Meet the Team

AMANDA SWITZER

Co-Founder & Executive Director (CHICAGO, ILLINOIS)

Amanda Switzer, co-founder and Executive Director of the Kukhoma Project, has over a decade of experience working within the education system in Dallas, Texas and Lusaka, Zambia in various leadership roles. Amanda was born and raised in Chicago and has received a master’s level of education in Instructional Technology and Computing and Education from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University. 

For the first 7 years of Amanda’s career, she served as a classroom educator at Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. Amanda felt passionate about impacting and equipping her students beyond the classroom and was actively involved in student ministries on campus. Through a series of events, in 2014, Amanda felt called by God to move overseas to impact students and communities in Lusaka, Zambia. For the following 4 years, Amanda worked tirelessly and passionately in her various capacities of leadership at Family Legacy, including but not limited to: on-boarding the secondary education program, overseeing procurement of 15,000 students and the operations of 25 schools, leading the “Student Life” program as program manager, and serving as co-program manager over all schools.

Through Amanda’s opportunities in various leadership roles in Zambia, the Lord shined a light in 2017 on a weaker vessel in Zambia’s culture and education system: protection and support for teens impregnated by sexual abuse. The Lord clearly called Amanda and colleague Elizabeth to meet this need in a powerful way, and the Kukhoma Project vision became a reality in 2018.

Amanda now resides in Chicago where she is fully devoted to building a strong infrastructure for The Kukhoma Project.

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Meet the Team

AUDREY MWANZA

SECRETARY, TKP ZAMBIA (LUSAKA, ZAMBIA)

Audrey Mwanza, based in Lusaka, Zambia, passionately serves as a professional psychologist specializing in private counseling for children, teens, and adults, as well as a Program Manager for 25 schools and 15,000 orphaned and vulnerable children in Zambia. Audrey has received a master’s level of education in Child and Adolescent Psychology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and is registered with the Psychology Association of Zambia.

Audrey has over a decade of experience serving as a counselor in Zambia and is passionate about coming alongside her clients, encouraging them to see past their current circumstances or psychological state by equipping them with unique knowledge and skills to overcome and succeed in life. Prior to becoming a private counselor, Audrey served as a school counselor for six years at a private school, as well as a secondary science teacher. Most recently, Audrey has opened The Avalon School, a private primary school that focuses on social-emotional learning.

Audrey is passionate about impacting and empowering the lives of individuals through education, professional counseling, and biblical discipleship. Audrey is happily married to her husband Kennedy and has three children, Kondwani, Mtendere, and Wonani.

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Meet the Team

CREIG RICE

MEMBER, TKP U.S. (NEW BRAUNFELS, TX, USA)

Creig Rice earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science from Arizona State University, an MBA from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the US Air War College. He spent 27 years serving in the United States Air Force, holding several key leadership and operational positions and retiring as a Colonel. During this time, he traveled to and lived in several different countries and worked closely with our international partners, gaining insight into working in foreign countries and with foreign governments. After leaving the Air Force, he and his family put down roots in the Hill Country, near New Braunfels, Texas and he continues to work in the aviation field, to include his current position as the Director of Operations and Vice President of Corporate Development for Bode Aviation.   

He and his wife, Terri, have been heavily involved in various Christian schools as they moved throughout the country, including being on the Board of Directors. Creig is an active pilot and currently does aerial firefighting as part of his day to day duties, both as a hobby and for work!

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Meet the Team

ELIZABETH NGALWILE

CO-FOUNDER & COUNTRY DIRECTOR (Lusaka, Zambia)

Elizabeth Ngalwile, visionary, co-founder and Country Director of The Kukhoma Project, was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia. For the last decade, Elizabeth has worked to love, serve, strengthen, identify, educate, minister to and fight for the orphaned and vulnerable children of Zambia. Above all, she feels called to seek the Lord and serve him fervently in all that she does.

At the young age of 21, Elizabeth began her career by serving as a live-in house parent at a local residential care facility for orphaned and vulnerable children. Since then, Elizabeth has faithfully served in various roles, pouring into the lives of countless Zambian children and gaining vast experience working in the local community as a discipleship leader, field worker, area coordinator, and department head for social services. 

Over the years, through relationships with her students and even her own story, God developed in Elizabeth a passion for a particularly overlooked demographic: girls who become pregnant from sexual abuse. In 2017, He birthed in her the vision for The Kukhoma Project vision. By the grace of God, the vision became a reality in 2018 as Elizabeth and Amanda launched a ministry, seeking to build a safe place for sexually abused pregnant teens to live and thrive. 

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Meet the Team

KATE ALPERT CAVANAUGH

Board Chair, TKP U.s. (DALLAS, TX, USA)

Kate Alpert Cavanaugh began her career in real estate in 2004 working on due diligence, closings, and client and investor relations with a successful Dallas retail and land developer. Prior to real estate she worked as Assistant Director and then Director of Christian Education at churches in South Carolina and Texas. With Stewart Title since 2007, Kate is responsible for maintaining and developing new business relationships and assisting her team with marketing efforts. She has secured numerous multi-million dollar transactions across the United States.

