Gabriella Brignardello is a senior at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks, California. Her mother is from Ascot, England, and her father is from Lima, Peru. Since birth, Gabriella and her family have made annual visits to Peru, keeping strong ties and relationships with her other family members and the Peruvian culture. From an early age, Gabriella has felt a deep connection to her Peruvian heritage.

On Christmas Eve 2004, after attending Mass at the Santa Maria Chapel in Lima, several young children, begging for money and food, surrounded Gabriella on the Church steps. Knowing that she was now going to return to a warm family home with a delicious Christmas feast and lots of presents, Gabriella was struck with emotions of sadness and guilt. She asked her father with tears brimming in her eyes, "How could I be so lucky and these kids have nothing?" That moment planted the seed of her quest to make a difference in the lives of needy children in Peru.

In November 2009, Gabriella founded the nonprofit organization, Mi Casa de Angeles, with the mission of building schools and supporting a higher quality of education in impoverished areas throughout Peru, thereby empowering the children with knowledge and improving their lives so that they can have a better opportunity to succeed in society. To date, the nonprofit has raised $40,000 through the 1STEP Shoes business (hand-painted and personalized canvas shoes with all profits going to the foundation) as well as through several local fundraising events, including two garage/parking lot sales, a movie night, and a fashion show. The Third Annual Garage/Parking Lot Sale will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2012.

Gabriella is also a Commissioner on the City of Thousand Oaks Youth Commission (a youth advisory board to the City Council). She has not only expanded the guest speaking program, but is also currently working on her own event, the Night of Networking – an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors as well as local college students to meet with and gain insight from local companies’ human resources representatives about their respective businesses and industries. She is also very involved with the Interact Club at her high school, and has been working with the Westlake Sunrise Rotary to expand her efforts for her nonprofit, Mi Casa de Angeles. Through the help of the members at this Rotary Club, Gabriella has been able to raise some additional funds for her cause through two 50/50 raffles, has developed multiple key relationships and connections that have furthered her efforts, and has received consistent and invaluable support.Close

Fary Moini was born in Iran and graduated from Tehran University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing. Following graduation, she has worked as a nurse and director of nursing in various hospitals in Iran, United Arab Emeritus and in the U.S. over a ten year period. In 1983, she immigrated to United States and later became a U.S. Citizen.

Fary is a member of La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club of Rotary International. She is an active member of her club serving as co-chair of community service and a member of the International Service Committee. She is also a Board member of the House of Iran cultural organization in San Diego.

Fary has enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the University of California-San Diego through it extension program to further develop her skills to teach English as a Second Language in Afghanistan at all levels of education -- primary through university. She has been working as a volunteer with refugees in Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2002. She has helped in the fundraising and development of a school for grades 1 through 12 in Jalalabad, Afghanistan (in which 1,000 students are now attending). Fary assisted in the establishment of an internet computer lab for faculty at Nangarhar University in Jalalabad. She also helped establish a Rotary Club in Jalalabad and a Sister Cities relationship between Jalalabad and San Diego, California.

Fary has been awarded the Life Time Achievement Award - Home Town Hero by the Lifetime Channel. She has received a Recognition Award from the Lieutenant Governor of California. Fary has also been honored by the San Diego Press Club and was recognized as the Rotarian of the Year 2002-2003 for Rotary District 5340 (San Diego and Imperial Counties). Close

Stephen R. Brown has practiced with the law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps since 1972. He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the State Bar of California, and the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, and is chair of the Triangle Trust. He has served as chair of the Golden Triangle Marketing Consortium, director of the Golden Triangle Arts Foundation, and member of the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors. He received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award from the United Nations Association of San Diego.

A charter member of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, he has served RI as a committee and task force chair, Future Vision Committee member, and Permanent Fund national adviser. He has worked on projects to establish a school in Afghanistan, a water system in Kenya, and a sewing center for Somali refugees in San Diego.

He is a recipient of The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award and the RI Service Above Self Award. Steve and his wife, Susan, are members of the Arch C. Klumph Society.Close

If I had a Water Buffalo - Microfinance systems as a means to sustainability and resilience, and opportunity for entrepreneurs to thrive.

Throughout her adult life Marilyn Fitzgerald has been deeply invested in international humanitarian work, both as a consultant and a professional volunteer. In her world travel she worked with projects that were wonderfully successful, and others that were heartbreakingly ineffective. Her passion is to help define a path that will empower others to become self-sustaining; allowing future generations to benefit from the effort and resources put forth today. She is consulting with organizations that have the desire to achieve sustainable outcomes in humanitarian aid projects. She believes that this is best accomplished by providing the opportunity for all primary stakeholders to have their voices heard through the process of integrative negotiation.

Marilyn's professional career includes 17 years as a M.A. Clinical Psychologist. Upon obtaining her M.B.A. she founded a consulting group specializing in organizational development providing training and seminars in leadership skills, communication and organizational dispute resolution. She has taught numerous courses in American and international M.B.A. programs. Marilyn achieved a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and is currently president and founder of the consulting firm, Common Ground Solutions, LLC.

