Zambia Staff

Grassroot Soccer’s Zambia Staff is headquartered in Lusaka.

Thomas Lobben
GRS Zambia Managing Director

Hailing from Long Island New York, Tommy is the oldest of 5 children born to Eric and Maria Lobben. Tommy went on to attend Dartmouth College and play for the Men’s Soccer team, where he graduated in 2008 with a degree in Biology; specifically Ecological Studies. It was at Dartmouth that he got hooked into Grassroot Soccer through teammates and friends, but the program’s commitment and positivity truly amazed him, prompting an application for an internship. After finishing a phenomenal intern year in July 2010, he began working full time for GRS Zambia as Director of Operations.In 2011 he became Country Director.

Marissa Buckley
Fellow

Marissa Buckley grew up in Atlanta, Georgia with her three sisters and parents. She played soccer and basketball throughout high school, but decided to focus on her soccer career and continued playing through her first year in college. She attended Wake Forest University and graduated with a BS in Business Administration and minor in Entrepreneurship. After graduating from Wake Forest, she moved to New Zealand for a year to travel and work. After returning stateside, Marissa learned about Grassroot Soccer and joined the team in Zambia in 2010.

Felix Bwalya
EJAF Project Manager

Felix Mulenga Bwalya interacted with GRS while he worked for Support of Community-Let Initiatives and Project Concern International respectively. Since he loved the work GRS was doing, he was happy to join the organization in June 2010. He brings with him vast experience of working with youths in various countries and of diverse cultures. His additional skills in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy are a big support to the traumatized youths. Mr. Bwalya is a holder of a B.A in Religious Studies from Catholic University of Eastern Africa and he is pursuing his masters degree in management.

Whitcah Chiminsa
Finance, Accounts & Administration Officer

Whitcah Chiminsa was born in Kabwe, Zambia in 1975. He is happily married with one daughter. He holds Diplomas in Financial Administration, ZICA Licentiate, and ZICA Professional. Outside of GRS, he dedicates  time to attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall and playing with his family.

Lena Forman
Elton John AIDS Foundation Programme Advisor

Lena Forman is from Lexington, Massachusetts. After graduating from the University of Vermont where she majored in Community and International Development and was part of the Futbol Para la Vida/Grassroot Soccer program in the Dominican Republic, she headed straight to Zambia as a Grassroot Soccer intern. After finishing her internship she stayed another six months as a Fellow working on the UNHCR Refugee Settlement project. After heading home, Lena soon found herself back with Grassroot Soccer working as a Site Liaison Officer in Rustenburg, South Africa under the Sony Ticket Fund during the 2010 World Cup. After finishing she came back to Zambia for another Fellowship and is currently working as the Elton John AIDS Foundation Programme Advisor acting as a focal point between GRSZ and our clinical partner Tiny Tim and Friends.

Izek Jere
Program Coordinator

Izek Jere, aka DJ Item, is from Zambia.  Living in a world of HIV/AIDS has made him lose so many people dear to his heart and because of that he decided to involve himself in the fight against HIV by joining Grassroot Soccer. With GRS he has been given the chance to work with a lot of youth groups in schools, churches and other organizations. According to Izek, he has chosen to work with GRS because the curriculum is flexible (fits all ages) and is easy to use. Izek says: “Through GRS I have managed to make new friends, learn more skills, and above all I have learned how to apply the information in their curriculum correctly to my daily life. AIDS is real so let us work together for a better tomorrow.” His hobbies include playing pool, making friends, listening to music, and eating nshima, Zambia’s staple food.

David M. Kapata
Program Coordinator

David M. Kapata is also known as Rudeboy 1Dede or just Dede. He was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia, and still lives in Lusaka. He’s currently studying social work and social welfare at the University of Zambia Ridgeway campus. Before joining the Grassroot Soccer staff, David was a participant, and hence has climbed up the ladder from participant to Skillz Coach to M&E Assistant to Program Co-coordinator at present. David loves music and dancing, watching any interesting movies and just hanging out with mates.

Grace Lungu
Referral and Partnerships Manager

Grace Lungu’s friends call her Shaups or JOOP. She was born and raised in the Copperbelt province of Zambia, but has been living in Lusaka for four years and says it almost feels like home.  She went to Evelyn Hone College and studied Gender and Development. She says it was a great time in her life because it helped her define what she wanted for her future as well as her desire to make a difference in the fight against gender inequality. Grace loves music and dancing, and also enjoys watching martial arts and wrestling.

