Meet the team
Nontuthuzelo Nikiwe
Chair
Nontuthuzelo is a Stakeholder Engagement and Reporting Specialist at a State-owned company in South Africa. She has been the key player in developing systemic social development and innovation around community practice and systemic change; strategic development and the implementation of social impact programmes across South Africa with community-specific solutions design and practices. She is an avid reader and is passionate about literacy and education for young people.
Jennifer Anderson-Ochoa
Vice-Chair
With a Master’s in International Administration, Jennifer lived in South Africa and Lesotho, and worked in HIV/AIDS prevention and children’s support in South Africa, Lesotho, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia. Currently, she works with community-based programs and government agencies, evaluating their work and assessing community conditions with an equity lens. As the daughter of a librarian, and the mother of a Mosotho-American, she looks forward to honoring both by contributing to the African Library Project.
Harry Nachnani
Board Member
Harry is a high-tech professional at Google, with passion in bringing global teams together to improve user & advertiser experience. Growing up in India, he saw first hand how even a small increase in literacy rate can go a long way in reducing unemployment and poverty. He is very passionate about ALP’s mission of changing lives through literacy in Africa and wants to help them scale to more libraries in more countries.
Louis Lallia
Treasurer
Holder of a B.A. in Modern Literature (Université de la Sorbonne-Nouvelle), Louis is an Alumni of l’Institut des Etudes Politiques de Paris from which he holds an M.A in Finance and Strategy. He joined AXYS in 2012, and spearheaded AXYS Group’s international development. In April 2019, he was appointed Managing Director of AXYS Private. He now occupies the position of Managing Director, Head of Client Coverage and Sustainability.
Craig Anderson
Board Member & South African Liason
Craig’s African journey began as a Peace Corps teacher in Lesotho. He stayed, working on education projects. Later, he joined the U.S. Foreign Service. He spent 36 years in Africa. After retirement, a book drive fell in his lap. Knowing books expand horizons, he shipped a container load to his South African home. Serendipity struck! As he promoted literacy in the community, he met an ALP board member. She invited him to join ALP’s Book Summit in Lesotho. He’s hooked!
Lebogang Mashaba
Board Member
Joash S. Aminga
Board Member
Joash has over 30+ years of experience in Library and Information Services. He serves as a Deputy Director, Library Services and Vice Chairman of the Association of Government Librarians in Kenya. Joash has continuously supported rural communities in knowledge sharing initiatives. He has a BSc degree in Information Management, a Masters of Philosophy, and is currently pursuing a PhD with Kisii University in Library and Information Sciences.
Kamala Madavarapu
Board Member
Kamala is a Data Modeling expert at Citibank with a passion to derive actionable insights from huge volumes of data. She grew up in India with a deep interest to spread the value of literacy across the globe and believes "Education is a basic human right". She is extremely motivated by ALP's commitment to serve the African communities and it's profound impact by nurturing the young minds.
Tim Pietrack
Board Member
Tim Pietrack is a U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer with more than 15 years of experience leading strategic communications across humanitarian, defense, and global engagement missions, and holds an M.A. in Communication from Johns Hopkins University. His passion for literacy deepened as a parent, reading with his children and watching them discover new worlds through stories. Inspired to give that gift to others, Tim sought a way to support communities he came to know and admire through his work in Africa — a journey that led him to the African Library Project.
Dr. Joan W. Duncan, Ph.D
Board Member
Joan is a lifelong educator and social justice activist. Her work focuses on assisting US-based and international humanitarian organizations in developing educational and psychosocial programs for communities made vulnerable by poverty, war, health pandemics, and natural disasters. This work includes building community-based programs, providing technical assistance and training, and conducting situation assessments and program evaluation.
She has served as a consultant to organizations such as UNICEF, United with Kenya, Save the Children, IRC, Ford Foundation, CTJC, among others. She has worked or lived in Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Lesotho, Zambia, Bosnia, and Thailand.
Joan is a clinical psychologist, founder of the Institute for Professional Development, former Professor of Psychology, and Associate Director of the Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University. She completed her post-doctorate training at Yale University.
Brandi Warren
Executive Director
In 2025, Brandi Warren became the Executive Director of the African Library Project, where she leads the strategic vision and day-to-day operations of the grassroots movement that has created more than 3,000 libraries across 13 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. She brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and international development, with a career dedicated to strengthening education, global health, and sustainable livelihoods.