A Rotarian since 1993, Marilyn has worked on a range of projects from blood banks and pediatric clinics to fresh water wells in countries like Romania, Indonesia and Guatemala. After her experience as the Team Leader for a 1998 Group Study Exchange to Bali, Indonesia, and along with her partner GSE Team Leader, Freddy Subiyanto from Bali, she successfully co-authored a 3-H Grant totaling $475,000 to purchase medical equipment for a new blood bank in Bali. Within three years the Rotary Foundation acknowledged the Bali blood bank as self-sustaining and awarded both Districts the certificate of sustainability. Then, in 2004, Fitzgerald became the first woman president of the Traverse City Noon Rotary Club

At the convention in New Orleans in 2011 she was elected to the Board of Directors for the Rotary Action Group for Micro Credits (RAGM). Her book, 'If I had a Water Buffalo, and other life lessons', is due to be published in late 2011. Close

Fary Moini was born in Iran and graduated from Tehran University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing. Following graduation, she has worked as a nurse and director of nursing in various hospitals in Iran, United Arab Emeritus and in the U.S. over a ten year period. In 1983, she immigrated to United States and later became a U.S. Citizen.

Fary is a member of La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club of Rotary International. She is an active member of her club serving as co-chair of community service and a member of the International Service Committee. She is also a Board member of the House of Iran cultural organization in San Diego.

Fary has enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the University of California-San Diego through it extension program to further develop her skills to teach English as a Second Language in Afghanistan at all levels of education, primary through university. She has been working as a volunteer with refugees in Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2002. She has helped in the fundraising and development of a school for grades 1 through 12 in Jalalabad, Afghanistan (in which 1,000 students are now attending). Fary assisted in the establishment of an internet computer lab for faculty at Nangarhar University in Jalalabad. She also helped establish a Rotary Club in Jalalabad and a Sister Cities relationship between Jalalabad and San Diego, California.

Fary has been awarded the Life Time Achievement Award - Home Town Hero by the Lifetime Channel. She has received a Recognition Award from the Lieutenant Governor of California. Fary has also been honored by the San Diego Press Club and was recognized as the Rotarian of the Year 2002-2003 for Rotary District 5340 (San Diego and Imperial Counties). Close

Stephen R. Brown has practiced with the law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps since 1972. He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the State Bar of California, and the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, and is chair of the Triangle Trust. He has served as chair of the Golden Triangle Marketing Consortium, director of the Golden Triangle Arts Foundation, and member of the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors. He received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award from the United Nations Association of San Diego.

A charter member of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, he has served RI as a committee and task force chair, Future Vision Committee member, and Permanent Fund national adviser. He has worked on projects to establish a school in Afghanistan, a water system in Kenya, and a sewing center for Somali refugees in San Diego.

He is a recipient of The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award and the RI Service Above Self Award. Steve and his wife, Susan, are members of the Arch C. Klumph Society.Close

is the founder of the Ihangane Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to community-driven responses to HIV/AIDS. As the first physician to volunteer for the Clinton Foundation's HIV clinical mentoring program in Rwanda, Dr. Leonard has firsthand knowledge of the struggles faced in a resource-limited health care setting. Since 2006, she has continued to work as an educator and consultant to the health care providers in Ruli, Rwanda. In the United States, she is dedicated to providing quality HIV care to those living with HIV in her community. As a certified HIV specialist, she works with HIV + clients in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. She currently serves as both the Tuberculosis Controller and Director of HIV Quality Improvement for Santa Cruz County, California. Close

Both were born in Sydney, Australia and educated at Sydney Schools and Colleges.

Married in 1958 and farmed on 2,500 acres at Coolah 250 miles west of Sydney raising sheep and cattle and farming Wheat, oats and alfalfa. Having sold the property in 1965 and moved to Sydney to educate the children (4) Charles entered the Insurance business establishing an agency to specialize in Construction Insurance, this led to working with multi national corporations and placing business in Lloyds of London. Selling the company in 1972 moved to Paris, France and continued in the International Insurance field until 1976 when recruited to join Financial Guardian and become President International division in New York. Moved to New York where Gillaine studied at the New York Botanical College and graduated in Horticulture. In 1986 Charles purchased Hewitt, Coleman and Associates a 100 employee Risk Management firm based in Greenville South Carolina and specializing in Self Insurance programs for Corporations, Public Entities and Associations.

In 2000, Gillaine went to Haiti to teach English to the French speaking Haitians and saw the need to treat Malnutrition among the Children of the Central Plateau region. Starting with a small garden in Cange and then a leased farm in Corporant (40) acres it has grown to 120 acres of purchased land growing Peanuts, Corn, Haitian spinach, fruit trees and a variety of other crops mostly irrigated. Some 100 employees and 250 contract farmers are growing and working the farm.

Some 19,000 children have entered the malnutrition program and been successfully treated. In 2010 after the earthquake the program was extended to cater for the influx of persons leaving Port a Prince due to the massive destruction of Buildings and Homes. It was decided to build a school to educate locals in trades in order for them to enter the work force with education in trades to rebuild the country.

The Building has been completed and will commence Classes in February 2012 with 75 students and classes in Agriculture, Construction and Carpentry.

