MEET OUR TEAM
Laura Baird is a wife, mother, and freelance writer who loves to travel, eat, and watch soccer. She holds a master’s degree in history from Loyola University in Chicago, IL, and her dream day would include getting lost in a museum. Food security and education for all are two topics she cares about deeply. She is a former board member of the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation and current volunteer at the Oconomowoc Food Pantry. She has been to Tanzania three times; once as a congregational delegate from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (OSLC) in Oconomowoc, WI, and once as an education delegate on behalf of OSLC’s YES/LIFT/TOOLS scholarship program. She returned in 2023 representing Big Five Tanzania.
Laura Baird, BOD, President
Paula is a wife, mother to three, and grandmother to six who loves photography, travel, and playing cards (beating her grandchildren at rummy). Following careers in event planning and marketing, retirement left her battling cancer while chasing her bucket list, legacy, and third world challenges. She was a founding member of a scholarship initiative, YES (Youth Education Scholarships), through a global ministry at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI, and brings 14 years of cultural experience accompanying Tanzanians through education opportunities. She sees Big 5 Tanzania as a culmination of what she has learned, relationships made during multiple visits to Tanzania, and strategies of how to impact lives.
Paula Seffrood, BOD, Secretary
Steve is a son, father to one, and friend to many who enjoys traveling, biking, kayaking, golfing, and so much more. His adult life has seen his IT career grow from humble beginnings to a challenging and rewarding position at a global industrial automation company. He currently volunteers at a food pantry in Milwaukee and serves as a commissioned Stephen Minister. He went to Tanzania as a congregational delegate from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in 2014 and wants to serve those people and surrounding communities he met during that trip as a member of Big Five Tanzania.
Steve Bell, Member - Treasurer
Faithe Sandretti, Member - Social Media
Faithe Sandretti is a graduate of Purdue University in Indiana whose heart was stirred to serve the people of Tanzania after taking part in a study abroad program there. She lived among Tanzanians in Subutuni village and taught students at Zingibari secondary and primary schools. The people of Tanzania are unlike anyone she had ever come into contact with; Their heart for those around them, both their neighbors and foreigners, is one of love and selflessness. Her friendship with the people of Tanzania compelled her to create a greater awareness of the needs of Tanzanians who are living in poverty. For when one encounters such servant hearted individuals, they often start to wonder why they ought not live their lives in the same way.
Dr. Glory Kweka, Member - HealthCare
GLOBAL PARTNERS
Based in Arusha, Tanzania, Kyosei Foundation is an NGO that operates a primary school for vulnerable children and conducts workshops for people of low socioeconomic status. They seek to eradicate poverty through education, build up the community, and offer hope for a better future.
Mt Meru Astronomical Observatory (MMAO)
Elineema Nassari, Director
MMAO provides hands-on science education, inspiration to Tanzanian youth, and the magic of dark night skies. The observatory features a fully refurbished, permanent mount, 12” Cave-Cassegrain telescope, several portable reflector and refractor telescopes, and a growing library of books and periodicals and educational curriculum.
A non-profit that supports children to achieve their highest potential through education, creating lasting solutions to poverty in Tanzania by providing tuition opportunities to deserving children while sustaining the learning environment.
An NGO that believes in the concept of balanced families, where quality nutrition, education, and accountability all play an equal role in achieving our goal of a healthy and balanced life for all Tanzanians.