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We serve alongside locally-led efforts in Zambia, Costa Rica , and around the globe caring for impoverished communities in areas of education, nutrition, drug/alcohol counseling, and youth/children initiatives.

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Meet the staff

Melissa Stuebing (CEO)

melissaMelissa is our founder, starting CoLaborers International in 2007. She has a BA (Messiah University) and MA (Washington College) in Psychology.

A student activist and volunteer with many organizations in undergrad, she had a heart for helping people engage their field of study / skills to ease human suffering locally and abroad. While studying abroad at Chiang Mai University, she served in Thai NGOS helping victims of human rights abuse. Returning home burnt out, God gave her a vision a year later borne out of her experiences that would become CoLaborers International – working alongside local community leaders abroad and
giving students areas of service in their majors to help.

“It felt intimidating at first. But then God gave me this vision of stepping stones. A great mist surrounded them. I could only see one step at a time. I saw myself stepping out to do what was before me. Then the mist moved and I took the next step. Over time, God brought other people alongside us and those steps became a path”.

She later received the Young Alumna Achievement Award from her alma mater Messiah College for contributions to the field (2019) and was recognized for her contributions to the community as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International (2017).

CoLaborers International served in various locations before establishing a branch in Zambia, a branch in Costa Rica, and starting a special project in Kenya working alongside local leaders. Within CoLaborers, she oversees our staff and has been described as a relationally warm leader – checking on how people are doing personally outside their service areas.

She also still serves in her own field of study in our drug and alcohol programs. Melissa is a drug and alcohol counselor (CAC-AD) focused on dually diagnosed populations and endorsed by Maryland’s Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists as a course instructor for continuing education. She authored “Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy” (US, Zambia, Kenya, and Latin America editions) to use cultural art forms as therapeutic metaphor in drug and alcohol counseling and her clinical research is published open-access.

Proverbs 3:6 is her life verse “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths”.

She is married to David and together they have 2 sweet children. They can be found cooking and doing arts and crafts together most evenings. She also enjoys writing and releasing music as a multi-instrumentalist.

Support Melissa

shellyShelly Holland has served with CoLaborers International as our CFO since 2013. She has an MA in Business Administration and a BA in Accounting. She is registered tax preparer with the IRS, has worked as the Director of Budget and Finance with the Maryland State Board of Elections, the Director of Revenue for the Maryland Transportation Authority, and is an active volunteer with Lions Club and Scouts. She has served with CoLaborers in various locations abroad and is an avid traveler with her family and friends as well. She’s a Ravens Fan and very involved grandmother.

maeghanMaeghan is a communications and development professional with a passion for transforming big ideas into strategic initiatives, compelling storytelling, and meaningful support for mission-driven organizations such as CoLaborers International. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Winthrop University and a M.A. in Nonprofit Organizations from the University of Georgia. With experience spanning marketing, fundraising, and strategic planning, Maeghan brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to building engagement and advancing organizational goals. She is known for her ability to connect people to purpose, develop creative solutions, and guide initiatives that strengthen both community relationships and organizational impact. Outside of her professional work, Maeghan enjoys spending time with her husband and two children and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs.

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nanyembaI serve as the Zambia Operations Director for CoLaborers and a member of the USA Board. I began my journey with CoLaborers International in 2018 through a training program and have since served as a trainer in the drug and alcohol curriculum and Founding Director of CoLaborers Zambia.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and Development Studies from the University of Zambia and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University (USA). I am passionate about addressing real community needs especially in underserved and hard-to-reach areas across Zambia.