Gillaine has been the Leader of this effort along with leaders in the Local community and has trained many both in Technology and management skills in order to have the Haitians be self sufficient and sustain their effort to improve the quality of life in this the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Rotary has helped in the program having provided over $400,000 for equipment, furniture, tools and vehicles both for the farm and the school. Close

Ana has hands on knowledge of international development with a special interest in how innovation can positively impact the lives of women and children. She has extensive experience in the design and implementation of projects that seek to empower poor and disadvantaged communities. Ana worked as a Program Manager with Care International in El Salvador, focusing on empowerment through community organization and small business development. Also, she has spent several years working as a consultant for various organizations including World Vision, Finca International and the United Nations Development Program. Ana is a Rotary Peace Alumn and holds a Masters in International Development Policy from Duke University. She received her BA from the University of Queensland, Australia. Since 2008 Ana has been a passionate advocate of Embrace's mission and has continued to develop a strong interest for design and innovation. Ana heads Business Development and Programs at Embrace. Close

Since 1995 Kanan Patel-Coleman has used her public health and environmental expertise to serve with Lifewater International, a non-profit water supply, sanitation, and hygiene training organization. Dr. Patel-Coleman has spoken about health related issues, that often have a disproportionate adverse effect on women and children, at conferences in Kazakhstan, Mexico, Chile, Uganda, and the U.S. In 2003, she traveled to Mozambique to brief a U.S. Senatorial delegation on the nexus between water quality and HIV/AIDS. She has visited women’s village coops in Western Kenya and heard first-hand about their concerns and challenges. Currently, she leads a team of health risk assessors that evaluate how harmful chemical pollutants may be, which includes special considerations of mothers and children.Close

Itonde A. Kakoma is the Assistant Director in the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Center. His work focuses on Sudan and South Sudan with an emphasis on addressing threats to humanitarian efforts.

Previously Kakoma served as the Assistant Program Coordinator for The Carter Center's Access to Justice work in Liberia. Mr. Kakoma contributed substantively to the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission in Liberia: as a statement taker and expert contributor to the final report's section on the role of religious and traditional institutions during the conflict and in peacebuilding; he also provided technical assistance to the TRC's public hearings on the role of the media during the conflict. Additionally, he assisted in supporting mediation efforts on identity based conflict in Northern Liberia.

Mr. Kakoma has served as a resource person and consultant to the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (Nairobi Bureau). He has designed and implemented numerous assessment missions in post-conflict societies. Kakoma has worked closely with colleagues in Mental Health addressing the prevalence of trauma after long periods of civil war; and has provided expertise to the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology on the use of communication technologies as a means to foster broad-based dialogue in settings of social unrest.

Prior to joining the Carter Center, he was a consultant to the Carter Center's Democracy Program, conducting an in-field comparative analysis of customary law in the Mano River Union. He also served as a consultant to Emory University's Initiative in Religion, Conflict & Peacebuilding on projects that engaged the Liberian Diaspora in transitional justice processes; and as a consultant to Emory's Institute for Developing Nations for an inter-disciplinary working group created to analyze root causes of Gender Based Violence in post-conflict societies.

Previously, Mr. Kakoma worked for the World Council of Churches and served as a Theological Assistant to the Lutheran World Federation, exploring with African religious leaders the role and nature of religious communities in the midst of conflict. Mr. Kakoma is in the ordination process for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; he holds a Bachelor's of Religion from Wartburg College and has conducted post-graduate research on the intersections between reconciliation and ritual at the University of Pretoria.

Concurrently, Mr. Kakoma is serving as guest editor for a thematic issue of the Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace. Close

Stephen Werner has served as Executive Director of Water for People, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist people in developing nations gain access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. Water for People conducted programs in Latin America, Africa, and Asia using volunteer teams of water professionals. He has also served with American Cancer Society, CARE and Habitat for Humanity International. His work has been in strategic planning, recruitment of volunteers, fundraising, and non-profit management. Steve is a past chairman of National Peace Corps Association, the Peace Corps alumni organization and is an active Rotarian. Close

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Erick is the program director for Circuit Rider/Water Bank for the Millenium Water Alliance. He has overseen international programs to more than 1.1 million people in 900 rural communities in 5 countries. He has developed and implemented community based strategies and implemented cost effective water and sanitation programs. Mr. Toledo has also co-implemented Agro-Forestry projects in Cameroon, Ghana, Ethiopia, Mali, Niger and Uganda. Mr. Toledo has managed a program that supported 20 professional Water and Sanitation Associations in North and South America and the Caribbean. Close

Jan Lindsay is a graduate of Claremont-McKenna College with a degree in economics, emphasis in accounting. He is the owner of Lindsay and Co., C.P.A. in Ventura, California and CEO of GOCARE, INC, a California charitable/humanitarian corporation. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Ventura East and was the Centennial District Governor (2004-2005) for District 5240 and Rotarian of the Year D5241 in 2002. He founded the International Projects Conference in Ensenada, MX in 1998 and cofounded the Poverty Conference in 2001. He has worked extensively with impoverished people in Mexico and Nicaragua. Close