We’re on a mission to break the cycle of poverty
for children living in Mbiko, Uganda.

Ariane graduated from Westminster College, SLC, UT in 2016 with a B.S. in Public Health. And in 2021 complete her B.S. in Nursing with the hopes of providing healthcare to some of the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. She now works as an RN in the emergency department of a level 1 trauma center in central Texas.

Ariane has always had a heart for international aid, holding her first fundraiser at the age of 10 for those affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. Upon her return with the Africa Mission Trip in 2010, she struggled deeply with her "comfortable life" having seen, first hand, the effects of true poverty. Believing that we each must be the change that we wish to see in the world, she decided to organize a group of other passionate individuals to help start what she saw as a grassroots movement- to fulfill the dream of a local Mbikoin who desperately wanted to be the change in her village by educating the children of Mbiko.

Ariane proudly served on the Board of Directors for Hands4Uganda for seven years and assumed the position of Program Development Manager in 2017. In 2020 she rejoined the Board of Directors and was voted as Board Chair. In her free time Ariane enjoys spending time with her husband, Jackson, trail running, skiing, and playing with her puppies Tikka and Loki.

Email: ariane@hands4uganda.org

Shawn is a retired elementary school teacher who spent his career inspiring young students to learn, grow, and discover their potential. An avid outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys cycling, skiing, rock climbing, and seeking out new adventures.

In March 2026, Shawn traveled to Uganda to visit Rock of Ages School, an experience that broadened his perspective and deepened his appreciation for cultural connection and service. He values lifelong learning, community involvement, and sharing meaningful experiences with his spouse, September, as they continue exploring the world together.

Jessalyn is a Trial Attorney in the Idaho State Public Defender’s Bannock County office. She has spent the last seven years specializing in juvenile and child protection cases and is certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist. She is the Idaho State Coordinator for the National Association of Counsel for Children and the treasurer/secretary for the Child Protection Section of the Idaho State Bar. Additionally, she sits on the Child Protection Committee of the Idaho Supreme Court.

Outside of work Jessalyn is on the board of two nonprofit organizations: the Pocatello Free Clinic and Hands4Uganda. In July 2022 she was named Outstanding Young Lawyer by the Idaho State Bar and in April 2024 she was issued the Rising Star Award by Idaho Women Lawyers. Jessalyn visited her H4U sponsored student in 2024 and in 2026. In her free time, she enjoys coaching soccer and being with her husband and two children.

With over 10 years of experience in the corporate sector and another 15 years as an owner operator in a Family-Owned Service business; Doug’s hands on experience is vast. He was instrumental in the growth of a Christmas Light installation company from $0 to over $1M in annual revenue before exiting to branch out on his own. He is now leveraging his experiences in business currently as an owner in 4 different businesses while also working part time for Intuit as a Senior Associate Bookkeeper. His accomplishments have allowed him to now spend time with his family as well as volunteer with several organizations to donate time to others. His current efforts are on cleaning up and managing books in the Small Business Sector.

Doug is definitely an entrepreneur at heart dating back to early school years where he and his twin brother used to sell popular candy out of his school locker. He brings a unique perspective to small businesses and has actually never fully completed any formal education or received a college degree. Now holding Professional Certifications in Bookkeeping his focus is on understanding costs, income, & everything else that goes into a good business model. He resides in Coppell, TX with his wife Amber, daughter Hannah age 12, & son Noah age 10.

In his free time Doug loves spending time in the outdoors. He is an assistant coach for his son’s soccer as well as assistant Cubmaster for Cub Scouts. He loves fishing in the mountains and along the coast with his friends & family.

Email: doug@hands4uganda.org

Adam grew up in a small town on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. After high school he spent four years living in different countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. This extensive travel gave him insight into different cultures and a deep understanding of hardship through his personal experiences in developing countries.

At twenty-two he moved to central Canada and started a construction company and had an exit six years later. In 2016 he moved to Texas and started a manufacturing company in the door and window industry. He holds multiple US patents for his product inventions that the company builds and sells across the southern US.

Adam made his first trip to Uganda with H4U in the summer of 2022 and joined the board of directors later that year. His passion for the Rock of Ages School and the H4U vision is obvious to those around him.

Adam and his wife Kara live in Central Texas with their three children. Kara is an emergency medicine physician at a Level 1 trauma center and is an assistant clerkship director. They enjoy being active with their kids and traveling as much as their busy schedules allow.

When her daughter returned from a mission trip at age 16 and struggled with extreme “culture shock”, Tamera encouraged her to follow her dream and “to be the change that she wanted to see in the world”. As a volunteer for the organization that was born out of that encouragement, Tamera is honored to have helped with fundraising, donor correspondence and other projects and is now excited to continue her volunteer role as the Hands4Uganda Board Chair.

Previously, Tamera led a successful career in high-tech marketing communications. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with dual majors in Marketing and in Management and Organizational Leadership.

She has sponsored children through various organizations for over 30 years. She visited her H4U sponsored child in 2016 and again in 2024 and highly recommends the experience.

Joan is a retired telecommunications executive and a transformation and growth leader who combines 12 years of running a profitable growth business with 20+ years of experience running a variety of HR operations. Her leadership style is underpinned by fostering a performance mindset, setting challenging goals and strengthening culture.
Upon retirement Joan has focused on supporting and contributing to community and nonprofit organizations.

Joan has been a supporter of Hands4Uganda since 2022. In 2024 Joan joined a Hands4Uganda trip and was deeply moved by the mission of Hands4Uganda to make a positive difference in the lives of the children and youth of Uganda by assisting them in achieving their highest potential. The commitment and hard work of the founders and the staff of the Rock of Ages School has made a significant positive impact on the students, families and community of Mbiko. Joan lives in the mountains of Idaho and enjoys taking advantage of all the outdoor activities.