Meet the team!
Elliott and Ashley shrader
“Elliott and I have been married for 11 years and we have two adorable little boys. Elliott and I first learned about Bruno through the Cochranes, who had personally gone to Uganda to meet Bruno and the children face to face. After some time of personally getting to know Bruno and Kafunjo from afar, our hearts for the Project only grew and our understanding of their level of need deepened. What first began as casual advocacy for Kafunjo has since blossomed into running a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that the four of us founded together. Becoming a part of Kafunjo has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I love these children and the whole Kafunjo crew way more than I could say. My dream is to finally see them to a place where they are truly thriving. They struggle and suffer a lot and their suffering now feels like my own. I am driven and committed here.” - Ashley, President
“When Ashley and I first got involved, I was struck by how accessible the Project was. Bruno is always posting on Facebook and often communicating directly with donors who reach out to him. Our sons get to video chat with Bruno and they pray for the school every night. It has been heartbreaking and wonderful to be involved with all of their struggles and victories.” - Elliott, Vice President
D.J. and Audri cochrane
“I first became acquainted with Bruno Biryomumaisho via Facebook in 2014 when he was seeking help for his small school in Kafunjo. After doing some digging and contacting other people who knew Bruno, my wife, Audri, and I started occasionally giving to a UK-based Gofundme page that was set up by Bruno’s friend, Jonathan Stark. In 2016, we decided to visit Bruno and the school through Johnathan’s ecotourism company, GreatApe Ventures. After spending the week with Bruno and his students, we decided to become more permanently involved and started a USA-based Gofundme page to better suit those who use US currency. I was able to go back again in 2018 for a quick visit and since then we have been networking and slowly gaining the trust of other faithful supporters of the school. Audri and I now look forward to being part of the next chapter with membership in an official non-profit that will hopefully bring Bruno and the school to a place beyond surviving, but thriving.” - D.J., Secretary
“My husband, DJ, and I first learned about Bruno via Facebook in 2014 when he was seeking assistance for his school/orphanage in Kafunjo, Uganda. Since we weren’t familiar with him or his school, we decided to do some research and find out what Bruno was all about. We ended up contacting others who knew Bruno and had met him personally. We eventually started donating to Bruno’s cause through a UK-based GoFundMe, which was started by Bruno’s friend Johnathan Stark. In 2016, we had the amazing opportunity to visit Bruno and his school. We travelled there as part of a group through Johnathan’s ecotourism company, GreatApe Ventures. After visiting and seeing Bruno’s heart and hard - work for these children, we decided to become more permanently involved. DJ began a US-based GoFundMe to make donating easier for those using US currency. We really believe in Bruno’s work and want to help in any way we can. We are very excited to take part in this official non-profit group and hope it can bring more sustainable assistance to this project.” - Audri, Officer