Ndalamia Taiwap
Chairman, Board of Directors
Taiwap is a Community Development Specialist at TACCEI, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development Studies from Ardhi University. He brings extensive experience in designing, monitoring, and evaluating field-based conservation and development programs. Over the years, Ole Taiwap has led research, baseline surveys, and community evaluations in supervisory roles for prominent organizations, including the Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT), TAWIA, Read International, and the Tanzania Red Cross Society. At TACCEI, he leverages his strong analytical skills and leadership passion to drive impactful, community-led initiatives.
Lucas Ole Yamat (PhD)
Member, Board of Directors
Dr. Ole Yamat earned his PhD from the University of the Basque Country (Spain), an MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Dar es Salaam, and a BSc in Economics from Mzumbe University. Leveraging this academic foundation, he operates as a Climate Change and Pastoralism Economist with extensive experience across Tanzanian pastoral civil society and conservation sectors. His research focuses on the sustainability of African land uses, specifically analyzing the intersections of livestock, crop, and wildlife economies. Currently, Dr. Yamat serves as a Sustainability Researcher at the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) in Spain.
Esther Lazaro
Member, Board of Directors
Esther is an educator, researcher, and professional language translator with a Bachelor of Education in English and Swahili from the University of Arusha. Currently serving as a government primary school teacher in the Tabora Region, she brings extensive community service experience to the TACCEI Board of Directors. Esther has collaborated with international organizations—including the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM, USA), the Mama Power Project, and For the Love of Africa Society (Canada)—specializing in educational training and cross-cultural language translation, including English to Maa.
Sendeka Medukenya
Member, Board of Directors
Sendeka is originally from Terrat village in Simanjiro and serves as a vital grassroots voice on the TACCEI Board of Directors. Deeply passionate about his community, Sendeka embodies TACCEI’s core conviction that true conservation must be rooted in local representation. In his role, he ensures that the perspectives, rights, and traditional knowledge of the Maasai community directly shape the organization’s governance, strategies, and landscape initiatives.
Jos Smeets
Member, Board of Directors
Jos hails from Valkenburg in the southern Netherlands, where his lifelong commitment to youth development and global solidarity began. Following a distinguished forty-year career as a physical education and sports educator (1968–2008), Jos dedicated himself to fostering global citizenship. He is the founder and visionary leader behind Stichting Global Exploration (SGE) and currently serves as the Chairman of the World Citizenship Foundation in Valkenburg. A proud father of three and grandfather of six, Jos is driven by his enduring personal ethos: “Together One World.”
Els Alzer
Member, Board of Directors
Els has dedicated over 30 years to her career as a pediatric nurse specializing in care for children with disabilities, a role she remains deeply passionate about. Her connection to Tanzania began in 2013 when she accompanied a group of students with disabilities to the country, where she fell in love with its landscapes and people. After returning in 2019, Els partnered with local advocates to facilitate vital medical care for individuals with disabilities. Outside of her clinical work, she enjoys reading, cooking, and walking her dog. Els is honored to bring her extensive healthcare experience and commitment to inclusivity to the TACCEI Advisory Board to help fulfill its mission and vision.
Nadine Wolfs
Member, Board of Directors
Nadine is an experienced educator based in the Netherlands. Professionally trained as an English teacher, she also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Studies. Her twenty-year career includes 14 years specializing in special education, followed by her current role teaching at an innovative secondary school. Nadine’s dedication to her students led her to partner with Stichting Global Exploration, facilitating multiple student trips to Tanzania focused on global citizenship. Captivated by the country’s culture, warmth, and natural beauty, she now considers Tanzania a second home. As a member of the advisory board, Nadine leverages her extensive educational expertise to help drive TACCEI’s organizational goals, firmly believing that together, we are stronger.