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About Us
The Inzeku Education Foundation is based in the remote village of Irechelo, in Kakamega County, Kenya. It was created to provide basic necessities to children living in poverty, with the larger goal of providing for their education. The basic necessities we provide include uniforms, school fees, books, funds for medical expenses, and most importantly, food. Most of the children we help are orphans.
The idea was conceived over dinner with a group of friends from Italy in 2016. These friends sponsored the first seven children in December of 2016. The foundation’s work officially started the following month. As of June 2023, we were granted our 501(c)3 tax exempt status. We now have 13 all volunteer Board members who donate their time, for many aspects of the foundation to support the team in Kenya. We up to supporting a total of 60 children within the foundation.
Our Vision
To provide the children in Kakamega County, Kenya with the opportunity to access quality education, empowering them with the knowledge and skills needed to build a brighter future.
Our Mission
To ensure that every child has an opportunity for education, so that they may be inspired, motivated, and encouraged to chase their dreams.
Meet Our Team
On the ground in Kenya, our dedicated team brings that vision to life every single day. They are the heart and soul of our operations—working directly with students, educators, and communities to implement our programs, provide support, and ensure every initiative is rooted in local context and needs.
Together, our U.S. board and Kenyan team form a powerful partnership—connecting vision with action, and compassion with results. Our board of directors is entirely volunteer-based, generously donating their time, skills, and resources to advance our mission and amplify our impact.
Edwin Lusichi
Founder
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Edwin Lusichi is the founder of Inzeku Education Foundation, an initiative born from his personal experience and deep desire to give back to his community.
Having received educational sponsorship from Compassion International, Edwin understands firsthand how transformative an opportunity to pursue education can be. The support he received enabled him to complete his studies and inspired him to extend that same opportunity to children facing challenges he once understood personally.
Driven by compassion, Edwin began supporting children and students in Kakamega County who face barriers to education due to financial hardship, loss of parents, or difficult family circumstances. What began as a desire to give back has grown into Inzeku Education Foundation, which continues to support students with educational and basic needs while helping them work toward a brighter future.
Beyond education, Edwin has dedicated more than 28 years to working with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, reflecting his longstanding passion for animals, wildlife and conservation. His love for animals is an important part of who he is and continues to shape his commitment to protecting both people and nature.
Known for being compassionate, humble and hardworking, Edwin believes that every child deserves an opportunity to discover their potential. His greatest vision for Inzeku is to reach and support more students in achieving their educational goals, regardless of the circumstances they come from.
"Having received an opportunity to pursue my own education, I believe in giving that opportunity to others.”
Through Inzeku, Edwin continues to turn gratitude into action — creating opportunities, supporting communities and helping young people build better futures.
David L. Gies
Board President
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The nonprofit work of David Gies, now retired, spans 50 years of employment and service.
Over the course of his vocation, Gies, now retired, has administered grants to causes including K-12 Education, poverty prevention and the performing arts and human disease prevention. His experience includes directing national fundraising for the National Stroke Association, serving as executive director for the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, and acting as director for the Anschutz Family Foundation. Prior to his private philanthropy, Mr. Gies worked in the public sector as a grant administrator managing the distribution of Federal funds through Colorado’s Department of Human Services. Along the way he taught Nonprofit Management at Regis University and co-established the Kenya travel course at the University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work where he is currently a Scholar in Residence.
He has an undergraduate degree from Colorado State University, an M.S. in Management of Rehabilitation Facilities from De Paul University, Chicago Illinois, and Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Christie Carter-Evans
Board Vice President
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Christie Carter-Evans became involved with the Inzeku Educational Foundation after a trip to Kenya in 2019. During her visit, she met the foundation’s founder and was moved by his story and commitment to giving back to the community that once supported his own education. Wanting to help in any way she could, Christie began by creating simple social media posts to share the children’s stories and their eagerness to learn. Over time, her involvement grew, and she now serves as a member of the U.S. board.
Professionally, Christie has worked as a Director of Operations and currently runs a small organization consulting business that helps companies streamline their processes and improve outcomes. She has also volunteered for more than 20 years on habitat conservation committees in Utah, where fundraising has been an important part of the work.
In her role with Inzeku, Christie has quietly contributed behind the scenes—helping to shape the foundation’s mission, vision, and values, as well as its logo and social media presence. Drawing on her skills in writing, design, and organization, she’s simply tried to support the foundation’s efforts however she can.
As she puts it: "Meeting the children in Kenya and seeing their joy and determination to learn was deeply moving. It’s hard not to want to help when you see how much education means to them. Every child should have that chance."
