Managers & Committees
Executive Advisory Group
PETER AND KATHY LACEY
Executive Advisors
Peter and Kathy have been supporting A Better World for many years; both have traveled with A Better World to view the projects that they continue to invest in and support. Click here to see one of their projects.
“I have traveled several times with A Better World to see our projects. It gives us great satisfaction to know that local people are empowered and engaged in solving problems”
– Kathy
GORD AND KATE BONTJE
Executive Advisors
Gord and Kate have supported projects since near the beginning of ABW and volunteered with us since 2006. A founding partner of Laebon Developments, Ltd., Gord has traveled several times to see the projects that he and Kate support in Kenya and Rwanda. Their most recent project is Gilgil Primary School in Kenya. Click here to see one of their projects.
DALE AND MAJELLA RUSSELL
Executive Advisors
Dale and Majella, owners of RE/MAX Real Estate Central Alberta, have volunteered with A Better World since 2007 and invested in Educational projects in Kenya and Afghanistan. They have traveled several times to Kenya and Rwanda to see the projects that they support and meet the communities that are impacted. Click here to see one of their projects.
Program Managers
DR. WAYNE CHURCH
Health Program Manager
Dr. Wayne has been a family physician for over 30 years in Red Deer, AB. He has traveled extensively around the world dedicating his life to medical service. We are pleased that he volunteers as the manager for ABW’s Health Program. In this role, he coordinates all of the medical services that ABW provides, including dental, rehab/physio, surgery, training services, and medical trips. Dr. Church is the chair of the Health Advisory Committee that is made up of all health project managers.
STU MACPHAIL
Water Program Manager
Member, Board of Directors
Member, Marketing Committee
Stu is the volunteer Water Program Manager for ABW. He has
volunteered with A Better World since 2004 and sits on the Marketing and Communications Committee and Board of Directors as well.
A partner in Advanced Systems in Red Deer, he has been on more than ten trips to various project locations. Stu has been in the oil industry for the past 25 years. He recently retired from his position as VP of
Business Development for Parkland Fuel Corporation.
Project Managers
WARREN SCHNOOR
Kenya Project Manager
Warren joined A Better World in 2013 and travels to Kenya regularly to manage projects. Warren and his wife Sara Jane are dedicated and long-time supporters of ABW. They have owned Co-operators Insurance Agency in Lacombe, AB since 2006.
“I believe A Better World is making a significant, measurable difference in Kenya and other parts of the world. I wanted to play a small part.”
DERYL COMEAU, RN, BScN, OHNC, MN
Community Health Manager
Deryl is an RN with a Master of Nursing in transcultural care and community health and development; she has extensive international experience. Since starting volunteer work with A Better World in 2009, she has led many multidisciplinary healthcare trips to Kenya and worked in Peru, Rwanda, and Bolivia.
“I am passionate about nursing and global health, and feel very fortunate to have traveled to about 75 countries to date.”
KAREN LEUNG
Rehab Service Manager
Karen has supported A Better World since its earliest years, and recently took on a formal position as a volunteer. A retired physiotherapist who previously worked with Alberta Health Services in Lacombe, Alberta, she traveled to Kenya in 2012 and 2013 overseeing physical rehabilitation projects. Now, she makes annual trips leading a team of professionals to provide rehabilitation for children in Kenya and Rwanda.
“I have seen disabled children transformed and believe that we can make a difference one life at a time.”
RICK WIEBE
Kenya Project Manager
Rick Wiebe is a long-time businessman and humanitarian volunteer. Owner of Carpet One Floor & Home in Red Deer, AB, Rick has extensive business knowledge and strategic planning expertise. A Project Manager with A Better World, Rick connects these skills with international humanitarian development. He and his wife Sharon also provide pre-marriage counselling. They have 3 kids and 4 grandkids.
“I love to see people moving forward with our help, and I know where every donor’s money goes, and that’s what I like about A Better World.”
DR. RAY COMEAU
Medical Equipment Manager
Dr. Ray is a retired physician with training and experience in international medicine who practised at Horizon Clinic in Sylvan Lake. He and his wife Deryl have been involved with A Better World since 2008 and made 13 trips to project countries around the world.
“I joined ABW because it is volunteer-run and delivers on its promises to both the donors and the people it serves.”
DR. LEN WADE
BARBARA WADE
Medical Training Service Managers
The Wades have volunteered for ABW for many years, helping to develop our medical training program. Len is a retired physician and Barbara travels to Kenya regularly, helping to train local medical staff. They continue to support ABW and Barbara has added medical project management to their contributions.
CANDI RAJAH
Event Coordinator
Candi has volunteered for ABW since its very beginning, helping her husband Eric in many areas. From event planning and decorating to supporting volunteers, she is always willing to lend a helping hand. Candi, Eric, and their sons Brenden and Jaden have traveled to East Africa many times with ABW.
ERIC RAJAH
Rwanda, Tanzania, and India Project Manager
Executive Director and Co-founder
Eric Rajah co-founded A Better World in 1990 with his friend Brian Leavitt. Since then, he has held the role of Executive Director. Eric is passionate about helping and inspiring people both around the world and at home. He's traveled with over 2,800 volunteers to project sites in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Bolivia, and Afghanistan. Eric loves enabling and encouraging young people to follow their dreams of helping others as well.
“I want to give back because much has been given to me.”
DR. KELVIN HILL
Dental Service Manager
Secretary, Board of Directors
Kelvin has volunteered with ABW since 2004, travelling annually over the last few years as the leader of Dental Service trips to Kenya. As a part of those trips, he has worked to establish dental clinics in several communities, building funds to equip them and train their staff.
“I find inspiration from being associated with such a dedicated group of volunteers who are committed to making the world a better place.”
In-country Project Managers
LAWRENCE MATHEA
Kenya Project Manager
Lawrence has been working with A Better World since 2009. He started out as driver guide and now manages our projects in Kenya. As project Manager he is responsible for implementing the approved projects, monitor and evaluate the progress, manage the funds and liaise with the project partners. Lawrence visited Canada in 2015 to meet donors and learn about the Revenue Canada Rules in completing overseas projects.
CHARLES RIOBA
Kenya Water Program Consultant
Charles Rioba, Engineer owns Solar World Kenya. Solar World specializes in water and power related solar products. In 2007, Charles in partnership with A Better World purchased a water drilling rig and has been drilling wells since then for A Better Worlds and other organizations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan.
JUMA SAMPUERRAP
Kenya Healthcare Consultant
Juma is a clinical officer working in the Maasai Mara at ABW-supported Sopa Clinic. Juma came from a big family; his father was married to 7 wives and Juma has 58 siblings. Juma helps with on-the-ground logistics for ABW healthcare trips and project management at Sopa.
"The reason I admire working with ABW is because they are really helping the needy and reaching the unreached areas and people who are underprivileged."
RAMA KAONEKA
Tanzania Project Manager
Rama was born in Lushoto Usamabara Mountain and grew up in Mlembule village in Tanzania. He went to Mbogoiyola Primary School at Mombo and later attended Dar Es Salaam National Vocation Centre where he studied plumbing. From 1995 to 1996, Rama played professional soccer for the Tanzanian National Team (he loves soccer). After that, Rama went to school to become a professional safari guide and has been guiding people on safaris for the past 20 years. He comes from a family of 14 siblings and has 3 children of his own, two boys and one girl.
“In July of 2014, I met Eric Rajah on his first visit to Tanzania and joined A Better World as a project liaison. I continue to manage various projects in Tanzania and to take guests on safari. I am excited by the work done by A Better World in their efforts to help others through health and education.”