The Amazing Love Development Organization (ALDO) board consists of dedicated volunteers representing both public and private sectors and retirees. Notably, ALDO operates without paid employees, and only a few dollars a year are charged to the organization. Throughout the year, the board, special committees, and volunteers remain actively engaged in promoting the cause and raising funds to fulfill ALDO's mission and vision.
ALDO BOARD
Sheilagh Clifton
President
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” And if you asked Sheilagh Clifton why she devotes her time and energies to the Amazing Love Development Organization she would tell you it’s because of this ideology.
Something stirred inside her in her mid-thirties a desire to experience things outside her comfort zone and become a better global citizen. While she has always been thankful for the job she has and the comforts it affords her here in Canada, it came to the forefront of her realization that not everyone lives this way....
Three years ago, she traveled to Nakyere, Uganda, and met what’s amazing about the Amazing Love School ... the children. Despite living in poverty and struggling to get enough to eat, these children have a resilience that cannot be matched. And that inspired her! It’s kept her committed to working with the Amazing Love Development Organization since 2014.
Dr. Lydia Kapiriri
Vice President
Lydia was born, raised, and earned most of her education in Uganda, a country she dearly loves. As an educator born of two parents who were primary school teachers, Lydia has always cherished learning and is well acquainted with the role education can play in one’s life. Lydia strongly believes that the biggest gift you can give to a child is a good education. Education is the only established mechanism that enables people to move from one social class to another. Investing in education is the most cost-effective approach to development. Hence her strong interest in giving back by supporting education endeavors in Uganda....
Incidentally, Lydia met Phoebe in high school and when she moved to Canada and met Phoebe, it was natural for her to support Amazing Love, based on the prior history and Lydia’s passion. As a board member, Lydia is honored to contribute to Amazing Love’s lofty goal of educating the future of Uganda.
Lydia is a graduate of Makerere University and has worked in the education sector for almost 10 years now. Lydia is married to Ron who is highly supportive of Amazing love school. They both love traveling and experiencing nature, especially waterfalls and new cultures.
Gloria Mallory
Secretary
Gloria Mallory was born and raised in Canada. She has been involved in teaching and leadership since her teen years. Her passion for missions and helping people overseas started in her 20's after her second trip to Russia doing youth camps. She has traveled to over 20 countries in the world including a trip in 2010 to Uganda to help Amazing Love School. Gloria has been involved with the Amazing Love Development Organization since that time. She is currently the treasurer of the Board of Directors....
Gloria holds a Bachelor of Religious Education degree in Church Music and Educational Ministries from Ontario Bible College (now Tyndale University College) in Toronto, Ontario. She also has certification as a Microsoft Office expert. She works presently as a computer instructor and student administrator at CDI College in North York, Ontario, has her own computer training and technical support business (Computers...Simply), and volunteers at her church in Oshawa, which is where she met Phoebe and James Gonahasa.
Daniel Rafii, CPA, CA
Treasurer
Daniel was born and raised in Canada. His mother grew up in Uganda and always talked highly about her childhood. Daniel joined ALDO’s board because of its values in community outreach and responsibility in making an impactful contribution to education.
His teaching experience involves accounting and computer science courses at PwC and Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as beginner piano classes to children. Now, Daniel owns and operates his own Real Estate Consulting business, focusing on Deals, Valuations and Strategy for real estate investors....
With some corporate governance research experience, his primary background is working several years as an auditor for PwC and the Auditor General primarily with builders and related real estate asset managers, as well as colleges, school boards, hospitals and other charities and not-for-profit entities.
David Amot
Board Member
iscDavid was born and raised in Uganda. He was a sponsored child through elementary school. His passion to see disadvantaged children get an education has led him to volunteer with various charity organizations.
David has previously worked with the African Children’s Choir to raise funds for disadvantaged children in Uganda. David has been involved with the Amazing Love Development Organization since 2012. David is currently our Nomination Committee Chair and he enjoys working with the board members....
David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, and a Master of Public Health degree from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay Ontario. David is a Registered Nurse and has worked as a public health nurse in Ontario for 8 years.
At home, David is a father of two boys and married to a strong supportive wife. David loves music and plays guitar and piano.
Ivone Carion
Board Member
Ivone was born and raised in Macau, China, and immigrated to Canada when she was 29 years old. A single parent with a 5-year-old at the time, she worked as an executive assistant for 25 years in internal audit at a financial institution in Toronto.
After early retirement, she volunteered in a small group home for physically-challenged youth and later worked for a few years as a certified personal support worker, so she could provide care for the elderly and people with disabilities. She is currently a volunteer in the children’s nursery at her church....
Her mom’s words that she kept close to her heart, were: “Learning and knowledge are very important. Without schooling, I was not able to read or write, but I want to see my children excel in their studies”. She carried her mom’s advice today and wants to help make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children.
