OUR TEAM

CO-FOUNDER, CEO, AND BOARD SECRETARY

Colman Thadey Ndetembea is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Kyaro Assistive Tech, a social enterprise that designs, manufactures, and provides assistive devices that are appropriate, affordable, and inspiring for people with disabilities in Tanzania and Africa at large.

Colman co-founded Kyaro in 2021 based on a wheelchair design that he developed during his final year of college in collaboration with an occupational therapist and his clients. The design won second place in the 2019 Kesho Leo Science Slam and first place in the technical colleges category of the National Competition of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MAKISATU) in 2020. In 2022, he was a Mandela Washington Fellow and connected with other African innovators from across the continent. Colman has advocated for inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life in East Africa through television, radio, and in-person appearances.

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE OFFICER

Milka graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy in 2021. During her studies she never considered working with NGOs, but when she joined the Kyaro team, she was amazed to see the potential for impact. She was inspired seeing the difference assistive devices made in the lives of people living with disabilities.

Milka joined the Kyaro team in early 2022, and manages Kyaro administration & financial activities. She also acts as a workshop manager and is responsible for managing workshop activities in collaboration with the technicians and tailor.

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

When in high school, Malika volunteered for her school’s special education needs department and met Sudi Muli, whose work sparked her interest in social work. Over the past five years, she has worked with various local and international NGOs where she supported project planning, implementation and research, as well as devised effective communication and outreach strategies to promote organizational goals.

Malika became a core member of the Kyaro team in early 2022, and now manages our communications, fundraising, advocacy, and partnerships.

LEAD TECHNICIAN

Nelson has over 6 years of experience as a technician and is keen to bring the best quality out of each of his works. After being exposed to the field of assistive devices, he is excited to use his skills to help his community.

LEAD TAILOR

Magdalena has loved tailoring since childhood, and was able to pursue it professionally after finishing school. Before joining Kyaro, she worked as an independent tailor for two years.

BOARD CHAIRPERSON

John is a big believer in the future of today’s youth. He has been working at Twende Social Innovation Center since 2018 and serving as the Executive Director since 2020. John’s daily mission is to inspire and equip the youth with training in creativity, innovative thinking, and practical “hands-on” implementation. He has progressively championed various programs and projects at Twende including tech incubation, STEM clubs, and the extension of Twende to the Kilimanjaro region by establishing the Twende-Orkolili satellite center.

Prior to Twende, John served as a project manager within HR management at Intel Schools where he discovered his passion to serve and work with the youth. John graduated from Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College, where he majored in human resource management.

BOARD MEMBER

Faustina is one of the founding members of Songambele - a grassroots community-based organization with a mission to promote good health, education, well-being and social inclusion for women, girls, and children with disabilities in Tanzania. Being a wheelchair user and a person living with a disability for more than 20 years, Faustina's journey has fueled her passion for advocating for disability inclusion.

Her unwavering commitment to amplifying voices and addressing needs underscores her belief in a more equitable and sustainable future. Faustina's story is a testament to the transformative power of resilience and compassion, proving that with determination, meaningful change is not only possible but inevitable.

CO-FOUNDER AND BOARD MEMBER

Sudi has been a pediatric occupational therapist in Tanzania for over 15 years. He quickly became frustrated with the limitations of the assistive devices he was able to source. Kyaro is an expression of his lifelong dream to start a company that could bring quality assistive devices to his patients’ communities.

He believes that more innovative assistive devices will drastically improve therapy, rehabilitation, and accessibility and open up new possibilities for people with disabilities.

In 2024, Sudi opened his own therapy practice in Arusha, the first of its kind the region, bringing together occupational, physical, and speech therapy under one roof.

CO-FOUNDER AND BOARD MEMBER

Eamon worked on the first iterations of Kyaro’s multipurpose wheelchair in 2018, while studying at Olin College of Engineering. It was his first engineering project designing in collaboration with users, and the chance to use engineering principles for social good motivated his studies for the rest of college.

He graduated in 2021 and now works as a manufacturing engineer in the United States, but couldn’t bring himself to leave Kyaro behind him. Today, he continues to oversee the mechanical design of new assistive devices.

BOARD TREASURER

Steve has worked for over 25 years in strategic and operating roles in both for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations, in the government sector, and as a consultant. He is currently the COO at NatureServe.  He has lived and worked in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America in environmentally sustainable agriculture and forestry, carbon sequestration, transparent global supply chains, socially responsible investment, emerging technologies, and applications of technology in remote environments.

Steve grew up in the Philippines. He received a BA from Stanford University, and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC, Berkeley. He worked for the US Department of State, with postings in Nigeria, Austria, Egypt, and Washington, DC. He speaks French and German, with a reading knowledge of Spanish.

BOARD MEMBER

Florence Namaganda is a Ugandan social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and neurodevelopment therapist with 18 years of experience as a founder and director of the Mukisa Foundation and Special Children’s Trust in Uganda, she leads organizations dedicated to restoring hope and dignity to children with disabilities and their families. Through comprehensive health, education, family empowerment, advocacy, and awareness programs, her initiatives directly impact communities in 9 districts, with a nationwide reach through the Special Children’s Forum—an essential platform uniting various stakeholders in the disability sector for coordinated efforts.

Beyond her direct initiatives, Florence serves on prominent boards and committees, including the Children at Risk Action Network (CRANE), Berakhah Medical Centre, Local Coalition Accelerator, and the Committee for Gender and Social Development in the Buganda Kingdom. Her overarching vision is to witness every child thriving to their God-given potential, irrespective of abilities, race, or creed. She believes deeply that every child is a blessing, created with purpose, deserving of love, and entitled to a dignified life.