During my life I have had the magnificent opportunity to be able to travel to many countries as a humanitarian volunteer. From the orphanages in Romania to a pediatric hospital in Chile, from high mountain communities in Bolivia and Peru to the dumps outside Mexico City, I have had the chance to see what life is like among populations that struggle for the basic necessities of life. I have seen the human spirit triumph against amazing odds, but nothing has ever touched me as much as the children of the Samburu area of Kenya. Inspired and humbled by their resilience and their earnest desire to learn, I determined that I would build a bridge between my world of plenty and their world of abject need. Life has never been the same since, as Kenya Keys has taken hold and brought new life to a land once languishing.

As a college student, I had the opportunity to live and work in Africa for two years. It was then that I fell in love with the people and gained some insight into their struggles and the depth of their strength and courage. I returned to college, received an MBA, and immersed myself in running small businesses for the next 28 years. I’d visited Africa twice over those years, but it wasn’t until 2005 when I met and married Rinda that I was able to join her in her efforts to serve and learn from the amazing people of rural Kenya. Since then I’ve been able to use my management, accounting and technological expertise to build a strong foundation for Kenya Keys. Working with and observing young, energetic interns fall in love with the Samburu community is my favorite part of all.

I have been involved in various business' over the past 38 years. These have ranged from the lumber industry, software industry and commercial real estate. I thoroughly enjoy seeing a business thrive and succeed. As I observe Kenya Keys I see a real opportunity to change the lives of many people for the better. It is amazing how much good Kenya Keys will be able to do over the coming years. I feel it a privilege to be part of such an outstanding organization.

Deborah Shimkus Deborah Shimkus believes that being in service is the most fulfilling way to live life. She has worked with nonprofit organizations her entire career, and is committed to empowering others to help make a difference in our world. Deborah holds a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Political Science, and has worked with organizations at the local, state, national and international levels focusing on environmental and social service needs. She brings extensive knowledge in organizational development, strategic planning and community outreach. With a dedication to global service, Deborah traveled with Kenya Keys to Taru in June 2010. There she fell in love with the people and gained valuable insight to the extraordinary potential of Kenya Keys for making a difference where it is needed most. Since her return, Deborah’s focus has been on board development, program planning and the creation of our e-newsletter, Jambo! She is also the proud sponsor of several students. Deborah’s dedication to the people of Africa, her expertise, and her passion for making a world of difference continue to be of great value as Kenya Keys moves forward.

Joseph is the headmaster of Bahakwenu Primary school. From the very beginning of Kenya Keys, he has been the empassioned in-country director of all our activities. His love of children and community is unmatched. He will soon graduate from Kenyatta University with a degree in educating special needs children as well as community small business.

Bill Self feels it is a great honor to be able to serve as the director of special need for Kenya Keys. He’s a perfect fit for this position. Bill obtained a degree in Business Finance and Economics from the Univesity of Northern Colorado. His love for people and his desire to work in a service field took him back to school to get a graduate degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, which served him well in his 30 year career with the Human Resources division of the State of Oregon. During this time he developed a great sense of appreciation for the individuals with disabilities that he worked with. He and his wife Peggy also gave birth to a child with Downs Syndrome. Bill has devoted countless hours to his son Brendon, who has become an Eagle Scout and has also excelled in many sports. For Brendon’s Eagle Scout project, he collected money and sports equipment to send to the Ndohivyo special needs school in rural Kenya. Bill felt a strong desire to visit this school and had the opportunity to do so in October 2009. Bill has always been a man of strong commitment and love, but since he’s returned from visiting this school, he has thought of little else. He has mobilized friends and family to help improve the educational and vocational opportunities for these students. He has combined his professional skill, his experience with his son, and his considerable energy and love to help promote an expansion of opportunity and sponsorship for these great kids whose hardships include not just their disabilities, but their extreme poverty as well.

Aliska Julian, MSW (Univ. of Utah, 2010), began her international service work at a young age. Traveling with her parents on medical teams and later on youth teams, she developed a great love for people of other cultures. She also became aware of the extreme challenges these people face and she knew that somehow she wanted to dedicate her life to trying to work with them to improve their lives. She met the children of rural Kenya in 2005, when she arrived in the village of Bahakwenu as part of a school building team. She began by sponsoring a young boy so he could go to secondary school. From there she returned to the U.S. and helped create and build the sponsorship program that now allows over 100 American sponsors to provide scholarships for eager students that could never go to school otherwise. Aliska focuses on The Global Classroom project of Kenya Keys and the sponsorship program. Aliska’s dedication demonstrates how much can be accomplished by just one young, determined person.

Alicia Richardson brings a wide range of skills to Kenya Keys. Her dedication to humanitarian outreach has put her in the heart of countless community service projects. She has also served on the Boards of Choice (Center for Humanitarian Outreach and Intercultural Exchange) and Chasqui, an international development NGO. She has lead teams of young people on humanitarian expeditions to South America, giving them the opportunity to broaden their cultural perspective and make a positive difference in the world. As an avid advocate for children, she has served on the Foster Care Citizens Review Board and has worked closely with Save a Child Foundation, a foundation that brings children from orphanages in the Ukraine to be adopted in the U.S. Her first trip to Kenya was in 2005. Since that time she has been a voice for the children of rural Kenya, sharing the story of their desire for education. Her enthusiasm, dedication and love for people make her a great asset for Kenya Keys.

Jacob Shimkus is a senior at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego. He is an active leader in the community and is committed to being in service. He is the founder of the organization "Beyond Our Bubble" which provides opportunities for people in the community to go beyond their bubble to help others, and the planet. Jacob has a strong environmental background, serving on the city's Sustainability Advisory Board and as his school's Sustainability Director. In June 2010, Jacob served as Kenya Keys' youngest intern in the village of Taru. He was involved in the sponsorship program, worked in the schools and engaged in dialogue with business and community leaders. Upon returning home, Jacob developed the Village to Village Program to connect people in Lake Oswego to peers in the village of Taru. As a skilled communicator and public speaker Jacob plans to further develop the connections between people in our communities, and between American students and Kenya Keys.