Kate is an active Board member of several Dallas based philanthropies, including CARE Dallas, The Dallas Christian Leadership Prayer Breakfast, and The Real Estate Council. She is also a volunteer for Family Legacy, focused on the children in Zambia, and an active member of 4Word for Women and various real estate organizations. Kate and her husband Chip have four grown children and several furry children together.

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Meet the Team

MARIAH GLASENER

TREASURER, TKP ZAMBIA; ex-officio member, tkp u.s. (DALLAS, TX, USA)

Mariah Glasener began her career working as an elementary school teacher in Southlake, Texas. Soon after, she felt God's call to follow her passion for the orphaned and vulnerable children of Zambia. Mariah moved to Lusaka in January 2015 and began working full-time for Family Legacy, a Christian non-profit organization. During her nearly 5 years on the ground, Mariah served in administration for Family Legacy's residential facility as the Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator, facilitating team communications and administrative logistics for the care of over 700 orphaned and vulnerable children and 150 staff.

In August 2018, Mariah began serving on the TKP Board of Directors in Zambia as Treasurer. The following year, in July 2019, Mariah resigned from her position at Family Legacy to relocate back to Dallas, Texas and begin serving with TKP full-time as the Director of Development and Operations in the U.S.

Mariah grew up in Southlake, Texas, where she graduated Carroll High School in 2009. She then attended Texas A&M University and graduated in 2013 with her degree in elementary education. Mariah resides in Dallas and loves spending time with her family, traveling, and baking in her spare time.

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Meet the Team

MARK HOLLINGER

MEMBER, TKP U.S. (THE WOODLANDS, TX, USA)

Mark Hollinger received his bachelors degree from Capital University and his Masters of Business Administration from Ohio State University. He spent the first 24 years of his career with technology companies and the last seven years in the oil and gas industry before retiring in 2015. Mark brings significant experience in senior management roles within international companies and has served on public company, private company, and nonprofit Boards of Directors.

Mark has extensive international experience and has been to Zambia on several occasions. He and his wife, Madge, along with their two sons, have helped to sponsor the construction of four homes for vulnerable children in Lusaka, Zambia through Family Legacy.

Mark enjoys traveling, golf, and snow skiing, and is passionate about working with organizations on their strategy and execution, along with individuals on their professional development. The Hollingers live in The Woodlands, Texas and attend WoodsEdge Church.

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Meet the Team

MIKE HOGAN

TREASURER, TKP U.S. (austin, TX, USA)

Mike Hogan began his career serving his country in the U.S. Air Force and was involved in numerous U.S. and overseas assignments. Mike holds a Texas Master Peace Officers license and a Commercial Pilots license. Mike received degrees in Computer Science and Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany. Immediately thereafter, Mike began working in development for several early stage technology companies in Austin, Texas. In 1997, Mike helped launch ViaVideo, immediately purchased by Polycom Inc., and spent the following five years working as a software engineer and designer, primarily focused on human factors and internet development.

Mike’s experience developing software launched him into a season focused on international development work and volunteerism in Meixco and later Zambia. He formed several companies in the U.S. and Cayman Islands, creating a boutique lending operation between ex-pats and local companies, as well as various construction operations. Mike launched and maintains Escondo, LLC to develop a small Longhorn ranch outside of Austin. Mike has served on the board of directors for a medical device manufacturer and guided it through its recent sale. Most recently, Mike has been involved with a large Zambian based NGO where he serves as its operations and construction lead, as well as managing its lodge facilities.

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Meet the Team

PAT CHAPPLE

member, TKP zambia (LUSAKA, ZAMBIA)

Patricia “Pat” Chapple was born and raised in the United Kingdom. Her vast work experience began in UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where she soon was seconded to New York as the Personal Assistant to the UK Ambassador to the United Nations. She has also worked as a stewardess for British Airways, as well as the managing director of a multi-million pound travel company.

Pat moved to Lusaka, Zambia in 2009 and has served in various capacities within the city’s hospitality industry, including running and owning Sugarbush Café and managing the Lusaka Legacy Hotel and Conference Centre. Since arriving in Zambia, Pat has long-desired the opportunity to serve with a local charity; and she is excited and honoured to do so alongside the TKP team.

Pat resides in Lusaka, Zambia with two of her three children. She loves being “Granny Pat” to her 6 grandchildren and the girls and babies of TKP, and has a life-long love of horses.

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Meet the Team

SARAH DUFFEY

MEMBER, TKP U.S. (Chicago, il, USA)

Sarah Duffey is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Upon graduating, she is excited to start the next chapter of her career in the healthcare industry with the goal of helping to increase equity and democratize access to quality care. Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in Finance and Business Honors from the University of Texas at Austin and then joined the JPMorgan Private Bank team in Dallas. In her 5 years at the bank, Sarah enjoyed working with families and foundations to help define their legacy and achieve their financial goals through advising on wealth management solutions.

In the summers of 2012 and 2013, Sarah developed a passion for the country and people of Zambia when she had the opportunity to travel and volunteer there through Family Legacy, a Christian non-profit organization focused on the children of Zambia. She is grateful to be part of continued ministry and service in Zambia through her involvement with The Kukhoma Project.  

After growing up in Dallas, TX, Sarah and her husband recently relocated to Chicago where they are enjoying exploring a new city together! She enjoys traveling, running (or walking with their dog), and spending time with family and friends in her spare time.

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