About Us

Our Mission

Our mission is to break the generational cycle of poverty in Asembo by equipping women with skills to prosper.

Our Vision

We envision a thriving community in which every woman is empowered with skills to provide for themselves and their children.

Our Founders

Grace Ongong’a and Josephine Apiyo were born and raised in Asembo—a small fishing community on the shores of Lake Victoria. With grit and good fortune, they were able to complete high school and even go on to college. Grace studied Education and earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Mount Kenya University. Josephine studied Community Development at Kisumu National Polytechnic. The knowledge and skills they gained enabled them to pursue successful careers, but they never forgot about their friends and former classmates back in Asembo. Many of the girls they grew up with never had a chance to finish their education, earn an income, and have agency over their lives. Grace and Josephine founded Asembo Skills for Hope to create a path to economic independence and empowerment for the women of their hometown.

Our Team

  • Grace Ongong'a

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Josephine Apiyo

    PROGRAM MANAGER

  • Paul Awandu

    SEWING SKILLS TRAINER

  • Beth Illah

    WELLBEING SUPPORT COORDINATOR

  • Rose Awino Otieno

    SUCCESS COORDINATOR

  • Dorcus Opiyo Okinyi

    SEWING SKILLS ASSISTANT TRAINER

  • Pamela Adhiambo Ojwang

    DATA COLLECTION AGENT

Our Board

  • Aaron Levenson

    Board President
    Monitoring and Evaluation Director

  • Nathan Levenson

    Board Secretary
    Management Adviser

  • Delphine Uwamahoro

  • Gretchen Stoddard

  • Michael Banda

  • Leslie Levenson

  • Petra Anaya

  • Patrick Kanyala