Guided by my faith, I am inspired by Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good…” which reflects my commitment to service and impact. I am married to Gomezgani Chirwa and we have a daughter, Alianna.

sarahSarah first connected with CoLaborers in 2007 during her time at Messiah University.  After earning two M.Ed degrees, Special Education and Reading Specialist (Curriculum and Instruction) and beginning her teaching career Sarah reconnected with CoLaborers as they were looking to expand their educational programs.  Sarah worked with teams in both Zambia and India to design curriculums that helped bridge the gap until students are able to access consistent schooling.  In 2020, Sarah joined the board and now serves as the Education Initiatives Director and Child Sponsorship Director.  She believes passionately in the transformative power of education and is delighted to see the lives changed and relationships formed through the Child Sponsorship Program.  Sarah lives in Pennsylvania where she teaches 8th grade reading.  In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog Dany and making music with friends.  

davidDavid was born and raised in Zambia and went to boarding school in Kenya for 5 years.  He first encountered CoLaborers International when he met Melissa in 2009 while she was recruiting students at Messiah University and has taken an active role in supporting the organization at every opportunity since then.  David has a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in higher education. His past work experience includes youth ministry, higher education, and HR admin work. He has a heart for student development. In 2024, David took on the role of International Internship Director and now, with more flexibility in his schedule, is continuing to step into more roles to support the ongoing growth and success of CoLaborers in Special Projects.  In his free time, David loves being an involved dad, fixing or making things, photography, and board games.

rachelRachel Davis has been serving on the Board as the secretary since 2017. Rachel had the privilege of serving with Melissa and David in youth ministry when they attended church together and was introduced to CoLaborers International at that time. A licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with a background serving children and youth in psychiatric rehabilitation, child welfare, and Christian ministry settings, Rachel feels deeply passionate about the work of CoLaborers International. Outside of volunteer service, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband and three dogs, adventuring, and reading.

frankFrank is from a small town in Maryland. During his time in the U.S. Army he discovered that he had a heart to work with children while helping some displaced from their homes in a war torn country. After returning to the U.S. he worked part time as a martial arts instructor for the children’s classes and later volunteered in his church children’s ministry. Eventually he was given a job as that church’s first children’s ministry director. It has been Frank’s dream to serve at risk-children on the mission field. As a longtime friend of CoLaborers International, he eventually met Brittany while she was an intern for them. Finding out they shared the same vision to serve at risk children in Latin America, they fell in love got married and now serve as CoLaborers’ first missionaries in Costa Rica specifically. As a family, with their two daughters Eden and Zara, they work together to serve at-risk women and children in Las Gradas and grow the capacity of CoLaborers Costa Rica. As the CoLaborers Costa Rica branch director, Frank helps serve 80 children, 40 teens, and the sewing program for women in the community. He also serves as a camp counselor of Camp Encuentro, which began in 2024 as his initiative and has now run 3 separate Bible-focused summer camps for the children and teens served in the impoverished community settlement of Las Gradas.

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brittanyBrittany has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology: Counseling and Human Development from Liberty University. While at Liberty, she was a psychology intern with CoLaborers in Zambia in summer 2015. After graduating in 2016, she served with CoLaborers while preparing to move to Costa Rica with her husband Frank. They moved to Costa Rica to begin Spanish language school in 2020 with their daughter Eden. In 2021, they began to serve in the Las Gradas community and Brittany began to serve as treasurer in the Costa Rica branch of CoLaborers. CoLaborers Costa Rica was officially recognized as a non-profit foundation in May 2024, and Brittany has continued to serve in the capacity of treasurer throughout that time. Her and Frank’s second daughter Zara was born in 2021. As a family, they work together to serve at-risk women and children in Las Gradas and grow the capacity of CoLaborers Costa Rica. As a CoLaborer, Brittany helps serve around 80 children, 40 teens, and the sewing program for women in the community. She also serves as the director of Camp Encuentro, which began in 2024 and has now run 3 separate Bible-focused summer camps for the children and teens served in Las Gradas. Brittany has a heart for children to know Jesus personally and receive and implement the tools to break generational chains and find healing to be able to move forward. 

Support Brittany

carlosCarlos is from Nicaragua and has lived in La Carpio since he was a child. He studied to be an electrician but spends the majority of his time serving the elementary-aged children there – using music, arts, and activities to teach the bible to them. He is experienced with the Estrellita reading curriculum and also helps with educational tutoring for students after school. He is married to Mary and they serve together.

