Liberian Team

Aissata Richards, an Educator, Humanitarian, and Activist based in New York, is dedicated to driving social change. Received her Bachelor of arts in Film and Media from the Fashion Institution of Technology and teaching Artist Certification for the Teachers College of Columbia university.

She worked for leading companies such as Brooklyn Arts council, Reel Works, TED Conferences, Girl Scouts of Greater New York,
Microsoft Coding Bootcamp and the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the United Nations sector, where she honed her skills in Digital
Education and nonprofit management.

In 2021, Aissata established the Creative World Digital Art Space
Learning Center in Clara Town, Monrovia, Liberia. The center emphasizes youth development through filmmaking, photography, computer literacy, educational leadership, entrepreneurship, and visual arts. Actively involved in community projects and educational programs, Aissata uses mentorship, leadership, and media to address challenges and create meaningful solutions.

Counseling Advisor

Steve Bell, a dedicated educator, coach, and counselor for over thirty years, coached youth wrestling after earning his BA from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Coaching’s intrinsic rewards led him to obtain his teaching certification through Bryn Mawr College in 1989. While teaching and coaching at Upper Darby High School (UDHS), he earned his MS in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University. Steve switched roles at Upper Darby and began counseling in 1997. As Director of Guidance in 2008, he advocated for counseling services throughout the school district, partnering with several non-profits to help support those students with the greatest need.

Throughout his UDHS tenure, Steve worked with the Student Assistance Program, a prevention and intervention program supporting students and families around substance use issues, serving as coordinator in the mid-‘90s. He was also co-coordinator of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team, addressing the impact of traumatic events on the school community; and liaison for the Penn Resiliency Project, working with University of Pennsylvania staff to deliver experimental interventions building resiliency and grit in students and their families. Steve retired from UDHS in 2018 and now serves as an adjunct counselor at Delaware County Community College.

Liberia Counselor Advisor

Shirley Lovetta Kidau, counselor advocate/adviser, works hand-in-hand with counselors to individualize Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) outreach for the zogo. A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, PA with double bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Prelaw, she also holds a master’s in Human Resources Management and Changed Leaderships from St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN. Passionate about continuing education, Shirley earlier served as Human Resources Generalist at DCIU. Currently, she is a mental health facility Program Manager, also certified as an Assistance Living Director. Shirley and husband Eugene Sei Kidau have four children.

Bookkeeping and Finance Advisor

Dave Comberiate, an Assistant Vice President of Financial Reporting for Allstate Benefits in Jacksonville, FL, has over eight years of corporate finance experience across three Fortune 100 companies: Allstate, Johnson and Johnson, and Comcast. A licensed Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA) with an MBA from the University of North Florida and a BS in Finance and Math from La Salle University, he is currently pursuing CPA designation with the ultimate aspiration of becoming a corporate CFO. In his free time, Dave loves playing volleyball, basketball, and golf in addition to traveling with family and friends. He and his wife Mary Kate have a daughter, Gianna.