Team Ubuntu in Liberia

Sele Max Fuah

The Senior Program Coordinator leading the support of interns and execution of activities in Liberia, Max is a 2024 Mandela Washington Fellow and a community alchemist with more than a decade of experience in social service organizations, youth empowerment, and grassroot development initiatives.

The years he has spent dedicated to increasing access to opportunities, resources and developing the skills of youth are evident in Max's dedicated execution of program activities in Liberia. 

In his free time, Max continues to drive social and economic and education reform, small business development, and promotion of physical and mental health through numerous volunteer initiatives.

Our interns are fortunate to benefit from the support of such an empathetic human with experience in the development and governmental agencies that add value to their learning and growing networks.

Ama Tukus Harris

Tukus Ama Harris is a dynamic leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for youth empowerment and education in Liberia. As the Manager of Empowerment Squared Liberia and its historic Liberian Learning Center, Ama leads and supports the team on whom our interns rely during their stay in Liberia. But her contribution to empowerment and education in Liberia is much longer than her tenure at the organization.

In 2016 she founded the Rosetta Steps Education Foundation in honor of her mother where she serves as Executive Director. The foundation operates the of Rosetta Steps Education Center, a junior high school dedicated to bridging the literacy gap in low income communities. 

Ama is a Tony Elumelu fellow, serves as a board member of the Youth Entrepreneurship Network, leads as President of the Rotary Club of Monrovia and chairs the board of the YMCA Montserrado chapter, further supporting community development initiatives. 

A devoted mother, Ama is deeply passionate about advancing educational opportunities and community empowerment.

Christopher B Jones

Christopher Jones is a tech innovator and software developer with over six years of experience leveraging technology to solve local challenges in Liberia. As a co-founder of Ezee Market, he spearheaded the platform’s growth across seven counties, enabling Liberians worldwide to support relatives back home and earning multiple local and regional awards. He is also one of the key team members of the Empowerment Squared Liberia team.

Christopher has also worked with leading organizations like Naymote Liberia, where he developed digital platforms for the Young Political Leadership School Africa, increasing engagement across the continent. Additionally, as a Program Manager at Bridge Technology, he played a key role in training over 500 women in computer literacy.

Passionate about impactful technology, Christopher combines his technical expertise with leadership experience to create innovative solutions. When he’s not developing tech, he’s mentoring future leaders and shaping Liberia’s digital landscape.

Joseph T Smith

A key member of the Empowerment Squared Liberia team, Joseph Smith is a dynamic professional with expertise in database management, education, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). With a Bachelor’s in Information Technology and over eight years of experience, Joseph is passionate about leveraging technology and education to drive community empowerment and development.

Joseph has held diverse roles, including as a computer science teacher, system administrator, and communications supervisor. At the Mary Lauren Browne School of Excellence, he managed the digital learning system and taught interactive computer science lessons. He also supported Liberia's electoral process as a Data Entry Clerk for the National Election Commission, ensuring data integrity.

An active member of organizations like the Rotaract Club of Monrovia and the Young African Leaders Initiative, Joseph combines technical expertise with leadership and mentorship to create meaningful change. Outside work, he serves as Director of Media for Effort Baptist Church and enjoys collaborating on community-driven initiatives.

Vera Mussah

Our M&E Specialist and Research Lead, Vera Mussah is an International Public Health Specialist with over 15 years of experience in health system strengthening, program evaluation, and service delivery across governmental and non-governmental organizations. She has played pivotal roles in harmonizing donor-supported projects into national programs and contributing to Liberia’s Health Financing Policy reform.

Vera’s leadership extends to coordinating Liberia’s Ebola Case Investigation Team and leading the Private Sector Engagement Committee during the onset of COVID-19. As Principal Assistant to Liberia’s former Minister of Health, Dr. Bernice Dahn, she helped develop technical documents and supported health system restoration post-Ebola, even accompanying the Minister to a high-level G7 meeting in Berlin.

A founding member of the Liberia Public Health Institute, Vera has participated in study tours to Thailand and Norway and contributed to policies and strategic documents that have shaped Liberia’s health sector. She has also worked on diverse public health issues, including gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, and disaster management.

Her extensive international experience includes training at T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health, the Mandela Washington Fellowship at Andrew Young School of Public Policy, and the United Nations Human Rights and HIV training in Geneva.

Caroline Saye Willie

Mrs. Caroline Saye Willie is a Liberian Nurse Educator and professional nurse with over a decade of experience as a Mental Health Clinician and five years as an Addiction Professional. She currently serves as the Acting Dean of Health Sciences at Smythe University College, also known as Smythe Institute of Management & Technology.

Mrs. Willie holds a Master’s degree in Nursing Education (2023) and Public Health (2018). She earned an Associate’s degree in Nursing in 2009, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2013, when she also became a certified and licensed Mental Health Clinician.

Her extensive career includes roles with esteemed organizations such as the World Health Organization, where she worked as a Mental Health and Psychosocial Assistant; Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as a Psychosocial Counselor; and Aspen Medical as a Mental Health Trainer. She has also held positions with the Ministry of Health as a Technical Assistant to the Mental Health Unit and as faculty staff for the Carter Center’s mental health training program.

Mrs. Willie has contributed to impactful community interventions, serving as a psychosocial consultant for Serving Humanity and Empowering Development (SHED) to support inmates in Bong, Nimba, and Margibi central prisons. She has also consulted for JAHMALE Solution Health, the Social Economic Empowerment for Disadvantaged Youth (SEED) program, and the Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL).

Sessy Hessou

Photo Credit: Joyce Shelton

The Liberian Learning Center

The Liberian Learning Center is a complex of three facilities in Paynesville, Liberia, focused on transforming the educational landscape of the region and providing access to diverse learning resources to a catchment of over 250,000 community members.

In the words of our partners at McCallum Sather, "In a country plagued by some of the lowest literacy rates in the world, the center offers a vital opportunity to build brighter futures. Designed with both innovation and sustainability in mind, the structure integrates passive system solutions to address the challenges of unreliable power and access to clean water. Its sloped roof is a multifunctional marvel, harvesting solar energy and rainwater while reducing the building’s environmental footprint.

What makes this project truly extraordinary is its deep connection to the community. Local labour and materials were integral to its construction, with the project serving as a training ground for Liberian craftsmen. This approach not only created jobs but also built a foundation of skills that will benefit the community for years to come. The Liberian Learning Centre is more than just a building; it is a living, enduring symbol of resilience and self-reliance."

The Taylor Family

The Hessou Family

The Teahjay Family