Trustees From Left to Right: Grace Kashegwe, Samson Lugaisa, Judith Bukambu, Gayle Kliever, and Joyce Lwakatare.
The trustees and directors of the scholarship fund – professionals in Tanzania and the US – ensure that only worthy and needy students are helped. With your help, we can do more and help more students build hopeful futures of potential and productivity. Our trustees are all dedicated to the fund, and bring years of expertise in a wide variety of fields:education, law, social work, accounting, and nonprofit development. The fact that our directors and trustees are divided between Tanzania and the United States allows us to expand our reach, while also maintaining a more personal, grassroots approach to supporting the community. Please click on the September 2020 Newsletter in the Newsletter Archives to read more about our Trustees.
US Directors
Steven Bonell Porter
Steve has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 20 years. He is a past Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Revenue for the State of Alaska and a consultant to the Alaska legislature on oil and gas tax and pipeline matters. Steve is currently working as Deputy County Counsel in Inyo County, California.
Elizabeth Kliever Porter
Elizabeth is a special education teacher in California. She was a speech and language tutor while she lived in Alaska. Elizabeth has also helped set up local charitable organizations such as Love Inc. and has been active in a variety of family support non-profits. She has visited Tanzania on several occasions both as tourist and visiting teacher.
Gayle Lyn Kliever
Gayle is the Executive Director of the GLK Student Fund. After spending five years teaching in Tanzania, she returned to the United States and inspired by the resilience of her students, founded the GLK Student Fund. In addition to her work at the GLK Student Fund, Gayle works as an accountant specializing in nonprofits.
Tanzania Trustees
Phenias Lwakatare
Mchungaji (Pastor) Phenias Lwakatare joined GLK in 2022 as Trustee. His academic and professional life includes studies in education, teaching and Theology. He worked as a Lutheran pastor in many capacities for over thirty years. This includes a pastoral exchange program in Germany and positions of Assistant to the Bishop and District Pastor in Kagera region of Tanzania. Phenias Lwakatare is well known to us for many years and has assisted GLK in scholarship work in the past.
Judith Kamala Bukambu
Judith also worked as a social worker and co-worker for the HIV & AIDS Unit of the Eastern and Coastal Dioceses of the Lutheran Church in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is currently “retired” and volunteering full time for several charitable organizations.
Samson Mbelwa Lugaisa, Trustee 2009-2022
Samson was instrumental in the founding of the GLK Student Trust in Tanzania, and in supporting and motivating its scholars with good advice. He was a strong role model for students and a steady support for the scholarship fund trustees and associates. Mr. Lugaisa was an important community and church leader in Bukoba, Tanzania. Our trusted friend, founding GLK trustee, and beloved chairperson, Samson Mbelwa Lugaisa passed away on January 17, 2022.
Grace Zawadi Kashegwe
Grace was a Deaconess with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania for 15 years. She has worked at Ntoma Orphanage, at Ndolage School of Nursing, and Kibeta English Medium Primary School – all in the Bukoba district. She is currently head nurse at Bunazi Health Center in Tanzania.
Joyce Phineas Lwakatare
Joyce has over 13 years teaching experience at Kyaitoke and Rwoga Primary Schools. She also spent five years involved with the German primary schools in Recklinghausen, BRD. Since 1999 she has been the founding head teacher of Kibeta English Medium Primary School in Bukoba, Tanzania. She is married to Pastor Phenias Lwakatare and has five children.