Physiotherapist, Music Teacher, Private Pilot Polly is an experienced hands-on fund-raiser. Starting in the 1980s she chaired a committee to raise funds for the restoration of the local church organ. The following are some of her fund-raising efforts: 2021: Donkathon – She drove her donkeys from South Oxfordshire to St. Melangell in North Wales, raising funds for Multiple Sclerosis Research. 2003-4: Solo flight in single engine aircraft over the North Pole and Antarctica in aid of 'Flying Scholarships for Disabled People' (FSDP). 2001: Solo flight in single engine aircraft around the world raising funds for FSDP. 1989: Sponsored skydive in aid of 'The Church Urban Fund'.

Elizabeth has experience supporting community fundraising initiatives both in the UK and abroad. She previously ran events to raise funds for a new clubhouse at the rowing club in Bristol and for the last five years has sat on the committee for a community project that runs summer activities for children in Somerset. She has a strong connection to Africa, having lived for two years in Zululand, South Africa. During this time Elizabeth volunteered at a local primary school, which gave her a lasting interest in education-focused projects. She is delighted to support this project in providing staff accommodation at New Ngoma School. Elizabeth runs a small interiors business in North Somerset, where She lives with her husband and two young children.

Education has always been at the heart of Kim's life and work. With over 30 years of experience as a teacher, school administrator, and family support coach, she has dedicated her career to supporting children, families, and educators. She holds a Master of Science in Education and brings a deep, personal understanding of youth development through raising both her own children and stepchildren. Her commitment to community service includes board leadership with several youth-focused organizations, including Tualatin Together, which promotes prevention education and life skills for young people. She has volunteered for over four years with Oxfam, supporting its mission to expand inclusive education in Zambia, particularly for vulnerable girls and young women. As a founding committee member of the New Ngoma Project, she is passionate about creating safe, dignified housing for teachers who walk miles each day to serve their students - removing barriers to quality education, one step at a time, creating lasting impact.

A journalist, Carolle Doyle followed Polly Vacher around the world in 2001, writing a series of articles for The Sunday Telegraph and other publications as Polly raised money and awareness for 'Flying for the Disabled' with her solo flight. In 2021 she joined Polly on the Donkathon which raised funds for Multiple Sclerosis Research. She looks forward to covering the New Ngoma story.

Riley Spires is a board member of Project New Ngoma, where she supports initiatives to improve education access by building permanent housing for teachers in rural Zambia. With a background in criminology, psychology, and community service, Riley is deeply committed to equity and social impact. She holds a Master of Science in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminology from Northern Arizona University. Her experience spans criminal justice research, forensic fieldwork, and advocacy, with previous roles at the Philadelphia Police Department, the Crime and Justice Policy Lab, and victim support organizations. Riley’s work emphasizes cross-cultural understanding and community-based solutions to systemic challenges. She has also been active in nonprofit and volunteer roles, including Make-A-Wish philanthropy, food bank outreach, and organizing community events. She believes strong partnerships between local communities and supporters are key to driving sustainable change in education and conservation.

As the retired CEO of a large printing company, Peter has many years of management experience. He has been a Trustee of a comprehensive school and Chairman of the Trustees of a private primary school in Abingdon. He served for many years as a Trustee for the charity ‘Flying Scholarships for Disabled People’ and now serves as a Vice Patron. As an amateur engineer he has re-built several vintage cars and more recently he moved into aircraft, restoring a Battle of Britain Hurricane and a Leopard Moth. He has organised three flying days to raise funds for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and the village church tower restoration. He also ran four opera evenings to raise funds for charity. Peter’s visit in 2024 to Zambia and to the New Ngoma Primary School made a lasting impression on him, hence his decision to be a founder member of ‘Project New Ngoma’.

Al is the founder of BS+A, a digital and creative agency that has delivered strategy, branding and web projects for a wide range of non-profits. He has worked closely with Polly and Peter on previous fundraising initiatives and was keen to support Project New Ngoma. Al has a long-standing commitment to philanthropy, first inspired during a rugby tour to South Africa, when he visited the children’s charity God’s Golden Acre. Soon after, he raised over £2,000 for the charity by completing a cycle ride from Wallingford to Paris in just two and a half days, aged 13. Since then, he has been passionate about supporting causes focused on education and wildlife across Africa and is delighted to contribute to Project New Ngoma by amplifying its message and visibility online.