Staff

ICRI employs over 100 staff members in its field offices around the world. We are tremendously proud of the dedication and skill of each member of our global team. The following biographies provide more information on key ICRI staff members who lead our diverse array of programs to improve the lives of children and families around the world.

Chagua Camacho-Olguín, Project Commotion Co-Director

Chagua is the Co-Director of Project Commotion, where she leads individual and group classes in movement and sensory integration. Chagua has worked with children of diverse ages and abilities for over 7 years. She has taught more than twenty children on the autism spectrum, with whom she has seen overwhelmingly positive results in their abilities to understand their bodies and develop improved social skills. Chagua’s work has been included in a clinical stuffy by the UCSF Department of Physical Therapy and Rehab Science. She has also led movement classes for severely emotionally disturbed children from San Francisco Burt’s Children’s Center.

Chagua holds a Certificate in Child Development and Family Studies from City College of San Francisco, and has completed coursework in Economics in Mexico City, Mexico. She holds a Safety Certification and a KAT Certification (Kinder Accreditation for Teachers) from USA Gymnastics. Project Commotion’s curricula is influenced by Chagua’s training with renowned child psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Perry.

Leonard Chumo Falex, ICRI Africa Program Manager

Leonard holds a (Double Major) Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Sociology from the University of Nairobi, and is currently undertaking his MBA at the Leadership Training institute, Nairobi. He consults on Organizational Growth and Leadership and is a co-founder of Christian Youth in Action (CYIA).

Leonard’s career has included serving as Deputy Principal at Kapkirwok High School; Enterprise Development Officer, Ministry of Labor; working in operations at Barclays Bank- Head Office; and serving as a constituency committee member at the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission.

Prior to joining, ICRI, Leonard had actively participated in the periodic trainings offered by ICRI (Africa) while working at the National Assembly of Kenya. While volunteering at ICRI, Leonard developed great passion for the grassroots advocacy programs carried out by ICRI (Africa). He is honored to be associated with the reputation of ICRI in being at the forefront of championing an Africa where all children and families are safe, healthy and economically empowered.

Morry Rao Hermón, Fund Development Consultant

Morry Rao Hermón is founding principal of Hermón Consulting, a full-service firm that specializes in helping social entrepreneurs access resources, design and evaluate programs and plan for the future. Morry has over two decades of proven experience serving the voluntary sector, with 16 years in top management positions at the Center for Employment Training, VFI and the Univesity of California at Berkeley. He has provided fund development consulting services to over 20 non-governmental organizations around the world, raising millions of dollars for various causes including economic, workforce, community and youth development. He received his training in the art of facilitation from the Coro Foundation, his Master’s Degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of International & Public Affairs at Princeton University and a BA from UC Berkeley. Morry enjoys cooking, hiking and caring for his three-year-old twin boys.

Juneko Horncliff, ICRI Alameda Director

Juneko holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University as well as a credential in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in working with children with special needs. Juneko believes that children learn through play, and she uses her 20 plus years of experience to create an environment that is eclectic, colorful and child-centered. Juneko has also worked hard to integrate a multicultural curriculum and a celebration of each child’s unique strengths into the ICRI Alameda curriculum.

Jenafir House, Project Coordination Consultant

Jenafir works with ICRI to support project coordination for both domestic and international ICRI programs. She has 15 years experience working to support and improve the performance of non-profits around the world, including eight years international experience successfully managing large-scale NGO and public health projects. Jenafir has lived and worked around the world in diverse places such as Benin in West Africa, Darfur, Sudan, and Port-au-Prince Haiti.

Her areas of expertise include Child Protection, Humanitarian Protection, the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Accountability, and Children’s Education programs in Emergencies. She received her dual Master’s degrees in Social Welfare and Public Health from UC Berkeley, and a BA from UC Davis.

Ken Jaffe, President & Executive Director

Ken is the founder and leader of ICRI. He started the organization in 1981 to improve the lives of children and families throughout the world, through technical assistance and consultation, resource dissemination, and the establishment of model projects.

Ken received his child development training at the University of Uppsala in Sweden and his Master’s Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where he conducted comparative research in international child care and development practices. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from John F. Kennedy University, where he studied juvenile justice and children’s rights. Ken is the author of numerous articles on international early childhood education, child advocacy, program management and work and family policy issues.

Ken served as Chair and member of the California Governor’s Advisory Committee on Child Development for nine years. He has worked extensively on family child care issues and was a founding member of the International Family Child Care Association and the World Forum on Early Care and Education. Ken was the Vice-Chair of a statewide commission to formulate a strategic plan for child care development in California.

Ken has assisted in the improvement or establishment of more than 300 child care, child health and child abuse prevention programs worldwide. He has been a consultant to the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, D.C., and has advised the governments of Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, Sweden and Ecuador on child and family issues. In addition, Ken has presented over 300 keynotes and seminars to policy makers, executives, and non-profit professionals worldwide.

