Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 08:13PM Deb Pangerl
Co-Founder and Executive Director
The IMAGE Project
P.O. Box 222
Rush City, MN
Email: imagetanzania@hotmail.com
Deb is the co-founder and executive director of The IMAGE Project. In 2000, Deb attended a women studies seminar in Kenya and Tanzania. After hearing the touching stories of girls from the Maasai tribe that were “hungry” for education and wanted a chance to have their voices heard, Deb and Phoebe Msigomba (from Tanzania) decided to make a difference in the lives of these young girls by starting The IMAGE Project.
Deb graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Mankato State University. She currently works as Principal paralegal at Medtronic in Fridley and devotes her life to empowering Maasai girls and women in Tanzania. In October, 2011, she will be making her 8th trip to Tanzania.
Deb lives in Rush City, Minnesota with her husband Gary, 3 horses, lots of cats and a busy border collie named Jack.
Deb’s passion in life is to speak for those who have no voice.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 08:11PM Tasiana D.njau
Coordinator (Tanzania)
The IMAGE Project
Iringa, Tanzania
Tasiana is a 2010 graduate of Tumaini University in Iringa, with a degree in psychology. While studying, she worked in the counseling department at the university. Her thesis was on Grief and Loss in Young Children.
Earlier in her life, Tasiana herself was under Dr. Lubawa’s tutelage, as she also has faced many challenges in her life. This led her, at a young age, to have a deep appreciation for the struggles of the Maasai women. When she saw their poverty, she committed in her heart to work to help them have a better life. Ms. Dnjau has worked several years for The IMAGE Project as the local program contact person. She regularly goes into Maasai villages near Iringa and Arusha, and stays for a week or more to oversee projects and learn of new concerns and issues. Tasiana speaks English, Swahili, Hehe and Maasai fluently.
She is a role model, a mentor and teacher for the young Maasai women, and is invaluable to The IMAGE Project.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 08:08PM Richard Lubawa
Director (Tanzania)
The IMAGE Project
Iringa, Tanzania
Dr. Richard Lubawa is a Tanzanian and a Christian (Lutheran) minister in the Iringa Diocese of Tanzania. He is also a professor at the University of Tumaini. Dr. Lubawa has dedicated his life to helping people in his country. Through a serendipitous connection, Dr. Lubawa and Ms. Pangerl became associated in their mutual efforts to help Maasai women achieve their desired life goals. It was through Dr. Lubawa’s established deep relationship with the Maasai that Ms. Pangerl was welcomed into Maasai villages.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 06:37PM Gabrielle Mead
Board Member
The IMAGE Project
St. Paul, MN
Email: gdmead2@hotmail.com
Gabrielle Mead has been inspired and humbled by the determination of girls and women around the world who have struggled and achieved despite hardship, poverty, and discrimination. Gabrielle began working with The IMAGE Project in 2009, after hearing the stories of the Maasai girls and women with whom The IMAGE Project partners from Deb Pangerl. Watching Deb and speaking to these girls and women personally during a trip to Tanzania in 2009 only solidified Gabrielle's view of and commitment to the organization. She has been a board member since 2010.
Gabrielle is a former Peace Corps Volunteer (Morocco, 1999-2001). She also studied in Ecuador during college and conducted fact-finding research in post-conflict Liberia. Gabrielle holds a BA in history and a law degree. After six years practicing as an employment lawyer, Gabrielle joined the University of Minnesota, where she investigates complaints of and conducts training on discrimination and harassment.
Gabrielle lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband (who has traveled twice to Tanzania with The IMAGE Project!) and her two inspiring daughters.