The Ndoto Team

Allison Schlack grew up in Carrollton, Texas, and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from Baylor University and a Master’s Degree in Cross Cultural Ministries from Dallas Theological Seminary. She loves to travel, is trying to learn Swahili, and enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially her nephews, Riley and Logan. She has been back and forth to Kenya since 2003 and has lived permanently in Kenya since 2011. Although she misses home and has seen her first grey hairs, she is grateful for the work of Ndoto and the life God has given her in Kisumu alongside 250+ of her favorite young people. Allison is currently living and working in Kisumu, Kenya.

Otuma Okwaro Andako was born in 1973 and is the second born in a family of 10 siblings. He has lived a challenging life, staying out of school for 12 years after high school, unable to afford college.  He joined college in 2005 to pursue an Associate’s Degree in Information Technology and worked part-time as a security guard to help pay his own tuition. After being awarded his degree Andako taught computer skills part-time and later secured a place as an office assistant. Eventually he enrolled for a Bachelor’s Degree in IT and upon graduation became assistant registrar of KCA University. He is now pursuing his Master’s in IT Management. He joined our team in 2022.

Andako is actively involved in the children ministry at his local church and at the same time enthusiastically participating in activities that aim to transform the face of the community he comes from. He is a loving husband and a father to three children.

Becky Awuor Anyango was born in 1994 in Nairobi to Vincent and Elizabeth, who are both now deceased. She is the second-last born of five siblings, with two brothers and two sisters. She went to the Community And Progress Youth Empowerment Institute where she studied Hospitality, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship. She aspires to go to university soon. She is a born-again believer and is the youth leader at her local church. She is a singer and songwriter, and she explores these gifts with the worship team of her church and local group Band Wima Imara. She is also very passionate about young people. Her desire is to see young people walk in the knowledge of who they are in Jesus Christ and excel in their God-given potentials and gifts. Through her passion for young people and music she was helping lead worship at Ndoto retreats before even joining the staff. She joined our team in 2021.

Gail grew up in Oregon and attended the University of Oregon. She made her way to Texas through her long career in tax and accounting. Now she says she will never leave. Gail retired in 2018 and immediately began serving Ndoto as an accountant in her newfound free time. She is blessed with a wonderful family and friends and thanks God for all he has given her.

Mercy is a born again Christian and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and Biotechnology. She is the first born in a family of four, born and brought up in Kisumu County. Mercy has a passion for the holistic and sustainable development of the next generation. She has developed a background in Life Skills and Leadership training through the Kenya Life Skills Promoters (LISP), the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Young Africa Leadership Initiative (YALI) and this has seen her through her journey of school mentorship. In addition, she has a background in Child Protection, with experience in Parenting and Positive Discipline trainings. She is also passionate about economic empowerment as one of the ways of breaking cycles of poverty. Mercy considers herself a leader with a responsibility to help restore hope to young people by equipping them with value-based life skills to build their capacity for the betterment of their everyday lives; and most importantly, to bring them to the knowledge of God. She joined our team in 2022.

Willis Jaoko is the last born in a family of 6 children: 3 girls and 3 boys. He was born and raised in Obunga, Kisumu. Willis was sponsored by Ndoto in 2012 while still in high school. He began to develop a passion for Information Technology at school, and he was able to join Kenyatta University to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science. Upon graduation in 2018, he has worked in two different government offices. Willis is passionate about solving problems, reading books, and mentoring kids to pursue their dreams no mater what their current situation may dictate. He joined our team in 2022.

Susan was born in Maseno, Kenya, but grew up in Kisumu and attended Huma Girls Secondary School before attending college. She now lives in Nyalenda, a slum in Kisumu, and lives in a small house with her sister and three cousins who she takes care of. Susan went through a training program hosted by missionaries to receive counseling skills to help students through trauma and other life issues. She passed the course with straight A’s. Susan joined Ndoto’s team in 2012.

Christi was born in Odessa, Texas and now resides in the Land of Enchantment, Ruidoso, New Mexico. Christi was commissioned as a Stephen Minister at her church in 2003. Serving in this capacity has allowed her to walk alongside many people through their darkest hour and remind them of the hope they have in Jesus Christ. Her greatest passions are listening to people’s life stories, watching documentaries, reading, exercising, and disco dancing. Christi is the Sponsor Coordinator for Ndoto and enjoys seeing the relationship between students and sponsors grow as they send their letters back and forth. She also volunteers as a Stephen Minister during her time in Kenya to help our students work through deep hurts and pains.

Elizabeth is a Certified Public Accountant in Kenya with a Bachelor’s degree from Kenyatta University. She was born and brought up in nearby Kakamega County, and has over 12 years of progressive experience in accounting and financial management in Kenya. She has worked previously with renowned agencies and gathered immense experience. Elizabeth is the mother of two beautiful daughters, and she loves music and sometimes singing. She joined our team in 2021.

