About ImpactAVillage

Our Mission

The mission of Impact a Village, Inc. is to improve education and healthcare for impoverished villages through out the world. The current focus is on villages in Southern Sudan which have been ravaged by civil war. Projects include installing grinding machines to eliminate grinding grain by hand, building wells for clean water supply, building schools, providing educational and medical supplies, and establishing basic health centers.

Our Purpose

Impact a Village, Inc. strives to make a positive impact on impoverished villages through donations and empowerment and, at the same time, make a positive impact on U.S. communities through the awareness and community service given to villages in need.

- Impact through Donations: Contribute resources to impoverished villages to help them improve their education and healthcare.
- Impact through Empowerment: Empower villages to participate in the improvement of their education and healthcare with their commitment, involvement, and donations of land, resources and manpower.
- Impact through Awareness: Educate U.S. communities about the needs of impoverished communities through participation at schools, speaking engagements and other events within the community.
- Impact through Community Service: Encourage donations and action from U.S. communities who already enjoy basic education and health services.

Board of Directors

All board members of Impact a Village are volunteers and generously donate their time.

Lisa Wade-President of the Board
Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Galil Motion Control, Rocklin, CA
Lisa has been involved with Galil, a high-tech company for over 20 years and brings to the board many years of management and business experience. Previously, Lisa served as a board member with Healing Hands, Healing Hearts, a non-profit organization providing support for the critically ill through on-site therapeutic massage and relaxation techniques. Lisa became passionately interested in the plight of Southern Sudan after watching the documentary, "God Grew Tired of Us" and reading the book, "What is the What?" Lisa received a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981.

Cara France-Treasurer of the Board
President, Sage Consulting Associates, Inc., San Francisco, CA
Cara is the founder and President of Sage Consulting Associates, a firm placing marketing & business consultants into short-term assignments at companies throughout the Bay Area. A serial entrepreneur with a marketing, business and management consulting background, Cara has seen small groups of people with shared vision create extraordinary impact both in the business and non-profit worlds. Cara became passionately interested in the project after watching the documentary, "God Grew Tired of Us"; reading the books, "What is the What?" and "Three Cups of Tea"; and most importantly, meeting Deng Jongkuch. Cara received an MBA from Stanford University in 1995.

Charisse Desmarais-Secretary of the Board
Doctor of Chiropractic in South San Francisco, CA
Dr. Desmarais gradutated from Life West Chiropractic College in San Leandro in 1990. Her husband, Ron Desmarais is also a chiropractor and they opened their own practice in South San Francisco, CA, in 1994. They have two children, Sophia 8 and Luke 6. Charisse was first interested in the plight of the Lost Boys through her friend Jennifer Martin who has been helping several Lost Boys who live in San Jose, including Deng. After reading, "Lost Boys, No More", "The Bible or the Axe", and "What is the What?" her interest and desire to help grew. Charisse states, "Helping Deng and the people in his village has increased my awareness of people in other countries and helped my children to see how other children live, how fortunate we are and how we can and need to help others."

Deng Jongkuch-Board Member
One of the Lost Boys of Sudan; Graduate of San Jose State University
Deng was born in Southern Sudan in Bor County. In 1987, when he was only five years old, he was separated from his family during the civil war. He spent nearly 15 years either trekking to safety or in refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. In 2001, he was selected along with 3800 other "Lost Boys of Sudan" to go to the United States where he was relocated to San Jose, California. In June 2008, Deng graduated from California State University-San Jose with a degree in Health Sciences and will begin studies at Touro University for a Masters of Public Health. Deng visited his village in the summer of 2005 and was reunited with his family after 18 years. He was dismayed to find his village in poor condition with no roads, clean water or school. He is passionately committed to helping re-build villages in need in Southern Sudan and returns every year during school breaks. It is a great honor to have Deng on the board of Impact a Village.

Katrina (KC) Wachs-Educational Advisor
English Teacher Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay, CA
KC graduated from University of California, Berkeley with an English degree in multi-cultural literature. She went on to teach for a year in Asuncion, Paraguay where she traveled and experienced a rich tapestry of culture. Upon her return, KC began her teaching career and went on to earn a credential and Master's Degree in Educational Leadership. Through her travels and reading, she developed a passion and heart for Africa, specifically, the Sudanese people. KC's experience in education has also given her the drive to ensure that all people everywhere receive an education as an inalienable human right.