ABOUT US | Jifunze

jifunze international

Founder and CEO Victoria Porter first visited Kenya in December 2017 / January 2018. It was during this time she witnessed first hand the repercussions poverty was having on the health and wellbeing of families and their children in the Kitengela community. The specific issues identified at the time were in relation to lack of education around puberty, sexual health and sexual violence. It was clear that we needed to highlight and emphasise the need to empower members of the community who would identify as vulnerable.

In 2020 Jifunze International was established as an Australian not for profit company and from the outset Victoria was very clear that no Directors or board members will be paid, for their duties pertaining to their role on the board. She wishes to express her sincere thanks and appreciation to all Directors and board members now and in the future for their dedication and support to this organisation.

In May 2020, Jifunze International was officially recognised by the Australian Charities and Non for Profit Commission as a benevolent institute and gained Deductible Gift Receipt Status. This means any donation over $2 is tax deductible.

Working within schools and the local hospital allowed Jifunze International to understand the needs of the community. The needs identified exist due to extreme poverty and lack of education around health and well being. The initial needs were knowledge about first aid, nutrition and best water practice. However, during the first year in operation we had the unexpected arrival of COVID 19 and this became the priority as the organisation responded with the provision of personal protective equipment and COVID 19 information leaflets and posters.

With this understand we settled on the following mission to encourage, engage and equip vulnerable adults and children living in high-risk situations. By teaching them to understand how to protect themselves from physical or emotional harm and in doing so develop confidence and skills leading to self actualisation.

In 2022, we started a meal program in slum of Kariobangi which worked with boys aged 17 - 25. Since then their program has expanded to include, health education, tertiary education and soccer. We continue our health education ventures and community based projects within the Kitengela area.

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OUR People

Victoria Porter (PHF)

CEO, Executive Director

Founder and Chairperson

Victoria has been entangled in charity events from a young age from following her dad around and helping out with his many events which were run to support disabled children, school fundraisers and notably sending a shipping container of school supplies to Romania. After joining Townsville Central State School following her family's migration to Australia she as awarded the Malcolm Molomby Award for community service within the school.

Since she finished school she has lived and worked overseas. Returning to Australia in 2012 to return to studies. She now holds a Bachelors Degree in Business and Events a Diploma in Youth Work and a Masters in International Development.

In 2016/7 she spent a substantial time volunteering at the Salvation Army in Melbourne as well as Don Bosco Youth Centre in Brunswick, and often said it was the best part of her week.

At the end of 2017 she took a trip to Africa, stopping for a duration in Kenya. The experience changed her life. She has since returned to Kenya multiple times and built connections with Ujamaa education provider, the teams at Days for Girls as well as local education and health leaders in the community.

She was honoured to receive a Paul Harris Fellow awarded for the work that she has done in Kenya from Mundingburra Rotary Club in District 9550 at their District conference in Alice Springs where she was a guest speaker. And was invited to be a founding member of the Rotarian Action Group for Menstrual Health & Hygiene which is currently being established.

Victoria returned to speak at the District 9560 conference in Darwin, May 2023 with DG Prath where he awarded her with the Rotary Avenues of Service Award.

Robert ouma

Kenyan chairman

Australian board member

photographer (Paid) / projects assistant (Voluntary)

Robert is a young, vibrant, film enthusiast. He was born, raised in the slums of Kibera. He is passionate about photography and videography. He earns a livelihood as a film maker being the Owner / Manager of RB Media Productions. He began the film production company in 2021 and in a year he has been able to employ a number of people on contractual basis for various projects as well as conduct five free film trainings in Kibera.

Immediately after his secondary school in 2016 he joined Tell a Tale (film production company). He volunteered as an equipment manager and over the years he has acquired the necessary training to become a competent film maker and specializes in sound engineering.

His education and upkeep since he was ten have been catered for by a charity organization in Kibera called Reaching Out With Compassion (R.O.C.K). Robert currently serves in the organization as Head of Operations and Planning, he is also in charge of their social media accounts.

Robert's professional work has earned him the pleasure of working with many other charity organizations in Kibera, including Passion to Share Foundation, Kara Kids Centre, and The Rotary eClub District 9212 where he has been an active member since 2021.

At JI Robert is a board member. He shares in the same spirit of the organization of reaching out to the needy and marginalized in the society having personally hailed from the same background. He is determined to change the lives of many especially when hope seems lost.

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Ella smith

social media manager

Ella comes from a background in media and content creation, with a passion for storytelling and digital engagement. Over the years, she has developed her skills in content creation and strategic communication, working across different platforms to craft content that resonates.

She joined Jifunze as the Social Media Manager, where she plays a key role in shaping the organization’s digital presence. From managing social media campaigns and curating content to analyzing engagement data and growing the online community, Ella ensures that Jifunze’s message reaches and inspires a wider audience.

She believes that social media can be a powerful platform for change and is committed to using her skills to amplify the voices and stories of Jifunze International.

