Yenga Radja
Co-Founder
Yenga’s passion for a better Congo, a better world, predates the creation of EduCongo by a long shot. Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then Zaire, Yenga witnessed first hand the everyday hardships faced by millions of his country women and men. While still in high school, he founded a social club for boys and girls in Lubumbashi, DRC, to raise youth’s consciousness in educational and cultural activities. Yenga’s leadership abilities earned him a spot on the governing Board of the Junior Teachers Training Institute in Maniema, DRC.
After moving to the United States in 1993, Yenga’s passion and leadership was again on display while attending Kent State University where he served as President of the Association of African Students. Since moving to America, Yenga makes regular trips back to the Congo to help set up programs at EduCongo’s sponsored school.
He is currently in quality management for Sauer Danfoss, a leading international engineering company out of Portland, Oregon. Mr. Radja’s experience, compassion and leadership are instrumental in helping EduCongo change the lives for thousands of children in the Congo.
Collaine Faddis, MPH, LMT
Blueprint for Balance
Board Member
Collaine’s personal and professional career has centered around being an agent for social change, both globally and locally. She has a Master’s of Public Health from Oregon State University and has worked internationally in health development in West Africa, SE Asia and South America. She spent two years living and working in Burkina Faso as a Peace Corps Volunteer, where her passion for education as a touchstone to improved health and quality of life was ignited. In Portland she dedicated over 5 years in a management position of a local non-profit, the African American Health Coalition. Currently she is a Licensed Massage Therapist, business owner and grant writing consultant. In her words; “Being a part of EduCongo is an honor and a tangible way to plant the seeds for the future of a healthier global village.”
Naim Hasan
Entrepreneur
Board Member
Mr. Hasan is a respected and beloved community leader here in the “City of Roses” Portland, Oregon. Mr. Hasan embodies leadership managerial skills that will keep EduCongo in the right direction. Currently Mr. Hasan is working as the Director of Business Development for N2H TEC, a company he founded over four years ago to promote physical, mental and financial growth strategies. Mr. Hasan earned numerous top sales awards during his fourteen years experience in Sales and Management in the Telecommunication Industry. He’s a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and competed in with the United States Olympic Team in Seoul South Korea in 1988. He now coaches the Taekwondo Regional High Performance Team. He earned his BS in Business Administration from Portland State University and is a Certified Personal Trainer and served as Weight Management and Conditioning Instructor for the African American Health Coalition, Inc. Mr. Hasan track record speaks for itself and with him on Board, EduCongo is on the right path!
Ahman Dirks, B.A. Sociology, B.S. Business Administration
Board Member
Ahman has been a life long learner and has seen how the seed of education has born fruit and the opportunities it nurtures. Ahman realized the importance of instilling in individuals, at an early age, the love and passion of reading by volunteering time to the SMART (Start Making a Reader Today); A great organization that seeks to provide an ancillary environment for children in public schools to pursue and hone their reading abilities. This approach to learning has transferred to Ahman’s personal life as he continues his goal of achieving post baccalaureate studies in economics. “The opportunity to be on the board of EduCongo is an honor and provides an occasion to help individuals with a surfeit of potential but a paucity of resources to achieve their goals” he says. Currently, Ahman is a Private Equity Associate at Pension Consulting Alliance in Portland, Oregon.
Lou Radja
Co-Founder/Executive Director
Board Member
A true humanitarian at heart, Lou Radja has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of many across the globe. As Executive Director of EduCongo, Lou’s energy is devoted to generating awareness and support to provide quality education for underprivileged children in the Congo. As an International Speaker and founder of Lou Radja Enterprises, Mr. Radja has addressed and engaged global citizens all over the world on topics such as; diversity, globalization, humanity, leadership,…and education.
Before starting EduCongo, Lou worked with organizations both in the U.S and in Africa to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and to reduce health disparities. Lou’s experience in the health field spans over five years of intensive health education, outreach, coordination, dissemination and training of trainers. A graduate of Portland State University, Lou’s background is in International Affairs with a focus on African development issues. Over the years, growing up in the Congo or living in the United States, he has found that education truly is at the heart of human progress, and that’s the spirit of EduCongo!