Joshua is the first ever tuk tuk (three person motor taxi) driver in Kisumu, Kenya. He is married to Emily, and they are the proud parents of Mike and Michelle. When Joshua first met Allison Schlack, Ndoto’s Executive Director, she told him about Jesus, and he gave his life to Christ. Since 2011, he has worked for Ndoto as our first Kenyan employee, first as a driver and now as a mentor to our youngest Ndoto boys. He loves being part of Ndoto and says it has been used by God to grow him spiritually to a place where it is a joy to know Jesus.

Musa was born in 1993 in Muhoroni constituency within Kisumu County. He is a born-again Christian fellowshipping at his local church. He holds a Bachelor of Education in Special Needs from Moi University and is happily married to his wife, and their baby is arriving in 2023. Musa has spent his life since competing his studies working with students. He is specially knowledgeable and skilled in working with orphans and vulnerable children in society and has also been trained in Mental Health and Awareness by the Scripture Union of Kenya. He is trustworthy, honest, and results-oriented. Musa is passionate about solving problems, networking, and mentoring learners to achieve academic success. He joined the team in 2023.

Clinton was born in 1995 in Obunga. He stayed with his mom in Nairobi until the age of 17, when they moved back to Kisumu and he got to know his father. He is the third-born in his family of four children and was sponsored through Ndoto in 2012 in high school. He was able to graduate in 2015 and attended Kenyatta University on an Ndoto sponsorship. He earned a diploma in crime management and prevention in 2019 and began to volunteer at Ndoto. He has moved from volunteering to part-time employment to full-time employment in 2021, and now works with the Discipleship team, leads the Ndoto Gym, the Ndoto Sports Academy, and assists with construction, IT, and other special tasks.

Aggrey Olwande was born and raised in Siaya County, outside Kisumu, and is a husband and father to two children. He is very passionate about landscaping, having worked in two other ministries in the same capacity. He would say that he loves neat, nice, and cool-looking environments. Aggrey is excited to join the Ndoto team for an amazing journey that includes serving as office janitor. He works with the church, the office, and the school to keep things clean and working and keep the compound landscaped. He’s a trustworthy, hardworking, and servant-hearted part of our team. He loves one additional thing about Ndoto – the weekly staff Bible study. They really uplift his soul. He joined our team in 2022.

Michael is a former Ndoto-sponsored student who was raised in Obunga with his four siblings. He is a proud alumni of Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, where he studied theology. He was able to be the first in his family to receive a diploma from a university. In 2022 Michael will graduate with a Master’s in Transformational Leadership from Bakke Graduate University. Known to the students as Pastor Michael, he works with our older boys as well as teaching Bible study on Sundays to all Ndoto students. Pastor Michael loves serving, helping the sick, preaching the gospel, and walking alongside our students through life. He is married to Ndoto founder Allison Schlack and has two beautiful children, Michaela and Judah. He has been part of the Ndoto staff team since 2011.

Tobias is an Ndoto alumnus who was born and raised in Obunga. He is also a proud alumni of Amboseli School of Hospitality and Tourism where he studied tour guiding and administration. Tobias now has his own family – one loving wife and one handsome son. He is the second in the family to attain a Diploma at college level, and for that he gives thanks to God for bringing Ndoto into his life. He has recognized the dire need to serve people, give back to the community, and most importantly to know that God loves him and everyone else in Obunga. Tobias has served Ndoto in a variety of ways, from maintenance and security to leading worship at church. He joined the team full-time in 2018.

Samson was born in Nakuru but raised in Kisumu County. He is the first born in a family of five siblings. He is a journalism and communications practitioner with experience in print and electronic media productions and public relations. Samson has worked at a government radio station and a Christian TV station in roles such as news writer, assignment editor, and head of programming. He is passionate about positive and transformative social, economic, and spiritual impact through media as a sphere of influence and believes media can be used to change social norms, empower people, educate, entertain, and inform. He is also passionate about ministry to young people and uses his skills to equip, restore dreams, and bring back hope to the lifeless. Samson also loves the visual and performance arts. He joined the team in 2023.

John has lived his entire life in Texas but has a vision for the world. He is a member at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Carrollton, Texas, where he grew up involved in mission work in 4 countries, including his first trip to Kenya in 2006. He has been involved in ministry in Kenya ever since, including cofounding the organization as Ndoto’s volunteer business manager. After 8 years working at a local church planting and community development organization, John joined the Ndoto team officially in 2017. He has a business degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Katie, who is a worship leader at Prince of Peace, son Daniel, who was born in July 2016, and daughter Hannah, who was born in February 2021.