CHERYL AND LAMBERT LAKI-LAKA
Cheryl and Lambert are the co-founders of Mwana Villages. Lambert serves as the Board Chair for the Canadian branch and the President for Mwana Villages, Congo. An ordained minister, Lambert works alongside our Congo Board of Directors and program team and maintains our relationships with important Congolese authorities. As a native Congolese, Lambert cares deeply about some of the most vulnerable children and families in his home country.
Cheryl serves as the Director of Operations for Mwana Villages, training and supporting the work of our Congolese leadership team on the ground. From a prior background in early childhood care, Cheryl has a passion for seeing the lives of children and families transform for the better. She is dedicated to seeing injustice end in Congo, and she works tirelessly for the dignity of those Mwana serves.
READ THE FOUNDERS’ STORY
Jean and Madie Louvila
Jean serves as the Community Coordinator in Pointe-Noire, our ministry hub. He manages operational aspects of the Refuge and within the community. As an ordained pastor, Jean faithfully ministers to the children and staff at the Refuge and to the vulnerable communities in the community.
Madie serves as our Refuge Supervisor. She oversees all care and activities for the children at the Mwana Refuge and provides ongoing training to our caregivers. She also serves as a liaison in the community to vulnerable families, ministering to them as they move toward self-sufficiency. Jean and Madie live with their four children in Pointe-Noire, Congo.
Wellon Bridgers
Wellon Bridgers serves as the U.S. Director for Mwana Villages and part of the global leadership team. Having walked through an unethical adoption experience only to find that a vulnerable family had been exploited, Wellon and Stephen’s eyes were opened to the challenges of the orphan crisis. Their love and admiration for Mwana was centered on how the organization cares passionately for vulnerable women and works to keep families together. Together, they co-founded Mwana Villages, U.S. to expand the work of the ministry. Wellon has a background in education, service leadership and volunteer programs. Wellon and Stephen are parents to four children; their youngest two were adopted from Mwana in 2015. See the Bridgers’ adoption video by The Archibald Project here.
RAYAL MAKÉLÉ
Originally from Nkayi, Congo, Rayal is the first born of a family of seven. Rayal studied Public Management at a university in South Africa, where he lived for almost six years. Since he was a child, he has been passionate about helping others, especially those in need. He became involved in a local orphanage in South Africa before returning to Congo so, upon his homecoming, the first thing he did was to find an orphanage where he could help. Rayal now serves on staff overseeing and is our administrative and finance manager.
Mari Beth Poor
Mari Beth serves as the US Director of Development. Before joining Mwana, she had a 21-year career in ministry and served in a variety of capacities including missions pastor, serving locally and globally in places like Tanzania, Honduras, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Colombia, Romania, Jamaica, Mexico and South Africa. The mission’s focus at the church where Mari Beth pastored was kids at risk, and she has witnessed families and children being transformed as Gospel concepts were applied to a global crisis. Her educational background includes a Master’s in Theological Studies from Beeson. She and her husband, Matt, reside in Birmingham, Alabama.
LEADERSHIP AND BOARDS OF DIRECTORS
United States
Courtney Baxley | Wellon Bridgers | Jenny Burton | Ben Davidson | Elliott Goudge | Benton Pitkanen | Kristen Shaw | Michelle Torbor
France
Yolaine Vienne | Marie-Josée Likibi | Marianne Laurendeau
CONGO LEADERSHIP TEAM
Lambert J. and Cheryl Laki-Laka | Lambert S. Laki-Laka | Jean de Dieu Louvila | Madie Louvila | Clault Aymar Titi-Levis | Joseph Bivihou | Perpetue Etsonn | Rayal Makele