sponsors on board to help with individual students as well as accepting donations of clothing, school supplies and bicycles. Although Susanne was spending months at a time every year working with the project she found she was missed during her absences and more help was needed to address the children’s circumstances that change daily. In 2008 Susanne was excited to find Susan Nyambura to work on the project year round.
In 2008 the effort was officially named Wana Duma Children’s Project. Wana Duma means “Cheetah Children” in Swahili. In June 2008 Wana Duma was granted Washington State non-profit status. The project has grown to include a Board of five members in the US and four full and part-time employees in Kenya. The list of sponsors, donors, and volunteers has expanded rapidly. With the additional support Wana Duma has continued to grow leaps and bounds – we currently have 57 children in the program and 8 graduates. The 501 (C)(3) was granted August, 2009. We are now a US Non-profit!
Susan Nyambura
Susan Nyambura was born and raised in Kenya, she speaks seven languages – English, Swahili and five tribal dialects. She has been with the program since 2008. Susan is an important link to the children and their relatives. She checks on the kids weekly toaddress individual needs as they come up. Susan was orphaned at 19 and left to raise three younger sisters. She lost her youngest sister to AIDS and is now raising her neice along with her own two daughters. She is no stranger to the devastation AIDS has brought to families in Kenya so she brings understanding and compassion to the children. Wana Duma is fortunate to have someone with Susan’s language skills.
Miriam Warthera
Graduate, Employee
Miriam Warthera graduated from Boarding School in Nakuru 4 years ago. She has been caring for 8 younger siblings as Cu-Cu (her grandmother) is 90 and too frail.
Miriam now works for Wana Duma assisting Susan in all areas. She has completed courses in computer and youth counseling and will continue to take courses that assist in the running of Wana Duma.