Maggie Kamau-Biruri, ICRI Africa Director Emeritus

Maggie is the Founding Director of ICRI-Africa, a nonprofit organization that supports and nurtures grassroots organizations allowing them to gain access to funds and recognition as critical stakeholders in development. A strong proponent of grassroots sustainable development, Maggie has spoken extensively about the role of grassroots and advocated for donor support to community-based organizations.

Prior to returning to Kenya in 2005 to oversee the ICRI-Africa office, Maggie lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 10 years where she worked at various nonprofit organizations. As the Communications Director for ICRI-HQ, Maggie assured constant communication with all ICRI offices around the world and was involved in fund development for ICRI international programs.

Maggie has consulted and advised multiple international organizations working in Africa as well as advised donors interested in Africa. Maggie has made numerous presentations on Africa issues including at the Community Foundation of Minneapolis/Minnesota Council of Foundations, Association of Small Foundations, Global Philanthropy Forum, and San Francisco World Affairs Council.

Maggie sits on the Boards of Project Baobab, an organization that provides opportunities for marginalized youth through entrepreneurship, and Akili Dada, an organization that supports and nurtures the next generation of women leaders through paying their school fees and mentoring bright young women in Kenyan high schools. Maggie also serves on the advisory Boards of several organizations in the US and in Africa including The Clarence Foundation, Women of Africa and Harambee Arts. Maggie holds a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) and B.A in Education.

Rufaro Kangai, Child Resource Institute Zimbabwe Director

Rufaro is the Founder and Director of the Child Resource Institute Zimbabwe. CRIZ is involved in grassroots advocacy, orphan care, early childhood development, community health and empowerment of young women and girls in Zimbabwe.

Rufaro has over five years of experience in the field of HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, youth counseling and NGO management. Rufaro has consulted for international and domestic organizations working in Africa and Asia, and has advised donors interested in funding programs in Zimbabwe and Ghana.

Rufaro has been recognized for her work with vulnerable young women and girls in Zimbabwe, and recently delivered a keynote address at the Young African Women’s Summit. She has spoken on African issues at ZimExpo events in the United States and Canada, as both a keynote speaker and a participant in a panel discussion on AIDS, Politics, Economics and Religion Panel. Rufaro spoke with Memory Banda, one of the founding members of the Girl Child Network Trust, at an event organized by the International Development Exchange (IDEX) on the challenges facing young Zimbabwean women leaders.

Rufaro is currently an MBA candidate at the African Leadership and Management Academy (ALMA) and holds a B.A in Broadcasting and Communication Arts from San Francisco State University.

Dhirendra Lamsal, ICRI Nepal Country Director

Dhirendra is the Country Director of ICRI Nepal and oversees ICRI’s work on numerous programs to support children and families in Nepal. Dhirendra has over 15 years of experience working in community development, education, and HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention.

Dhirendra’s skills in non-profit management and project design/implementation have benefitted numerous programs of ICRI Nepal. He received funding from the United Nations Development Program to work with the Network for Children, Prisoners, and Dependents to provide holistic HIV prevention and support services to Nepali prisoners and their families. Dhirendra has also served as a key participant in the formulation of the National Plan of Action for Children through Nepal’s Ministry for Women, Children, and Social Welfare.

Dhirendra has presented seminars and working papers on children’s issues, HIV/AIDS, and community development at international conferences and forums in Australia, Hungary, Northern Ireland, India, the United States, Malaysia, and Thailand. In 2007, Dhirendra received the Global Leader for Young Children award from the World Forum Foundation.

Ebenezer Lartey, ICRI Ghana Country Director

As the Country Director of ICRI Ghana, Ebenezer focuses on teacher trainings around the country. He uses his expertise in marketing, corporate project planning and management to develop and run our program in Ghana.

Ebenezer holds a B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Tourism from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

 

Ellie Mashhour, Child Care Operations Manager and Senior Consultant

Ellie has been a Director of the ICRI Child Development Center since 1993 and now serves as ICRI’s Child Care Operations Manager. Ellie oversees five ICRI child care centers with a combined enrollment of nearly 300 infant, toddler, and preschool children.

Ellie is an expert on child care facilities design, budget development, and licensing. Prior to her work with ICRI, she was director of the preschool and school aged child care program for the Alameda County YWCA.

Ellie also serves as a Senior Consultant for ICRI, and has advised numerous organizations on child care design and development projects, including LucasFilm, Ltd.; Amgen; the California State Assembly, Senate and Secretary of State; and The Children’s Pre-School Center of Palo Alto.

Janet Massite, Finance Manager

Janet is the Finance Manger of the International Child Resource Institute (ICRI). As Finance Manager of an international organization with more than 100 employees, Janet oversees the organization’s $4 million budget. Janet has been employed at ICRI for over 8 years and performs a variety of program management tasks for ICRI projects assisting children, youth, and women around the world.

Janet is the Co-Founder and Advisor of Hupenu, a program that is geared to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDs in young women of Zimbabwe. She also Co-Founded Future Impex, an import/export organization that distributes second hand goods to developing nations. Janet has served as a financial advisor to Eco Village, a non profit organization that is committed to creating youth and community awareness of the environment. Janet also currently sits on the board of Drawbridge, an arts program for homeless children.

