Participants


	Norma Moran Program Coordinator As the Program Coordinator for GRO’s Kenya Program, Norma is thrilled to be returning to Kenya! After graduating in 2000 with a B.S. degree in Professional and Technical Communication from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Norma joined the Peace Corps. She served as a Deaf Education Volunteer in Kenya for three years at a school for the deaf in a tiny town right on the Earth’s equator. Afterward, she obtained a Masters’ degree in International and Training Education from American University in Washington, D.C. As a child, Norma fled a war torn El Salvador, and she strives to give back to the developing world for she had the privilege of growing up in the U.S. that many do not. Norma believes in Marcel Proust’s quote, “The real voyage of discovering does not consist in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
	Benard Mulama Point of Contact Benard Ochieng Mulama is a 31 year old male Deaf Kenyan. He is currently a Kenyatta University B. Education degree (special) 3^rd year student. Benard also serves as the secretary of the Kenya federation of Deaf Teachers (KFDT). A teacher by profession Benard works at the St. Mary’s Primary school for the Deaf Nyangoma, the oldest Deaf school in Kenya while also participating in the Kenya Sign Language (KSL) Panel at the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE). KIE is the home of curriculum development, and he has also served in the field of HIV/AIDS Awareness campaigns, and Deaf sports development within the Deaf community. It’s because of these experiences that Benard would like to work to maintain a sustainable Deaf community, and his main advocating slogan is *“A disability is not a handicap, it only becomes one when the environment under which one operates is limiting.”*
	Margaret Odhiambo Point of Contact A teacher by profession with the Teachers' Service Commission for the past 7 years, Margaret works with multi‐handicapped deaf children at the Mumias Primary School for the Deaf in Kenya's Western Province. In addition to her teaching duties, Margaret is also pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree at Kenyatta University, which she attends during the school holidays (April, August, and December). She is currently in her final year, and her area of study is Special Education with an emphasis on Deaf Education.
	Ashley Weihs GRO Delegate 24-year old Ashley Weihs graduated with a degree in Applied Science from the Rochester Institute Technology (RIT) in 2009. Currently a 1st year graduate student for the Master’s of Science in the Secondary Education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MSSE) program at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), Ashley’s goal is to become a math teacher for deaf and hard of hearing students. This is her first trip with GRO, and she is very excited to have the once-in-a-lifetime experience to work with and teach deaf children in a developing country.
	Georginia Fitzpatrick GRO Delegate Georginia Fitzpatrick is a 25 year old female with adorable 2-year old and 3-year old children. Born in New Jersey, but raised in South Carolina, she is currently a third year undergraduate at Gallaudet University pursing a degree in Deaf Studies and Spanish. An active member of the Latino Student Union, Delta Espilon Sorority, and Student Advisory Board complemented by her experiences with City Year, AmeriCorps, and the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, it all boils down to her fundamental belief that we should not take anything for granted; we should learn to appreciate what we have. The experiences only built up with travels to Costa Rica and Mexico, it was there that Georginia learned the hard way that Deaf people out there need our help and she developed self awareness about her own Deaf Identity and wishes to use that to inspire others. She is really looking forward to going to Kenya to develop more knowledge, to increase her experiences, and to inspire others.
	Greg Pollock GRO Delegate From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Greg graduated from a mainstream high school and and currently attends the Rochester Institute of Technology where he studies Professional Technical Communications. At RIT, he eventually became the Vice President of Student Government, and hopes to continue building bridges across cultures to close the gaps that have divided people in so many ways in the past. After college he plans to attend graduate school and obtain an Masters in Business Administration. Greg has a passion for travelling around the world and often loves to tell stories of his experiences abroad. In fact, his curiosity sparked his interest in learning about the various cultures that define the world we live in. In the future, Greg hopes to touch all of the continents someday, even Antarctica!
	Jacqueline Pransky GRO Delegate Jambo! Jacqueline Pransky can hardly wait to jet off to her next adventure: Kenya! Currently a third-year at the Rochester Institute of Technology and working on a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Jacqueline delights in working with people through Residence Life on campus. In her spare time, she serves as the president of WOLK, a Jewish deaf club. Jacqueline loves trying new things, especially spicy food, and she believes that a positive attitude can get you anywhere in the world.
	Julie Spigner GRO Delegate Julie hails from the Sunshine State of Florida and is currently a student at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. seeking a B.A. degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology. One of her ambitions is to contribute her time with the deaf community where it is needed the most and to improve the fundamentals in education for deaf children. Julie has a strong passion for Marine Biology and spends her time scuba diving, exploring nature, and meeting extraordinary people. Wishing to travel the world, Julie has visited 8 different countries thus far and Kenya is next on her list! In Kenya, her goal is to bequeath the ‘I Can’ philosophy and to show people that education is one of the keys to success!
	Marc Villaverde GRO Delegate Marc Anthony Villaverde is a 24-year old that is attending the Rochester Institute of Technology to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology. His goal in life is to become a dentist or a pharmaceutical technician. Being that he calls Chicago home, Marc is a huge fan of the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cubs. Marc loves to travel and Kenya will be his first trip to Africa. He is totally looking forward to it.
	Bob Onyango Host Delegate Student
	Carol Obiero Host Delegate Teacher
	Dickens Odhiambo Host Delegate Community activist and advocate
	Evans Burichani Host Delegate Teacher
	Frederick Otieno Host Delegate Church Catechist
	Gilbert Ogola Host Delegate Student in training at Teacher Training College
	Isabel Mugure Host Delegate KSL (Kenya Sign Language) trainer and consultant
	Martin Gombe Host Delegate Student