Lazarous Malunga
Program Coordinator

Lazarous was the first born in a family of 7  in Lusaka, Zambia. His formal social work began at 16 as a boy in Primary School, when hewas appointed Assistant Scout Leader. Two years later he was trained in the HIV/AIDS Scout Badge Scheme as a trainer. He was trained as a GRS Coach in 2005 and joined the GRS Zambia team as Program Assistant in 2008. Lazarous’ interests include  jogging, hiking, swimming, paddling and camping. Lazarous says: “I am very social and determined to save humanity anywhere in the world.”

Moomba Mbolongwe
EJAF Testing Partner Project Coordinator

Moomba Mbolongwe is a Zambian Physo-Social Counselor who has been in active practice for the past 3 years. After working for a USAID funded project for 5 years as a Mobile VCT/Outreach Coordinator, she joined Grassroot Soccer and is the Project Coordinator for the Elton John AIDS Foundation Project.  She is a Project Management graduate from Cavendish University.

Kennedy Muntemba
Program Coordinator

In the GRS office, people call Kennedy Muntemba K-town. He lives in Kabulonga.  Before he joined Grassroot Soccer, he was a volunteer at Breakthrough Sports Academy where he worked as a basketball coach and helped out with administration and finances in the office. In 2009 Grassroot Soccer worked with Breakthrough Sports Academy under the UNHCR grant to train coaches in the refugee camps in GRS Skillz activities and football league management.  Kennedy was the project coordinator on the side of Breakthrough Sports Academy. Later, he joined the GRS family in 2010 as a programs coordinator. He  now works under the ZPI project, which is a USAID funded project. Kennedy says: “Having seen a lot of my friends die from HIV/AIDS has made me so passionate in the fight against this deadly epidemic.”

Hildah Ngunga
Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant

Hildah Ngunga is a true Zambian lady born in the capital city of Lusaka.  She has done Psycho-Social Care & Counseling for HIV infected children and adolescents. Now she is pursuing her advanced levels in Monitoring and Evaluation. She says: “My experience with GRS has shown me the direction to take in the fight against HIV.”  Her hobbies are dancing, listening to gospel music, meeting new friends, and watching cartoons.

Mike Zales
Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor

Mike Zales is from Spring Lake, New Jersey.  He attended Boston University in 2004 where he majored in Human Physiology.  During college Mike traveled to Tanzania where he volunteered at a HIV/AIDS orphanage called the Village of Hope.  It was on this trip that Mike found his calling.  Upon returning to the States and completing his degree, Mike enrolled in the Boston University School of Public Health to pursue a Masters degree in International Health and Development.  Mike’s internship with GRS in Port Elizabeth was his practicum requirement for his MPH.  Mike is excited to be using the skillz learned at BUSPH to help Grassroot Soccer.  In addition to soccer, Mike is an avid surfer.

Fridah S. Zimba
Finance & Admin Assistant/Community Outreach Officer

Fridah S. Zimba is Zambian lady number seven in a family of eleven. Since childhood her passion has been to make her community healthier. She joined Zambia Scouts in 1996 and attended a number of HIV education workshops. In 2005 the Scout commissioner, Mrs. Evelyn, introduced her to GRSZ through an event where 13 scouts were trained in the GRS curriculum. Among the 13, Fridah was the only female, which was a door opener for her. She worked with GRS as a volunteer from 2005 until June 2007 when she was hired by GRSZ as a Program Coordinator. During my time with GRS, she has worked with the deaf and reached a number of youth. Fridah learned sign language in order to work with the deaf, which she says was one of her most exciting programs so far. Currently she coordinates an HIV+ women’s group who do educational outreach to GRS participants and their families.  These women spread the word about VCT and services offered by our partner clinic Tiny Tim & Friends for all GRSZ events.  Working with these female role models creates a trusting relationship between our community and GRSZ.  Doing interventions with Scouts has helped Fridah gain more knowledge by working in remote areas of Zambia such as Chongwe, which is 125km away from Lusaka. Fridah is currently a Master Trainer with GRSZ.