Anna-mai Andrews
Anna-mai has been working for Child Rights, Protection and Justice for over ten years, eight of which were based in the field including Brazil, Zambia and Nepal. Her academic background includes a MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies.
In 2005, she helped to establish the international charity Homeless Child and went on to lead the charity for five years as Director, establishing partnerships with local organisations across Brazil; mainly working in urban slums to tackle issues regarding street children, urban poverty and violence. A fluent speaker of Portuguese, Anna-mai spent a further six years living in Brazil developing local partnerships. This field experience enables her to understand and develop successful strategic partnerships, having firsthand experience of the difficulties and practicalities in the field. Recent independent consultancy includes supporting research for a worldwide UNILEVER children’s education programme.
Vanessa Buvens
Vanessa joined Chance for Childhood in 2013, following 3 years work experience ranging from volunteering on a small community-based education project in Uganda to interning with the European Delegation to the United Nations in New York, monitoring African issues and the Peacebuilding Commission. Previously she worked with Joule Africa, a company implementing sustainable energy projects in West Africa, and with charity Street Child in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Vanessa’s academic background is in political science and international relations. She is also a Fellow of the Amani Institute in Sao Paulo where she studied social innovation management.
As our Programme Development Manager – Innovation lead, Vanessa leads the design and development of Chance for Childhood’s programmes together with our local partners, also working with donors and collaborators to bring successful interventions for children and young people to scale.
Beatrice Cami
Beatrice joined Chance for Childhood in January 2017 with over 15 years’ experience in fundraising and communication in the overseas aid and disability sector. Over the years, she has worked on various projects and issues, from campaigning against landmines and cluster munitions to securing a UK Aid Match funding and running emergency appeals during humanitarian disasters such as the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the Syria crisis.
Beatrice is passionate about putting donors at the centre of fundraising and communication – she enjoys nothing more than bringing the stories of overseas beneficiaries to UK donors in a compelling way. Beatrice is always interested in hearing from Chance for Childhood supporters so don’t hesitate to reach out to her with comments or ideas!
Katie Fowler
Katie joined Chance for Childhood at the start of 2012 with over 8 years’ experience in the International Development sector. Following her work in Belize city, providing strategic planning expertise to a health and human services programme, Katie moved to the private sector, where she focused on health and education programme management in international development, successfully managing multi-million pound project budgets and complex partnership arrangements for many different bi-lateral and multi-lateral development agencies.
Katie has an academic background in poverty reduction and development management and a considerable amount of overseas experience having spent her early years living in Zambia and, more recently, undertaking assignments in Eastern and Southern Africa and South Asia.
During Anna-mai’s maternity leave, Katie is stepping up from Development Director to Acting CEO.
Andrew Lowton
After 15 years in local government administration, Andrew moved to Uganda on a two-year volunteer placement with VSO. He then worked as Administration and Finance Manager on a CARE International project and stayed in Uganda for another year and a half.
On returning to the UK he worked as Office Manager for Global Witness and the Child Soldiers Coalition, before taking time out to get a Diploma in Accounting and live in New Zealand for two years.
Andrew joined Chance for Childhood in January 2016 as Finance Officer, subsequently moving to Finance Manager, where he is responsible for day-to-day financial matters, along with HR and IT.
Andrew Marks
Andrew joined Chance for Childhood in 2017 having undertaken volunteer work in administration and volunteer support for a conservation charity, whilst also volunteering teaching English at a refugee centre that specializes in refugees from the Central African region.
Prior to this, Andrew worked within administration and merchandising for a fine jewellery company, before leaving to volunteer abroad with a youth activism organization in a rural community in Rajasthan, India.
Fundraising for charity has been a passion of Andrew’s from an early age and over the years he has raised funds through running marathons, charity walks, fundraising dinners and sponsored ‘sleep-outs’, to name a few. He has raised money for many different charities, including The Children’s Society, Glass Door, Pravah, TCV, Diabetes UK and DELTA.
Debby Metcalf
Debby began as a volunteer with Street Child Africa in 2007, inspired by her many family connections with Africa. She now works as Programmes Accountant at Chance for Childhood three days a week.
A Chartered Accountant by training, she helps the Programmes team manage their projects and, within the Finance team, is responsible for annual budgeting process and preparation of the annual accounts.
Nikita Shrubsole
Niki joined Chance for Childhood in Spring 2016 after completing an undergraduate degree in International Development with Languages at the University of Portsmouth. Having previously began volunteering at 14, within large organisations such as ActionAid, Oxfam and Greenpeace; taking part in campaigns, protests and providing administration assistance in head offices, she had a keen interest in development at a young age.
As part of her studies, Niki spent a year living in Spain, working in a primary school, teaching children English as part of the British Council. She very much enjoyed her time there and through working with children on a daily basis, ignited her passion for wanting to work in an International Development charity for children.
Alan Smith
Alan joined Chance for Childhood in April 2017 with over 30 years’ experience in the international development sector. Alan was until recently senior HIV advisor with the International Planned Parenthood Federation, and previously the Chief Operating Officer of Interact Worldwide. Before that Alan worked for many years for VSO both in the UK and overseas. Alan’s main areas of expertise are HIV & AIDS, programme management, and southern Africa.
Originally from Scotland, Alan has a degree in molecular biology, and a masters in southern African history, and has lived and worked in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Laos, and Canada. Outside of work Alan enjoys playing tennis.
Emily-Anne Tunnacliffe
Emily joined Chance for Childhood in April 2017 having previously worked with partners to design and implement HIV, psychosocial support and disability programmes in sub-Saharan Africa and Kosovo. She is dedicated to building the capacity of communities and individuals in situ to ensure long-term impact, and empowering communities and individuals to be active participants in projects.
Emily holds a degree in International Relations and more recently developed an interest in mental health in Africa, undertaking a course in global mental health.
Originally French and British, Emily has spent a lot of time living and travelling in different countries and is always planning the next adventure.
Patrick Walugembe
Patrick Walugembe is a sociologist, (MA Sociology, Makerere University) and an Alumni of University of North Carolina/Makerere University as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) M&E of HIV/AIDS Fellowship program.
Patrick has worked as the Head of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager with Straight Talk Foundation, a pioneer health communications Non-Governmental Organisation that has been at the centre of fighting HIV/AIDS amongst Ugandan adolescents.
A passionate researcher, Patrick has led various research studies and has published in the areas of child vulnerability, financial inclusion and protection.
Connie Wu
Connie joined Chance for Childhood in 2014 with an MSc degree in International Development from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to joining our charity, Connie’s work experience ranged from leading a participatory action research with street children in Morocco, to fundraising for World Vision Canada’s child sponsorship programme, teaching English in France and engaging with community leaders and NGOs in Belize.
Connie is particularly passionate about the work with children, especially child protection issues. Her background in anthropology strengthens her programme management in the field.
Since 2016 Connie has been based in Kigali, Rwanda. As a Programmes and Funding Manager, she enjoys being hands-on, networking with southern partners and experts to strengthen our Rwandan and regional programme and fundraising portfolio.