Pam Ianni
Board Treasurer
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Pamela Ianni is a dedicated advocate for the Inzeku Education Foundation and brings thirty years of accounting experience to the board. After a safari trip to Kenya, she became aware of the needs the wonderful people who struggle to survive in this beautiful country. Pam is committed to advancing the organization’s mission by leveraging her skills in fundraising and financial oversight. Her passion for making a positive impact continues to drive meaningful change within the community.
Julie Mattson
Board Secretary
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Julie A Mattson has spent her lifetime in Colorado, working in city government management and as a Human Resources consultant, while raising one lovely daughter. Julie served on several non-profit boards, as well as doing volunteer work with her churches and other organizations. Now that she is retired, Julie and her husband enjoy traveling, often with their tandem bicycle. Time spent with two delightful granddaughters is also very rewarding.
Our best recent travel adventure was a safari trip to Kenya & Uganda with friends. After the safaris, we were fortunate to visit the Inzeku Project and were inspired by meeting all the students in the program while visiting their schools and meeting their teachers. It’s amazing to see how a little funding goes a long way in enriching the lives of these children and their families. Thank you for your support!
Rob Zerwick
Board Director
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Rob became involved with the Inzeku Educational Foundation after multiple inspired Safaris to Kenya. With a newfound enthusiasm to help the foundations goals of providing critical supplies and supporting inspired education.
Professionally, Rob is a Senior Program Manager for an automation company optimizing manufacturing by leveraging tools like robotics and additive manufacturing to increase efficiency, safety, and precision across industries. With decades of technical consulting, innovation, leadership focused on supporting the foundations growth.
“The children have such a strong desire to learn and develop skills, and I find myself inspired to help them reach their goals and beyond.”
Sharon Maldonado
Board Social Media Coordinator
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Sharon Maldonado became involved with Inzeku Education Foundation after a heartfelt conversation with her friend and the organization’s Vice President, Christie Carter-Evans. Deeply moved by the mission, Sharon stepped in to contribute her expertise in social media and digital engagement. She brings a background in creating user-generated content for companies and has helped small businesses grow through online presence and community engagement.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Sharon served as an Administrative Specialist for four years before transitioning into entrepreneurship. She has previously volunteered as a reading tutor for children in grades one through six—an effort inspired by her father and older sister, who instilled in her a deep appreciation for education early on. With parents who grew up in developing countries where they longed for an education but had to prioritize working to support their families, Sharon holds a firm belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and lead.
“The world of nonprofit is still new to me, but at Inzeku Education Foundation, I truly feel we are doing what the Lord called us to do. I’m passionate about supporting children and am constantly inspired by their resilience. They remind me never to take anything for granted.”
David Watson
Board IT Tech / Website Design
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David has a background in education, technology, and sports. He is a professional scuba diver and loves ocean conservation work and helping people enjoy the underwater world. His passion in life is helping others.
Edwig Lusichi
Social Media
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Edwig Lusichi is an ICT student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) with a background in International Relations, reflecting her natural inclination toward diplomacy and understanding people. With a strong passion for connection and communication, she brings both technical skills and a people-centered approach to her work in the social media space.
Edwig is known for her warm and vibrant personality, and her love for engaging with others and building meaningful relationships. She is deeply passionate about supporting and uplifting children, and is driven by a desire to contribute to initiatives that create positive impact in their lives. She thrives in environments that encourage growth, collaboration, and purpose.
Lorin Lindner, PhD, MPH
Board Director
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Dr. Lorin Lindner has been a licensed clinical psychologist since 1988 and has devoted her
practice to disabled veterans, while also pioneering the practice of Animal Assisted Therapy
where both animal and human mutually benefit from the treatment.
Dr. Lindner was an adjunct professor at Santa Monica College for 16 years and has been the
Clinical Supervisor for Clinica Sierra Vista Behavioral Health Centers since 2008. She was the
Clinical Director of New Directions, a Homeless Veterans Program at the West Los Angeles
Veterans Healthcare Center where she started Serenity Park Sanctuary, an animal-assisted work
therapy program for both traumatized veterans and traumatized parrots. Her book, Birds of a
Feather: A True Story of Love, Hope and the Healing Power of Animals tells about that program.
She also founded the Warriors and Wolves program and the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center
which allows for combat veterans to care for rescued wolves and other wildlife and which was
featured in a docu-series on Animal Planet, Wolves and Warriors. Her other publications
include articles and book chapters on Complex Trauma, Forensic Psychology, and AAT.
Dr. Lindner was the President of the Fund for Wild Nature funding various grassroots projects
throughout the world, and is currently a member of the Board of the Sally Judith McLellan
Wildlife Foundation, Rewind Rhino Extinction Foundation, and the International Alliance for
Parrot Protection.
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