Tunde Igli, MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member
Tunde grew up in a small, rural Hungarian village in Romania, where they had no running water, used horses to cultivate fields, and had no electricity during the afternoons. For a child it was an amazing experience, running around collecting eggs, picking fruits, and raising kittens, and baby geese. She first learned about Africa in geography class in grade 4 and it instantly became a place she wanted to visit. In 2012, her dream came true when she and her husband honeymooned in Africa....
Her connection to Africa got stronger through her friendship with Phoebe and Prince. They met while working at the Ministry of Finance. The more she learned about the school, the more she wanted to get involved and contribute.
As a board member, she brings her business, organizational, and managerial experience to the role. She is a Certified Public Account (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a Master of Business Administration degree, as well as undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University. As a perpetual student, her most recent accomplishment is earning the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) Designation.
Mauricio Avila
Board Member
Mauricio moved to Canada in 2014 as an international student, where he completed programs in Human Resources Management and Entrepreneurship. From there, he went on to find work specializing in evaluating and improving employer-employee relationships and workplace culture through surveys, interviews, and focus groups....
He presently resides in London, Ontario and has an adult son, who is studying Marketing and Advertising. As Mauricio learned about the important work of ALDO and the impact we’re having on the lives of hundreds of children, he wanted to contribute to such a beautiful cause.
“I personally have always wanted to have my own soccer school and teach values to children, help them to develop self-confidence, draft a life plan and have resources available for them to achieve their goals. ALDO does this for children in Uganda and I just wanted to be a part of it and learn from everyone working on the same cause.”
Monica Khanna
Board Member
Monica’s background in corporate communications, education and technical training in Oracle and Adobe Suite, helps her to blend strategic thinking and creative execution to design business cases.
For the past months she has been beautifully designing ALDO promotional material that you may have seen on our social media sites. Her insight and passion align so beautifully with ALDO’s goals.
Devon Saunders
Board Member
Devon has worked as a public servant since 2004. He also works with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO).
As a member of the Discipline and Appeals Committee, he adjudicates a plethora of discipline and appeal matters. He is a board member of a charitable organization in Durham Region, where he provides training in Conflict Resolution and Leadership skills, for youth and adults....
Devon assists with preparing grants and funding applications and assists with monitoring projects to ensure that the funders reporting requirements are met.
He has a passion for empowering people and believes that we need to teach people to fish rather than giving them a fish.
Phoebe Gonahasa
Founder
As a child growing up in Uganda, Phoebe never enjoyed common modern amenities, but her parents always ensured that all their children attend school. Phoebe is convinced that all children, irrespective of their condition in life if given an opportunity, can reach their full potential. She believes that school development is the most effective way in helping children in impoverished communities, to get a decent start in life.
When Phoebe and her husband James visited Uganda in 2001, they were overwhelmed by the poor state of education within the country. The request from the elders to help them build a desperately needed school was daunting. In 2002 Phoebe and her husband James decided to start saving and planning....
Phoebe is inspired by Dr. Forest E Witcraft’s saying - “A 100 years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove… but, the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child.”
Phoebe is very grateful for the supportive and encouraging people that she works with on the ALDO board and all the people who are committed to the vision. This support is providing quality education to the children, and the village is now vibrant with hope and expectation. In 2013-2014, Phoebe and her husband spent a year in Uganda working on the school project.
Phoebe has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Uganda, A post-graduate Diploma in Education, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. Phoebe has worked for the province of Ontario since 1999. She loves reading, listening to music, writing, and mentoring young people. She has offered volunteer services to her church, to the youth, the homeless, and to seniors in a residential home.
James Gonahasa
Founder
When James joined his undergrad studies in Uganda, he thought of using it as a tool to help the youth in their learning. After he graduated, he taught in several schools in underprivileged districts in Uganda and London (England). On marrying Phoebe, life took him on an exciting venture. A dream was born to help the helpless in Africa, starting in Uganda. “I had no idea how and when the dream would start, let alone materialize”! On coming to Canada, James had the privilege of working in inner-city schools in Toronto, an experience that stretched his teaching skills.
“Starting small with 46 students in kindergarten for a number of years, the journey has been rewarding, stretching our personal resources and commitment. It was a great relief to get amazing and hard-working people to join us to form the Amazing Love Development Organization (ALDO) Board. This has catapulted progress while providing great opportunities to reach more people”...
James feels privileged to work with exceptionally dedicated people who sacrifice their time, talents, and resources to ensure that the vision of the school is met. He is very thankful for the results that have been achieved so far.
James holds a Bachelor of education degree (French) from Uganda and has taught in Uganda, London England, and Ontario. He has taught in both elementary and high school and has been teaching in Ontario, Canada since 1999.
In addition to his volunteer work with ALDO, James volunteers at his school with the Eco Team, taking care of the environment. He also volunteers for his church in Oshawa, and has worked with the youth, seniors, and the homeless. James enjoys playing his guitar, reading, traveling, and having fun with his friends.