Brandi has worked with small-scale coffee farmers to develop direct-trade models that increase income and stability and has advanced global health programs that provide critical resources for frontline healthcare workers in crisis-affected regions. She has also revitalized organizational systems, expanded philanthropic partnerships, and designed initiatives that connect resources to communities where they can have the greatest impact. Her career includes leadership and program roles at USA for UNHCR, Corus International, Lutheran World Relief, Johns Hopkins University, and Friends School of Baltimore.
Brandi is also a founding member of the Impact Table, a network of leaders working together to exchange strategies, explore new ideas, and advance social change. As a military spouse, she balances her professional commitments with a deep dedication to volunteer service. She has served as a Reading Buddy at public schools and supported outreach initiatives for the unhoused and people experiencing crises. She holds a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish & Psychology with a Certificate in African American Studies.
Esther Okola
Operations & Impact Director
Esther Okola is the Operations & Impact Director, with over 20 years of experience and a proven track record of driving operational efficiency and productivity across diverse industries. She is an expert in implementing innovative systems and boosting productivity while managing cross-functional teams. Esther is a recreational CrossFit athlete who is passionate about volunteering, children & literacy.
Chris Bradshaw
Founder & Malawi Liaison
Chris Noel Bradshaw spent her junior year at Fourah Bay College, part of the University of Sierra Leone, studying African religion, law, and literature. She traveled through western and central Africa, acquainting herself with African traditions. In 2004, Chris was inspired to start African Library Project while visiting Lesotho.
Tracy Gaestel
Container Manager & Uganda Liaison
Tracy, a teacher, reading specialist and librarian came to love Africa after being asked to work with teachers there. ALP was a great match when she was looking for ways to help schools in Africa get books for their students. She is thrilled to work with an organization that works to improve literacy by putting books into the hands of students.
Julie Freeman
Kenya Liaison
Julie is a lifelong book lover and reader with an interest in Africa. Julie has extensive experience as a communicator and a non-profit executive, including her last full-time role as staff President of the International Association of Business Communicators. Now Julie works on occasional consulting assignments, which gives her time for volunteering and reading with her grandchildren.
Nancy Beth Garrett
Container Manager
Kara Howard
Lesotho Liaison
Pictured here organizing ALP donated books as a Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho, Kara believes passionately in every child's right to read! With experience as a classroom teacher in four countries, she currently manages a project working to provide teachers globally with access to high quality professional development opportunities. As a proud book lover, she is excited to play a small part in offering more people the opportunity to love them too!
Marie Quety
Container Manager
Quety is a passionate Library and Information Science graduate on a mission to create unforgettable experiences for every library user. Her dedication extends beyond the library walls, as she takes great joy in helping executives and business owners shine by expertly managing their administrative tasks. When she's not making a difference at work, Quety loves diving into captivating TV shows, battling it out in board games, and enjoying a good read.
Kathleen Long
Ghana Liaison
Kathleen Long is a corporate leader committed to the liberation of all people. She is a diversity and inclusion champion and a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. She had many challenges growing up, but she made her own way in life by reading the stories of others. Kathleen is in love with literature and enjoys volunteering with African Library Project and as a literacy tutor to spread this joy worldwide.
Alice Valentine
Botswana Liason
Alice is a former elementary school teacher who loves children, books, education, Africa, and recycling - so volunteering for ALP is a perfect match! She has had the privilege of traveling to many countries and through various organizations has helped to provide teachers with training and materials, and children with books and school resources.
Nyasha Satande
Intake Coordinator
As an Intake Coordinator at the African Library Project, Nyasha facilitates the intake process for new Book Drive Organizers (BDOs), ensuring they are efficiently connected with our team. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Library and Information Studies from the University of Cape Town and is currently pursuing her master's degree in the same field. Her academic background equips her with strong skills in information management and organizational processes, which she applies to support the mission of increasing access to books and promoting literacy in African communities.
Haadi Yakubu
Half Library Assistant Container Manager
Haadi Yakubu’s love for books began in childhood, where reading sparked his imagination and shaped his belief that stories can bring people together. His passion for volunteerism grew from this conviction, leading him to support community service and literacy efforts. As a Half Library Assistant Container Manager with the African Library Project, Haadi is proud to help connect communities through books and expand access to the joy of reading.