Program Manager, Liberia

Abba G. Karnga Jr.

Abba is Program Manager for the Luminos Fund in Liberia where he oversees all Luminos Second Chance classrooms and training for teachers and supervisors, and coordinates with the Ministry of Education and community partners. Previously, Abba worked in the World Wide Mission School System as a principal, developing an educational work plan for the school and overseeing all administrative activities. During the Ebola crisis, Abba served as Director of the Stop the Spread of Ebola Campaign. In partnership with the Country Health Team, he created an Ebola Emergency Response program responsible for social mobilization, case identification, and distribution of emergency supplies to affected homes. Abba has dedicated his career to advancing educational opportunities in his country, working with organizations such as World Education, the International Organization for Migration, USAID, and the Nyonblee Cares Foundation. Abba holds a BS in Secondary Education from the Cuttington University and lives in Buchanan City with his wife and four children.

Country Manager, Liberia

James Earl Kiawoin

James Earl Kiawoin is the Country Manager for the Luminos Fund in Liberia where he manages day-to-day operations, overall program delivery, government and stakeholder engagement, and supports staff development. Previously, James worked as a Strategy Consultant at Dalberg Advisors in Rwanda where he completed projects on higher education financing and digital ecosystem development including e-government services. 

James began his career at Last Mile Health in a strategic advisory role with the Liberian Ministry of Health. There, he worked to develop, finance, and scale a national community health workers program that delivered health care to 1.2 million people in rural, hard-to-reach areas. James has vast experience leading initiatives in Liberia and previously held leadership roles at the Khana group, LEAD Monrovia Football Academy, and SMART Liberia, which he co-founded. 

James holds an MPA with a focus on international development from the school of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and a BA in Political Science from Colorado College. 

Data & Finance Officer, Liberia

Mohammed B. Kiawu

Mohammed B. Kiawu is the Data and Finance Officer for the Luminos Fund in Liberia. He works with the Luminos program team and partner organizations to drive data collection, ensure data integrity, and execute data cleaning and processing. Mohammed also supports the accounting and bookkeeping for the Liberia office. 

Mohammed began his professional career as a Program Assistant at the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN-Liberia) where he provided advice to project stakeholders on administrative procedure and implementation. He was later promoted to Finance Officer where he handled budgeting, banking, financial reporting, payroll preparation, and vendor management. Mohammed has also worked for the Khana Group as a Data Collector and Analyst, and as Mapper Assistant for the Liberian Institute of Statistics and Geoinformation Services.

Mohammed holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the African Methodist Episcopal University in Liberia. 

Program Associate, Liberia

Emmanuel Massaley

Emmanuel is a Program Associate for the Luminos Fund in Liberia, ensuring the smooth operation of our Second Chance program. Alongside our Liberia team, Emmanuel works to ensure classrooms have a positive impact on students and collaborates with our partners on the ground. Prior to becoming a Program Associate, Emmanuel served as a classroom teacher for Luminos and has years of direct experience working with children in Luminos classrooms and creating an atmosphere of joyful learning. Emmanuel’s passion for education stems from his experience as a child during Liberia’s civil war, a 14-year conflict which prevented him from attending school. As a result of the war, Emmanuel experienced the difficulty of being an over-aged student first-hand.

Program Coordinator, Liberia

G. Alphanso Menyon

G. Alphanso Menyon is a Program Coordinator for Luminos in Liberia where he leads teacher trainings on phonics and best practices for teaching reading and comprehension. Alphanso also coaches program supervisors and teachers. An experienced educator, Alphanso served for five years at the Heritage Early Learning Center as the principal. Previously, he taught at Spiritan Academy – A Catholic Demonstration School, Stella Maris Polytechnic, and in the World Wide Missions School System. He also tutored at the American International School of Monrovia (AIMS). Alphanso serves as the Chief Learning Officer of Logic, a network of teachers that developed a phonics and reading program for students and teachers who still struggle to read. Alphanso holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and lives in Monrovia with his wife and son. In his free time, Alphanso enjoys singing gospel music with his family.

Program Associate, Liberia

Alex Debrown Seh

Alex Debrown Seh is a Program Associate for the Luminos Fund in Liberia, where he monitors classes and provides coaching to teachers. From 2016 to 2021, he served as Parent Engagement Group lead and Project Supervisor for the Liberia Institute for the Promotion of Academic Excellence (LIPACE), a Luminos community partner. Previously, Alex worked as Team Supervisor at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) during the Ebola crisis. Alex began his career as a Sales and People Relations Agent at Orange Liberia, a mobile network operator. He later transitioned to Liberia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports as a Project Supervisor on the Liberian Youth Empowerment Program (LYEP).  

Alex holds an associate’s degree in Education from the Liberia Corporative Standard School System (LICOSESS) Mobile Training College. 

Program Associate, Liberia

Folley J. Toe

Folley is a Program Associate for the Luminos Fund in Liberia, where he ensures the smooth operation of the Second Chance program. Alongside our Liberia team, Folley works to ensure classrooms have a positive impact on students and collaborates with our partners on the ground. 

Folley previously served as classroom teacher for Luminos and assisted with the distribution of food supplies for Second Chance classes. Folley has years of direct experience working with students and creating an atmosphere of joyful learning in the classroom. Folley worked extensively with his fellow teachers, providing ideas to strengthen their teaching and support students. 

Having witnessed Liberia’s high poverty rate prevent many children from going to school, Folley is passionate about the need for education, particularly literacy. He believes strongly in Luminos’ mission of helping children get a second chance at education in Liberia.

Senior Program Manager and Global Safeguarding Lead, Liberia

Corina Wornee

Corina Wornee is a Senior Program Manager for the Luminos Fund in Liberia where she plays a key leadership role in program planning, training, coaching, curriculum development, and stakeholder engagement. Corina ensures quality teaching and learning across Luminos classes and supports the Liberia Country Manager and Luminos community partners on all project-related activities. As Global Safeguarding Lead, Corina is also responsible for supporting staff and partners in ensuring the well-being and safety of all children. 

Corina is a Nurse Educator with deep experience working in development in Liberia on major reforms and initiatives in the health and education sectors. Prior to joining Luminos, Corina served as a Training Supervisor at Last Mile Health and, most recently, as a Director of Schools for Bridge Liberia.  

Corina holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences in Liberia. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Public Health and an additional bachelor’s degree in Education.