Sadie Caridi

HR and Governance social

Sadie is a Juris Doctor student at the University of Western Australia and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. She has been actively involved in community service for many years and is passionate about initiatives that support vulnerable individuals and create meaningful social impact.

Throughout her volunteering, Sadie has worked with a range of organisations including Young Mercies, Homelessness We Care, Young Vinnies, and Mercy Care. These experiences have allowed her to contribute to initiatives supporting childcare, aged care, environmental projects, and homelessness services, strengthening her commitment to community engagement and service.

Sadie also completed a research internship with the Department of Communities, where she assisted a team working to help children in placement identify and maintain meaningful family connections. This experience deepened her understanding of the importance of supportive networks and long-term well-being for vulnerable young people.

Sadie is excited to support Jifunze International in its mission to assist vulnerable adults and children living in high-risk situations. Sadie brings over two years of secretarial experience to the role, along with knowledge of policy and governance, and looks forward to contributing to the organisation’s continued impact.

Chanpiseth Hok
Bookkeeper

Seth is a bookkeeper and has developed skills in accounts management, reporting, and compliance and is proficient in using Xero to support efficient and organised financial processes during his university study and other work experiences. He is passionate about using his skills to support community-focused organisations and believes that strong financial management is essential for long-term sustainability and impact.

Having grown up in Cambodia, he developed an early awareness of the challenges faced by communities with limited resources. This experience shaped his desire to contribute to meaningful initiatives and support organisations that create positive change.

In his role, Seth ensures financial records are clear and accurate, helping the organization stay on track.

jeremy kelly

book keeper

Jeremy has a background in banking, accounting, and finance. Jifunze’s commitment to the pursuit of universal access to education appealed to Jeremy, and being presented with an opportunity to become part of the team was the perfect way for him to volunteer his skillset.

Since joining the organisation, Jeremy has applied his experience to streamline the financial direction of Jifunze. He has implemented new record-keeping systems which align with international key compliance measures. His revised accounting methods provide insightful reports to support strategic decision-making and financial visibility.

Known for his reliability, attention to detail, and collaborative nature, Jeremy upholds the values of integrity, transparency, and accountability to help ensure Jifunze’s financial foundations remain strong, efficient, and aligned with the organisation’s long-term impact.

priya patel

governance director

Priya is a young legal professional who has been in involved in various community organisations her entire life.

Her parents were both born and raised in Kenya and with family members still currently there, she has grown up with many stories about life in Kenya. After travelling to Kenya herself in 2023, she was excited at the opportunity to join Jifunze and use her skills to contribute to a charity that helps achieve positive change every day.

She is excited to join in the role of governance director to ensure Jifunze International is accountable and transparent about meeting charitable standards.

With experience in complex legal matters and a passion for social justice, she brings both analytical rigour and compassion to every challenge.

Jenny Goh
Secretary

As a Secretary cum Administrator in her early career years, Jenny has gained
extensive experience in taking minutes and administration roles. She made a mid-career move to HR & Admin management role, gaining extensive experience in HR management and skills while working for foreign-owned companies in Singapore.

She has retired from a full-time job since 2015 and has been
volunteering in Singapore with nonprofit organisations to visit elderly and
disadvantaged people on a weekly basis until she moved to Australia, Queensland in 2021.

She also volunteers as an Event Manager with a Worship Ministry in
Singapore to organise worship events in Asia and Israel. She started to volunteer in her church in Townsville in 2022 as a Pastoral Careteam member and visits home-bound church members weekly. She also volunteers in School tuckshops once a week to help prepare food for the kids.

Jayden webb

Australian business director

Jayden is a dedicated professional with a robust background in science and hospitality, seamlessly blending analytical acumen with practical expertise in supply chain, logistics, business analytics, and project management. He has a. proven track record of optimizing operational efficiency and driving strategic initiatives.

A decisive and passionate leader who focuses on achieving goals and ensuring the best interests of both the organisation and those who depend on them are considered at all times.

Known for adeptly navigating complex challenges, fostering collaboration, and implementing innovative solutions. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, I thrive in dynamic environments, contributing to organisational success through a unique blend of skills and a goal-oriented mindset.

georgina kingola

monitoring and evaluation manager

Georgina King‘ola works to make humanitarian and development initiatives more impactful, flexible, and learning-driven.

She has worked in development and humanitarian settings for over ten years as a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) specialist.

Building monitoring and learning systems, procedures, and cultures that enable teams to adjust and make evidence-based decisions her area of expertise.

She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Monitoring and Evaluation and has a bachelors degree in Information Science and a Diploma in Health records and Information Technology

Jessica Lai
Webmaster

Jessica is a junior web developer based in Canberra with a Master of Computing from the Australian National University. She has experience in full-stack web development.

As a webmaster volunteer with Jifunze International, Jessica hopes to use her website and digital skills to support the organisation’s online presence and help share Jifunze’s programs and impact with the wider community.