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Burkina Faso Volunteers Team
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Board Members
Born in Burkina Faso, and partially raised in Belgium, Bienvenue Michelle Konsimbo knows first-hand the importance of education and reading. She has worked for many years in the education field in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and a Master of Arts in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University.
Konsimbo created Girl Now Woman Later, a nonprofit dedicated to combating child marriage in Burkina Faso. She’s a staunch advocate of menstruation education, which includes helping young girls to understand how their bodies function.
Like most Burkinabè women, Konsimbo was given little information about menstruation growing up. She wasn’t able to learn about how her body worked in school, even in an all-girl boarding institution. Periods were a private matter, dealt with in secrecy or discussed only among family members. Some families keep the topic of girls’ periods taboo and are uncomfortable engaging in conversation about it with their daughters. If that sounds like the remote past, think again: this kind of misinformation goes on to this day in Burkina Faso.
This kind of behavior is one of the pillars of the child marriage issue that continues to pervade communities in the country. Girls who don’t understand how their own body works and lack a culture of promoting independence for women, girls do not believe they have options when offered as a bride to older men. The simple act of allowing girls to talk freely about their menstruation period can be a powerful tool to create a better and safer environment.
Through her own experiences and dedication to these issues, Bienvenue launched Girl Now Woman Later: to break taboos and emancipate Burkinabè girls so they can become leaders themselves!
Janice Baker has over 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit industry, including Consultant, Executive Director, Development Director, and Project Manager. Her career experience allows her to bring expertise to helping nonprofit agencies reach their full potential. She primarily has focused her work on fundraising with foundations/corporate sponsors/endowments in the nonprofit sectors of civil legal aid, homelessness, domestic/sexual violence, religion, poverty alleviation, disabilities, and human rights.
She is passionate about helping nonprofits continue to renew their funding revenues, whether it be new or existing funding streams, to fund operations, programs, events, or projects. She manages the revenue development experience from researching, writing, budgeting, reporting for grants, and helps to fill in the gaps along the way. Stewarding existing donors, creating interesting and creative fundraising opportunities, and reaching out to new donor opportunities are some of her strengths.
Janice has a B.A. in Women’s Studies from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and is the first Women’s Studies graduate from Regis in its 183-year history. She also has continuing education from Cornell University in DEI Initiatives, and also in Nonprofit Fiscal Management. Janice brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit governance and Board expertise. She is a member of the Grants Professional Association (GPA) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Her interests in women’s rights include underrepresented and underfunded populations of women in areas such as domestic violence, education for girls, and is what drew her to Girl Now, Woman Later’s mission and desire to help and provide her knowledge to assist the organization.
Mina Zandbar is a seasoned leader known for driving digital transformation initiatives across diverse industries. With over two decades of experience, she combines technical expertise with strategic vision to revolutionize organizations through innovative technology adoption and change management.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Mina’s passion for technology led her to executive roles where she navigates complex digital landscapes. Her journey was enriched by participation in MIT’s Digital Transformation program, equipping her with cutting-edge insights and practices.
Mina is a fervent advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), believing in its pivotal role in building thriving communities and organizations. She champions diversity and women’s empowerment, fostering inclusive environments for all individuals to thrive.
As a sought-after speaker and mentor, Mina continues to inspire and empower the next generation of digital leaders. Committed to excellence, she drives organizations to embrace digital transformation for growth and innovation.
Asia Nelson joins GNWL with a background in operations, strategy, and international teaching (ESL). She also serves as a leadership coach for corporate executives. Asia is passionate about advocating for young women and equipping them with knowledge and education to uplevel their access to opportunities.
She has earned her B.A at Brown University and her MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management.
Tatiana Overina joins GNWL with 20 years of experience in business, politics, and philanthropy. She previously held leadership positions at DTEK, Ukraine’s most significant energy holding, and was PR director at the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, where she built the foundation’s communication strategy from scratch.
As a Board Member at GNWL, Tatiana will focus on developing PR and marketing strategies to attract funding, leveraging her communications and reputation management expertise, and organizing large-scale international events.
Advisory Boards
MEET Mme KARAMBIRI /GOURBEGA Lady Fatou
My name is Mrs. KARAMBIRI / GOURBEGA Lady Fatou. I was born in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast.
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Joseph Ki Zerbo University and began teaching in 2017. I later returned to school and earned my Master of Arts degree in African literature and culture. I am currently completing my thesis for my Master II in Modern Letters.
I have been a member of both political and apolitical associations. Because of this, I am well prepared and capable of promoting the ideology of Girl Now Woman Later within the educational sector and beyond.
As a French teacher in a private institution, I care about the mental and physical health of every student I teach. I strive to instill moral values in all youth as a teacher, especially in young female students who may lack this guidance. There is a saying that goes, “Educate a girl, educate a nation.”