Prior to working with ICRI, Janet assisted with the operations of a family business in Kenya and Mozambique, her home country. Janet has a great passion for working on issues that relate to the improvement of the lives of children and the empowerment of women in African societies. Janet holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Golden Gate University.

Susan Osterhoff, Project Commotion Co-Director

Susan is the Co-Director of Project Commotion, where she leads individual and group classes in movement and sensory integration. Susan has nine years of experience with children of all ages and abilities in movement programs at recreational after-school programs, as well as in the San Francisco Unified School District.

Susan discovered the art of capoeira in 1996, which nourished her love of movement – primarily being upside-down – and inspired her to combine this passion with her joy and fascination of working with children. Now with over 10 years of training under world-renowned Mestre Urubu Malandro, she is a graduated student, known in the Capoeira world as “Professora Formiguinha.” Susan has created multiple Capoeira programs for youth ages 3 and up, and is excited to be directing the Youth Capoeira program at Project Commotion!

Susan is also a faculty member in the Child Development and Family Studies Department at City College of San Francisco. She holds a BS in Communications from the University of Michican, a Certificate of Completion in Child Development/General from the City College of San Francisco, and both a Safety Certification and a KAT (Kinder Accreditation for Teachers) Certification, from USA Gymnastics. She is currently pursuing a Feldenkrais Training Certification at the Institute for the Study of Somatic Education in San Francisco.

Pam Pryfogle, Senior Consultant

Pam has broad experience in the early childhood education field, including administration, instruction, marketing, public relations, research, and consulting. Pam has a Master’s Degree in Education, with an emphasis in early childhood, from California State University at Hayward. She has also completed additional post-graduate studies in the field of the Atypical/Normal Infant.

Pam has over twenty-five years of experience in early childhood and infant research, study and instruction; parent/teacher advisory services; and child care program directing and administration. She has experience in a variety of settings, including community and city colleges, hospitals, child care, and Head Start. She has worked as a researcher and infant educator for the CA State Department of Education, the Agency for Infant Development, and Oakland’s Children’s Hospital.

Pam is currently a guest lecturer at Cal State Hayward in the Human Development Department. In addition, she is the founding Director of the Redwood Forest Preschool in Castro Valley, CA. Pam has acted as a media consultant on early childhood issues, and produced a freelance publication, “Advice For Parents”.

Ambri Pukhraj, Administrative Coordinator

Ambri Pukhraj is the Administrative Coordinator of the International Child Resource Institute, where she provides administrative, operations and program support.

Prior to joining ICRI, Ambri taught for four years at Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) schools in the Bay Area, including two years as a Teach For America corps member. She also spent some time working at Teach For America Bay Area as part of their national Regional Operations team.

She grew up in Punjab, India, a region with a high rate of female infanticide and feticide, and she looks forward to working there in the future. She is passionate about women’s empowerment, children’s welfare, and international development.

Ambri holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and political science, with a specialization in Asian Studies, from Michigan State University. She lives in Oakland, and enjoys reading postcolonial literature, hiking through redwoods, and eating pizza with her fiancé.

Maria Silva, Family Daycare Support Network Director

Maria has worked for over a decade with ICRI’s Family Daycare Support Network, which provides nutrition education and financial support to family daycare providers serving low income children in Alameda County.

Maria has held a variety of positions at FDSN and currently serves as the Program Director. In addition to conducting home visits to educate family daycare providers, Maria manages the administration of FDSN and communications with FDSN’s funder, the California State Department of Education.

Marianela Soto Hurtado, Senior Consultant

Marianela is the creator of ICRI’s Assessment and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse project, which provides trainings on child sexual abuse to Chilean professionals working with abused children. A Chilena herself, Marianela recognized the strong need for training and sensitization on child sexual abuse in Chile. She designed and implemented the project, developed a collaboration with the Chilean government’s SENAME centers, and has personally trained more than 700 Chileans on child sexual abuse.

Marianela is an expert on child sexual abuse, and she has authored numerous articles and taught graduate-level courses on topics related to children’s mental health. She has worked as a psychotherapist at the Giaretto Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, a children’s therapist at South End Mental Health Center, and a psychoeducational evaluator at Boston Children’s Hospital. Marianela holds a Master’s Degree in Human Development from Harvard University, an advanced graduate certificate in Child Counseling from the University of Virginia, and an advanced professional certificate in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University.

Renee Zarlow, Senior Consultant

Renee has over 35 years of experience in the education field. She has a Standard Elementary Teaching Credential with specialization in early childhood education, a lifetime children’s center permit, and a Master of Arts degree in Education/Educational Technology.

Renee has taught in both the Oakland and Berkeley public school systems, and has worked to create, document, and implement a variety of educational programs in the private sector.

Renee was the owner/director/teacher of a private pre-school located in Berkeley for many years. She has also been a director of many preschools in the Bay Area and works as a consultant in the field of early childhood education.