OUR TEAM

​Every member of our team plays a key role in carrying out the mission of our organization. Our team is diverse with many different backgrounds and stories defining their lives. Regardless of whether they are on the ground or thousands of miles away from our schools, they all share a common passion to empower students through education.

OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS

​Lan Vwa works with people on the ground that are invested in the community. These leaders are there pouring into the community when no one is looking. They were there before us, and they will be there long after us. Our students are their neighbors and children. They are a vital piece of our mission.

ARMANDO AND NORMA LEIVA
Community Leaders
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Armando and Norma Leiva have been investing in Joconal for over 8 years. Armando was born and raised in a village close to Joconal. As a teenager, he moved to Guatemala City to pursue an education. There he met Norma. They raised three incredible children and taught them the value of education. With a calling to Joconal, Armando and Norma poured much of their life savings into starting a coffee farm to provide jobs for the people in the village. They give so much, so the people in Joconal can have dignity and provide food for their families. Our school is located in the house on their farm.

PAULINO AND MARIA SANTIAGO
Community Leaders

Paulino and Maria Santiago live just down the road from our school in Joconal with their five adorable children. Paulino came to Joconal as a young boy. His parents sent him away at the age of eight to start working. He traveled to Joconal looking for a job and found a home. The woman living at the Leiva’s farm house, Goya, took the him in and raised him. When he was older, Paulino’s cousin, who had come to Joconal, was killed. Fearing for his life, he moved to Guatemala City with Armando. Over time, Paulino knew he was being called back to Joconal to invest in the community. Now, he works with the Leiva’s doing everything you can imagine on the farm and helps our teachers with problems at the school.

OUR STAff

​Lan Vwa has a small but dedicated staff focused on providing access to quality education. Our staff has a passion to provide opportunities to students that have the desire to pursue a better future. Together, they continue to see the positive effect education has in the communities in which they work.

Karina Leiva
Executive Director

​Karina lives in Guatemala City. She has a Teaching Degree with a focus on Learning disabilities from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. Karina has been working in education since August 2004 and began working with Lan Vwa in August 2013. She is a single mother that loves working with kids. Growing up, her parents did everything to keep her in school. They taught her that there is more in life than just what you see. She is passionate about showing the students in Joconal that, through education, they can learn more and have a better life. She can be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]

Nicomedes Hernández
Online Teacher and Technology assistant

"God has a plan for our life, God knows my purpose, what He has for me, many opportunities have come into my life, thanks to him and his immense mercy.  God knows why I am a member of the LanVwa family, and all I can say is that He is accomplishing something very important in my life, I know very well that I am sharing what i know and what I have learned from other people.  Thanks to LanVwa i am also able to invest in myself and help my family.  I am infinitely grateful to God for LanVwa for the blessings they have brought to my life."

Enrique López
Secondary Teacher at Chichimecas

"I prayed, asking God to put me somewhere to teach what I have learned, after a while, God listened to me and put me in this place, in this program. I'm sure it's a good place because it's a place where I can teach and help others to study so they can do well in life, but also to teach the Word of God.  That was what I asked God for a while ago and now I'm here in LAN VWA, to do the purpose that God has for me."

Zoe Mazariegos
​Academic Coordinator

​“It is important to educate new generations in "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). My husband and I are passionate about education, and our motivation is to serve and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”

Fabiola Pérez
Secondary Teacher at Chichimecas

​"Lan Vwa shares a purpose that is "Empowering communities through education" but this empowerment goes beyond education, it is also empowerment through the gospel and thus give a total turn to our society through the empowerment that God allows us to provide to the youth of today, by faith we know that tomorrow's youth will have an equitable society full of values.​​"

Yonmery Cabrera
Secondary Teacher at Joconal

"My purpose at Lan Vwa is to provide students with the capabilities that I possess and to enable them to harness their desire to continue their studies. As an educator, it is my duty to safeguard their future and encourage them to persevere. It brings me great happiness to envision them as professionals one day."

Alba Martínez
Secondary Teacher at Joconal

God has a purpose for me, and it's a great blessing to be able to work here, as it has been my desire to work with children and young people, and why not, for these young ones who want to study and excel through education. Thank you, Lan Vwa, for giving these young people the opportunity and empowering them. ​

Orquídea Pérez
Secondary Teacher at Chichimecas

"I am proud to work in an educational system such as Lan Vwa, which allows many young people to continue advancing, but above all empowering themselves through education and the word of God.
I am convinced that being in this project is the purpose that GOD has for me and I know that he will continue to use me to guide the education of each one of the young people."

OUR GOVERNANCE

  Lan Vwa’s Board of Directors is a group of leaders whose governance and vision for change has propelled the organization forward. With diverse backgrounds and professional expertise, each member plays a crucial role in growing Lan Vwa’s capacity. Together, they ensure the organization will continue as long as the need is present.  
And this is how LanVwa connects with them:

Kelly Waugaman
Cofunder/President of the Board

Kelly is the co-founder and President of the Board of LanVwa. She loves to travel and has a heart for service; she has found the two work hand-in-hand. She sees a critical need for improved education in low-income areas abroad and works to address this need.

Geovanni Leiva
Vocal

“I am passionate about empowerment, to me there is no better way to empower people than to educate and capitalize. Poverty is at its core, disconnection to opportunities therefore, empowerment is the solution to poverty. 
Bringing education to the places where there has been disconnection to this opportunity for generations is and will be my life mission, so therefore LanVwa is a perfect fit for me.”