Steering Committee
Mr. Kul Chandra Gautam
Mr. Kul Chandra Gautam is a distinguished international civil servant, development professional, public policy expert and human rights activist. Previously, he was Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. He has extensive experience in international diplomacy, development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne
Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne is the General Secretary of Sarvodaya, which is Sri Lanka’s largest non-governmental, grassroots development organization.
Rev. Fred Nyabera
Rev. Fred Nyabera is currently serving at Arigatou International as the Director of the Interfaith Initative to End Child Poverty (End Child Poverty). He is a Social Scientist and a trained Theologian whose interest is in development work.
Rev. Dr. Hans Ucko
Rev. Dr Hans Ucko is an ordained minister of the Church of Sweden and has, throughout his ministry, been involved in Jewish-Christian and inter-religious dialogue. Dr Ucko has conducted research with the Paris Institut Eglise et Monde Juif, the Swedish Theological Institute and at the David Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.
Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe Torres
Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe Torres is the Secretary General, Interfaith Council for Ethics Education and the Director, Arigatou International – Geneva. Maria Lucia provides strategic leadership, coordinates and manages the Ethics Education for Children – a global initiative of Arigatou International. In addition she develops partnerships and international engagement with UN agencies and other child-rights focused organizations.
Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali
Dr. Ali is the Secretary General of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) and the Director, Arigatou International – Nairobi. He served as the Secretary General of the African Council of Religious Leaders and Africa Representative of Religions for Peace International from 2007 to 2013.
Dr. Kezevino Aram
Dr. Kezevino Aram currently serves as Director of Shanti Ashram, an internationally reputed Gandhian organization, engaged in integrated rural development. She is a Child Health Practitioner by training, completing her undergraduate studies at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Post Graduate studies from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Katherine Marshall
Katherine Marshall has worked for four decades in international development with a focus on issues facing the world’s poorest countries. She is currently a senior fellow at Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and Visiting Professor in the School of Foreign Service, where she enjoys the gift of working with the next generation.
Mr. Lokaale Kabarach Yasin
Accountant and Finance Assistant, Arigatou International – Nairobi
Mr. Lookale has extensive work experience in finance and accounting, and has previously worked at the Lodwar Stationery Haven & Computer Services, as an IT Support Staff and Accounts Assistant; as an auditor with Khalid & Company (Certified Public Accountants); and also as the Finance Officer at the United States African Development Foundation (USADF).