Cindy (Director) Cindy is the founder and director of Start Small. She moved to Kenya in 2013, after her initial trip in 2011, where she was struck by the number of children desperate to attend school. Cindy returned to her home country of the UK in 2020 after 8 wonderful years of living in Kenya. She is still very involved with the charity, being the director and on the board of trustees. Her hard work and insatiable love for life have led Start Small to become the successful organisation it is today.
Jennie (Project Coordinator) Jennie officially joined the Start Small team in 2019 after several years of volunteering with us since meeting Cindy in 2011. After managing the charity for nearly 5 years in Kenya, she is now overseeing the project from the U.S. She supports the team in their day-to-day workload, manages the finances, social media channels, and communicates with donors and sponsors. While she is physically far away, she is very connected with all that we do and continues to help our team pursue our mission to change lives through education.
Sharon (Office Manager) Sharon joined the Start Small team in 2018 and quickly became a vital member of our team in the office with administration work, as well as on the ground with our children and projects. The children have grown to love her and the families trust her immensely. Sharon has a bachelor’s degree in education with a background in teaching. Sharon too has a real love for life, fun, and laughter and we are so glad to have her.
Sammy (Transportation Manager) Sammy is the primary driver for the children who attend PCEA Jitegemea. He spends a great deal of time with all of them, picking them up each morning and taking them home every evening. Sammy is kind, gentle, attentive, and a great role model. He has been essential in ensuring our children have someone to trust, confide in, and look up to. He is also key in communicating with the office staff about any concerns or needs of the children, ensuring their health and safety.
Cate (Career Development Case Worker) Cate is the newest member of our team, joining us in March of 2024. Cate has been absolutely amazing in helping Start Small students transition from highschool to college and career development programs. She is has an extensive background in social work and brings a wealth of experience and passion for empowering young minds to reach their full potential. She also assists in the essential office and administrative work and we are so grateful to have her on our team.
Noel (Social Worker) Noel has been with Start Small since the very beginning as she was one of our very first sponsored children and the inspiration behind Start Small. She joined the Start Small team as our social worker and counselor in 2022 and has grown to be an integral part of our team. Having been a student and now a staff member, she has the unique experience of understanding Start Small from both sides. She has been amazing at understanding our students and parents and helping bridge the gap and bring us all closer in our work. Noel is what Start Small is all about and we couldn’t be happier to have her on our team.
We are a very honest, forthcoming, and transparent charity. If you have any queries whatsoever please do not hesitate to get in touch – we are quite a friendly bunch!