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Our History
The 4 WISE Women...
This is a small operation and a personal one. We
are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families
and communities in developing countries. You can read about
our history and our various projects here. Please feel free
to contact us if you are interested in getting involved, or
if you have any comments or questions.
The WISE Women
Lynn Twitchell
Lynn lives in Maine, where she and her husband raised their four sons and built their own home. She has been a Mathematics teacher for 30 years. Her interest in international cultures led to her involvement with AFS and she and her family hosted several exchange students.
In 2001, Lynn decided to combine her Math and building skills and her love of travel and went to Kaoma, Zambia with Habitat for Humanity. Once was not enough. In 2002 she trained as a Global Village team leader and started to lead teams with Habitat. She has led teams to Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar and Cambodia. Lynn returns to Kaoma every year, as it has become her "second home."
Lynn realized that the people in Zambia needed more than houses and started raising funds to send to Kaoma after her first trip. In 2004, Lynn, Amanda Robinson and Cindy Fuchswanz traveled to Kaoma together and decided to form a non-profit organization. In March 2005, WISE was officially registered as a 501(c )3. Lynn started leading teams of WISE volunteers to Kaoma in 2007 and has shared her love of the people there with others who want to participate in "an African adventure." She continues to give presentations about her experiences with WISE to schools and civic organizations and enjoys sharing her stories with others.
Contact:
Lynn Twitchell
WISE
PO Box 305
Readfield, ME 04355
email: wiselynn@gwi.net
Pat Stockford
Pat was an Elementary School Teacher for 33 years and has been a Puppeteer for the last 25 years. She has been in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Since her retirement in June 2004, she continues to sub and perform with her puppets in many schools and libraries throughout the state.
Pat became interested in Habitat for Humanity through two friends who later started WISE. She was able to go to Africa in June 2005 to see first hand how Habitat worked and fell in love with the people and children in Kaoma, Zambia. Since her trip in 2005, Pat has been working with WISE fundraising. Her passion lies with the Kamoa Community School. She has written 3 childrens books about Kaoma in hopes that children in America will get to know what it is like to live in Zambia.
Pat has talked to many schools and civic groups explaining her work . She continues to be very active in her community, Church, and WISE.
Contact:
Patricia Stockford
PO Box 419
Readfield, Maine 04355
email: pkpuppet@myfairpoint.net
Arlene McVety
Arlene McVety has been married for 21 years to Joe, and has three grown children, Amanda, Wiley and Jake. She has lived in Maine since 1976. Prior to that, she lived all over the U.S. and abroad. Arlene thanks her parents for the travel bug. As a former english teacher, Sunday school teacher and youth leader, Arlene and her husband travelled with their sons on a 2005 Habitat for Humanity trip. With Lynn as their team leader, they fell in love with Africa.
Arlene has been with WISE, on the board of directors, since 2005 and is now team leader. As the graphic arts person for the WISE group, Arlene created the logo, brochures, newsletter, cards, facebook page and what ever else her (African) big sister, Lynn, wants.
Contact:
Arlene McVety
email: amcvety@roadrunner.com
Cindy Fuchswanz
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Cindy was a Hospice volunteer for 11 years, and was a Puppy Raiser, training puppies to be service dogs, for NEADS (The National Education for Assistance Dog Service, Inc.), in Massachusetts, for 4 years. She has always been very active in her church, and teaches Sunday School. God changed her profession in 2002, when he sent her to Kaoma, Zambia with Habitat for Humanity, with her friends Lynn and Amanda. Together, they started WISE.
Cindy is Vice President of WISE, and has been working with the people in Kaoma, and fundraising for them, ever since 2002. She has fallen in love with the children at the orphanage, and spends as much time as she can there. She loves teaching the preschoolers, tutoring one-on-one, teaching at the special education class, and teaching all of the children about the love of Jesus. She is inspired by the women of Kaoma, especially Margaret Muyatwa, Rita Tumbila, Sister Mary and Beatrice Nasilele, strong women of faith who have dedicated their lives first to God, and then to taking care of the women and children in their village.
She is also inspired by the life of Mother Teresa who said, "It's not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters." Cindy believes when we love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength (Mark 12:30), and share that love with one another, we can experience joy everyday, and change the world in ways we never thought possible.
Cindy and her husband, Marc, live in Augusta, Maine. They are blessed to have three children, Laura, Michael and his wife, Sarah; a precious granddaughter, Charlotte; and their labrador retrievers, Duke and Dixie.
Contact:
Cindy Fuchswanz
email: matthew19-26@roadrunner.com
Our Vision, Mission, Goals
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