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UK Trustees
Father Arbogast Lekule
Co-Founder and Vice Chair
Fr. Arbo was born in Kararacha village on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro. He was ordained a priest with the Missionaries of Africa, and he has worked as a missionary in Nigeria, England and Florida US. He has lived and visited several countries in Africa, Europe and Asia. In the year 2000 he worked with the ATD Fourth World Movement in East Africa to assist young people living in extreme poverty in Dar-es-Salaam city and he speaks several languages.
Fr Arbo founded You Touch Africa with friends in London in memory of his mum, Mrs Odilia Lekule. He visits Africa at least once a year and monitors most of projects funded by the charity.
His motto: Psalm 18:2
Peter Dunkin
Co-Founder, Secretary
Peter was one of the founders of You Touch Africa in 2006. He is the Vice Chair and Secretary of the charity, as well as a Trustee. Peter has visited Africa many times since 2005. He always looks forward to visiting You Touch Africa's projects and meeting the local people.
By profession he is a Chartered Structural Engineer and takes a particular interest in You Touch Africa's construction projects.
John Murphy
Co-Founder, Treasurer
John is an original trustee and is Treasurer for You Touch Africa.
He is a university lecturer in Biomedical Sciences and lives in Croydon, UK, but is originally from Dublin in Ireland.
Beatrice Shayo
Trustee
Beatrice is Fr. Arbo Lekule’s niece. She grew up in Tanzania and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Dar es Salaam, before gaining a Master’s Degree in Financial and Investment Analysis from the University of Northampton in the UK. Beatrice now lives and works in the UK, but returns to Tanzania periodically.
Beatrice is fluent in Swahili.
Matthew Gibbs
Vice Treasurer
Matt served as You Touch Africa’s Treasurer from 2008 to 2022 and is now Vice Treasurer. He has worked mainly in the energy sector and is married with 4 grown-up children. He visited Tanzania in 2014. Matt is also active in his local church and with other charities.
Christopher Henley
Co-Founder, Chair
Chris was born in December 1954 in Tamworth in Staffordshire, but lived nearly all of his life in South London. He is now retired but spent all his working life as a teacher in Catholic Primary schools and a Special School for teenagers with Severe Learning Disabilities.In 2001 Chris climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with a group led by Fr. Arbo.The group raised money for the dispensary at Makomu which was spent on the improvements requested by the staff there. The rest became the initial capital for You Touch Africa.
Jenny Mutesi
Trustee
Jenny was born in Uganda and arrived in the UK in the mid 70s as a political refugee child thanks to her mum and the United Nations. She became a British citizen. She feels it is a tremendous honour and opportunity to help other children as she was once helped herself.
She has been a Trustee for more than 4 years and visits Tanzania on a regular basis in support of the many projects supported by You Touch Africa.
Jane Kimaru
Trustee
Jane Kimaru born and bred in Kenya and residing in the UK for the past 21 years. She is an oncology nurse by profession and a mother to three children.
Jane became involved in You Touch Africa in early 2013. She became a Trustee on 15th October 2013. Additionally, she is fluent in Swahili.
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