Our  Team

Kara VanderKamp - Chief Executive Officer // Kara is the Founder and Executive Director of Remember Niger. After living in Niger for two years and working with the leaders of a Nigerien denomination who have a powerful vision for education in their country, Kara saw the need for a partner and fundraising organization in the US. She pulled together a team of driven and passionate individuals to create the Remember Niger Coalition and help educate children in Niger. Since that time, she has lead the initiative to spread the word about the organization and its mission, raise funds and support, and implement, monitor and evaluate projects in Niger. Prior to working in Niger, Kara taught elementary school in Kenya and Chicago. She has a master’s degree In International Educational Development from Columbia University, New York.

Ibrahim Abdou - Country Director // Ibrahim represents Remember Niger Coalition (RNC) in Niger. He assists with project implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. In this role, he works closely with the administrators and leaders of the schools and often coaches and mentors them. Additionally, he provides valuable insight into cultural norms and helps navigate legal and governmental issues. He has assisted with RNC projects since we were established in 2009. Ibrahim and his wife, Hadiza, live in Maradi, Niger with their three children - two twin girls and a boy. Ibrahim has a master’s degree in Project Management with a focus on International Development from SODESI UNIVERSITY, Niamey, Niger.

Karen Pepin - Sponsorship & Scholarship Director // Karen has lived in Minnesota for most of her life and holds a bachelor’s degree in music and elementary education from Bethel College (now Bethel University) in St. Paul. She has been an Organist and Director of Music at North Presbyterian Church in North St. Paul for over 30 years. She also maintained a private piano studio for 35 years and spent 4 years as a preschool director. Karen first traveled to Niger as a volunteer in 2011 after hearing Kara speak at her church. She served on the Remember Niger board for several years and joined the staff in 2018. Karen is looking forward to her 12th trip to Niger this January. She and her husband, Doug, have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren.

Linda Haveman - Chief Financial Officer // Linda Haveman is a former academic dean for a small Christian university. She oversaw 13 programs at the associate, bachelor and graduate level for the Professional & Graduate Studies division. She supervised faculty and staff, and designed, implemented, and assessed innovative and high-quality programs. After leaving the university she served as Finance Director and Executive Pastor for a church in Hudsonville, MI. Currently Linda spends her time consulting for a few organizations, sewing and traveling while working as the Finance Manager for Remember Niger. She was drawn to the work of RNC as she knows the impact of education on children, especially in an impoverished country. After visiting Niger she wanted to find ways to be involved. She feels blessed to be part of such a transformational organization.

Carrie Blake - Program Officer // Carrie has been professionally writing since 1990 and brings these skills to Remember Niger as our grant writer. She first worked as a grant writer in 2003 and has worked full-time in the nonprofit sector for the past ten years. Carrie is also a Certified Professional Midwife and holds a Masters in Public Health. She lived in Niger from 2016-2020, working with SIM, and it was during this time that she and Kara first began collaborating. Carrie is dedicated to coming alongside Nigeriens as they work to improve the country’s educational system and the well-being of women and children. Carrie lives with her husband in Santa Fe, NM, and is mom to 5 adult children (but no grandchildren yet!).

Nicholas De Vries - Executive Coordinator // Nicholas attended Grand Rapids Community College for Photography, specializing in weddings and portraits. When he moved to Denver Colorado, he became an Emergency Medical Technician. While not an EMT anymore, he is still passionate about emergency medicine. Nicholas is excited for his work as an Executive Coordinator and for his first visit to Niger. “If we would see the color of our future, we must look for it in our present; if we would gaze on the star of our destiny, we must look for it in our hearts.” — Frederic Farrar

Julie Frye - Chief Communications Officer // Julie attended the University of South Carolina. Her career began as a graphic designer, working as Art Director at The Reed Agency and Davis Advertising. In 1998 she started her own business, Julie Frye Design. She is an award winning designer and volunteered her services to Remember Niger in 2014. She quickly became passionate about helping children in Niger. She has served as Communications Director for Remember Niger since 2017. Her work includes managing communications and working with major donors and church partners. Julie lives in Charleston, South Carolina. She enjoys spending time with her three children, horseback riding, kayaking and singing in the Lowcountry Voices choir.

Board of Directors

Officers

Kara VanderKamp
President and CEO
Grand Rapids, MI

Robert Bell
Vice President and Chairperson
Washington, DC

Lee DeYoung
Treasurer
Jenison, MI

Chris Chatelaine-Samsen
Vice Treasurer
Minneapolis, MN

Elizabeth Robertson Mitchum
Secretary
Charleston, SC

Members
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Sekou Amadou
Arlington, VA

Pat Davies
Washington, DC

Ellen DeJong
Charleston, SC

Michel Mano
Reston, VA

Kathleen Nichols
Broadlands, VA

David Parler
Charleston, SC

Cameron Smith
Charleston, SC

Marissa Whaley
Charleston, SC
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Michele Wilson
Arlington, VA


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