I aspire to join Girl Now Woman Later, as my ideologies greatly align with those of the association. I hope to leverage my knowledge and experiences to motivate and galvanize the youth, who oftentimes need guidance.
I want to contribute in any way to positively impact the lives of young girls today to guide and inspire them to become the accomplished women leaders of tomorrow by aiding GNWL in her mission.
MEET Parul Malik
Parul Malik is a highly experienced and accomplished information technology (IT) professional, particularly in Digital Transformation, Customer Relationship Management CRM, Cloud Computing, and Data Analytics. With almost two decades of experience, Parul has spearheaded delivery roadmaps and contributed to various industries, such as Healthcare, Insurance, E-commerce, and Hospitality.
Her passion lies in creating digital enterprises that aid organizations in their technology roadmaps, enhancing customer interactions, and operational value. Parul has a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science, and she is currently pursuing an Executive MBA from the University of Chicago Booth Business School, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Parul remains connected to her roots in India, actively contributing to the community by promoting literacy and education for children and empowering self-reliant girls.
Throughout my career, I have actively sought out opportunities to engage in community initiatives and volunteer work, driven by a genuine passion for social change and making a difference in the lives of others. I am particularly proud of my involvement with GNWL on Menstrual Health Education for girls. Collaborating with GNWL provided me with invaluable insights and experiences, further fueling my dedication to effecting meaningful change in society.
Parul has a combination of technical expertise, business acumen, and a strong commitment to social causes.
Having followed the impactful work that GNWL has been consistently doing to address social and community needs, I am inspired by the organization’s commitment to making a positive difference toward the social and community needs of girls’ education and awareness about the periods. I am deeply passionate about the mission of GNWL to end period poverty and increase high school graduation rates in young girls. I firmly believe that addressing the menstrual challenge is fundamental to creating a better and more sustainable future for the women of the next generation. My goals to make social change are well aligned with GNWL’s mission. I am committed to actively contributing my skills, experiences, and dedication to the organization’s ongoing efforts to improve the lives of young girls.
Burkina Faso Volunteers Team
MEET Laure Congo
A volunteer Program Coordinator for GNWL, Laure Congo believes in the mission of empowering young girls in Burkina Faso. She divides her time between her volunteer work and her day job as a sales representative in an insurance company. With a DEUG II in English from the University of Ouagadougou and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing From ESCO/ IGES of Ouaga, Laure believes that every girl should have information about their menstruation, as to exercise control of their own body.
MEET Joel Konseimbo
Volunteering as Program Accountant and Communication Officer at GNWL, Joel Konsiembo believes in the cause of empowering young women. A graduate student in accounting and auditing at the Burkinabe Institute of Arts and Crafts (IBAM), Joel is also a graphic designer in his free time and is a staunch defender of the cause of sustainable development.
MEET Sakande Koanda Sanata
After hearing about students who couldn’t go to school after having their period in class, Sakande Koanda Sanata decided to volunteer for GNWL as a health trainer. An experienced nurse, she used her skills to fight against this scourge and to help young women to understand how their bodies work.
MEET Salamata Toure
To Salamata Touré, girls contribute significantly to improving the health, nutrition, and education of their families. Thus, helping young girls will have a direct impact on the well-being of their families. As the Program Director Volunteer at GNWL, Salamata wants to help Burkinabè girls to avoid pregnancy and to have more opportunities, which will have a positive impact on the lives of those around them.
U.S Volunteer Team
MEET Emily Hokett
Emily Hokett is an academic researcher, writer, and blogger. She studies sleep health in relation to healthy aging in racially and ethnically diverse people. Emily volunteers for GNWL because she believes in the power of education and gender equity. As a volunteer editor for GNWL, Emily helps review longform writing. When Emily is not engaged with her research, she is likely somewhere running, lifting, reading, or writing.
Meet Ashley Votaw
I came to Girl Now Woman Later to help empower girls; to help them be the makers of their own fate. So often in life, our gender is subject to rabbit traps enforced by the powers that be. I have carved my destiny out of the twists and turns of shaming, now I am here to put my skills to good use through digital marketing.
For the last 5 years I’ve directed holistic marketing techniques that support paid and organic content campaigns. My thirst for solutions and curiosity allows me to stay at the epicenter of the marketing industry. My goal is always to transform company afterthoughts into successful narratives by leveraging a fine arts background and tech intuition.
Meet Diane Adelson
Diane has been working in IT since 1981. She enjoys contributing her time and skills to help support nonprofit organizations.
I support GNWL because I believe every girl deserves to live a life free of shame, have equal access to education, and the freedom to live to their fullest potential.