Meet Our Founder
Sheku Mansaray, Founder
Sheku was raised in Kono District, Sierra Leone. When he was 12 years old, rebel fighters attacked his village, cut off both his hands and killed his parents. Sheku was fortunate to be brought to the U.S. at age 16 by the Ostberg Foundation. He was fitted with prosthetic limbs and provided with psychosocial support, medical care and an education. He graduated from St. John's University, and in 2014 earned a Master's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Administration at Wagner College in Staten Island. He now works as a Legal Technology Specialist at Paul Weiss law firm in NYC. Sheku's ambition is to move back to Sierra Leone to implement Hands On Sierra Leone's mission.
Meet Our Local Staff
Umaro Saidu Tarawalie, Deputy Country Director
Umaro Saidu Tarawalie is a teacher and Assistant Principal at the Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood School in Makeni and head of the Social Science Department. After studying political science at Ernest Bai Koroma University, Umaro served as a logistics officer for the Child Friendly Center. He later volunteered as a public relations officer for a local farmers' organization while working as an Assistant Principal at a secondary school. Umaro currently volunteers with Hands On Sierra Leone, facilitating and monitoring the Mankoro's Children project.
Abdul Kanu, Secretary
Abdul Kanu graduated from college in Makeni in 1990 with a degree in education and political science. Abdul then worked as a social service provider for the Saint George Foundation, whose mission was to rehabilitate children and families after the war. From 2006-2010, he served as a volunteer field officer for an organization which worked to disarm child soldiers and other former fighters. He subsequently received teacher's training and now works as an elementary school teacher in Makeni. He currently volunteers with Hands On Sierra Leone, documenting the process and outcomes of the Mankoro's Children project.
Edward Kanu, Field Agent
Edward Kanu is a teacher a the Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood School in Makeni. After graduating from Makeni high school in 2005, Edward obtained a Higher Teacher Certificate at Northern Polytechnic College. During his studies, he volunteered collecting data for Plan International. He currently volunteers with Hands On Sierra Leone, monitoring the amputee-camp children as they acclimate to school and collecting data from their families (Mankoro's Children project).
Mohammed Tarawalie, Driver
Mohammed Tarawalie attended St. Francis primary school and secondary school in Makeni. He then learned how to drive trucks and cars as a profession. In 2010 he was hired by Africa Minerals Ltd. as Chief Operations Driver. He was laid off when then company went out of business in 2017. He currently volunteers with Hands On Sierra Leone providing transport for the Mankoro's Children monitoring team.
Mohammed Tarawalie attended St. Francis primary school and secondary school in Makeni. He then learned how to drive trucks and cars as a profession. In 2010 he was hired by Africa Minerals Ltd. as Chief Operations Driver. He was laid off when then company went out of business in 2017. He currently volunteers with Hands On Sierra Leone providing transport for the Mankoro's Children monitoring team.
Meet Our Advisory Board
Laura Simms
Laura Simms is an acclaimed writer, storyteller and educator. She has received numerous awards and grants for her work including the Sesame Street SUNNY DAYS Award for her work with children worldwide. She is the artistic director of the HCAndersen Storytelling Center in NY, and performs, coaches and directs trainings and retreats. She is on The Steering Committee for Global Education (UN NGO). Laura met Sheku when he was 12 years old at a retreat organized by WABCNews Sterling Mountain Foundation.
Patricia Bedell
Patricia Bedell is a state certified school psychologist who has worked for the N.Y.C. Department of Education for 26 years serving children at all grade levels. In addition to dealing with the academic, social and emotional needs of students and families, Pat has attended numerous workshops on such issues as death and dying, autism, learning disabilities and stress management. Pat became Sheku's tutor when he first arrived in the U.S. Today Pat is retired and honored to assist Sheku in uplifting the lives of fellow Sierra Leoneans.