Learn more about Carlos

img 20260310 wa0001Mary was born and raised in the same impoverished community she now serves in. As a young person she was impacted by Marielos’ ministry of Las Gradas Betel (CFCI-CR) to provide a safe place for children to learn, play, eat, share feelings, make friends and learn about the love of Jesus Christ. For the last several years she has been serving there herself. Mary uses arts and crafts to teach interactive bible studies. She has experience as a preschool teacher and in the Estrellita reading curriculum for elementary age. She works as an afterschool tutor to help children with homework. She would love to study education at the university to be able to also help meet the needs of the children in this loving immigrant community that faces so many challenges. She is married to Carlos and they serve together.

Learn more about Mary

hjordisDr. Hjördis Lorenz is a Clinical Psychologist who serves as the Lead Researcher and Technical Advisor for CoLaborers.

Hjördis holds a Doctorate in Experimental Psychology (PhD) and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych), both from the University of Oxford, UK, and is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world practice in mental health care. 

She has been working with CoLaborers since 2015, training professionals in substance use treatment and evaluating the outcomes of these interventions in low-resource settings. She field-tested CoLaborers’ substance use treatment curriculum in Zambia and later helped train professionals and evaluate the program’s community-led implementation in Zambia, Kenya and the United States. She has led and contributed to the design, analysis, and publication of research studies evaluating these programs in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In Costa Rica, she led a training for community health workers and CoLaborers staff focused on responding to trauma and strengthening community-based mental health support. Alongside her work with CoLaborers, Hjördis provides clinical care in a specialist trauma service in the UK and conducts research at the University of Oxford focused on implementing evidence-based treatments into routine clinical practice. She recently returned from a six-month mission in Ukraine with Doctors Without Borders, where she trained local clinicians in treating war-related PTSD to help build in-country capacity.

chipoMy journey began in 2015 with a simple act, teaching children how to make bracelets. What started as a small effort to help them earn an income quickly became something much deeper.

While volunteering at a drop-in center in Lusaka, I helped translate during a Drug and Alcohol Literacy arts therapy session. Listening to children share their experiences with addiction, neglect, and pain changed my life. In that moment, I knew I was called to do more. 

I pursued formal training in trauma healing and addiction recovery, and over the years I’ve grown from working directly with children to supporting caregivers and strengthening entire communities. Today, as Director of CoLaborers Zambia, I lead programs that help children, caregivers, and communities heal, build resilience, and thrive.

angelMukamiyoba Angel Hamakando serves as a treasurer for CoLaborers Zambia. Her responsibilities include processing payroll data, preparing financial reports, reconciling bank statements, and maintaining accurate financial records. She first began serving with us in 2018, participating in an in-country training program, in 2019 in heading up our food relief efforts, and then joining the branch as treasurer in 2020. 

Mukamiyoba demonstrates leadership qualities through strategic collaboration, meticulous oversight, and proactive problem-solving, ensuring effective financial management and compliance. Beyond finance, Mukamiyoba is passionate about giving back, actively participating in Colaborers International’s child sponsorship program and advocating for women’s empowerment. Educational background includes a Bachelor of Finance, CA Application Advanced Diploma In Accountancy, and certifications in Accountancy (CA) and Accounting Technician (CAT/ACCA).

kelvinEducation : Professional Certificate in Marketing ( Level 4) from Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). This qualification is equal to a Diploma here in Zambia

Experience: I have 18 years of experience in Zambia’s print media industry. Currently working as Sales Executive for Zambia Daily Mail Limited,an institution wholly owned by the  Zambian government under Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). I joined Colaborers Zambia in 2020.

gibsonGibson is a mathematics teacher with the Ministry of Education. He first met with CoLaborers in 2018 and soon after joined us abroad teaching in our mobile school in impoverished settlement areas in India. Returning to Zambia, he has continued assisting us in our child sponsorship program, particularly focusing on rural areas. His passion is seeing children do well in school and step into a brighter future.

EIN: 64-0960198
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