Our Programs

CEO / FOUNDER 

My name is Bongai Mhloyi, born and raised in Zimbabwe and came to the USA in 1985 in search of a better education and better life.

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After working as a social worker in PA for more than twenty years, I started  the American & African Youth Leadership Foundation in the hopes of helping the girls in underserved communities both in PA but mostly in Zimbabwe where I grew up.  

My passion is to help the "Girl Child" orphans since they are the most vulnerable.

My organization helps them focus on education not forced into child marriages therefore, equipping them with necessary tools needed for their success.

My motto is 

"Touching Tomorrow's Leaders Today".

PRESIDENT

John P. Lafferty is the President & CEO of CellMyLight, Inc., a manufacturer of solar flashlight/cell phone chargers which are sold throughout the world.  He also is a Distributor's Rep for Stream Energy which is a 3rd Party Electric & Gas Utility Provider.

Lafferty is the past chairman of various societies including the Delaware American Society of Quality and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for the Light of Marnie, a 501c3, providing financial resources to help schooling and clinics throughout much of West Africa.

Lafferty is a graduate of Drexel University and earned his Masters from Cabrini University. He resides in Chester County with his wife, Jennifer and considers himself an avid golfer, chess player, saltwater fisherman, and horseshoe pitcher.

 STUDENT ADVISOR

ZIMBABWE

 wife and a proud mother of four beautiful grown girls. I am a high school teacher by profession and I teach fashion/fabrics and commerce. I live in Chisumbanje area, which is in the southern part of Chipinge district in Manicaland province.  I am a guidance counselor and mentor for all the girls at my school and surrounding schools as well. I counsel “Girl Children" in various aspects including gender issues.  

In my downtime, I enjoy gardening and spending time with girls talking various issues.  

BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Christine Martey-Ochola, is co-founder of Avoglobal Ltd., an engineering, education, and public health management consulting firm based in Pennsylvania. She is also an academic consultant and has extensive experience in providing strategies for strengthening tertiary academic institutions. . She has had a successful academic career,
teaching Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, in addition to running research on cancer chemotherapeutic delivery.  

She was recently selected as a PA STEM Ambassador due to her interests in workforce development and the need to strengthen the STEM pipeline. 

She is co-founder of the Coatesville Charter School of Innovation, a STEM and Performing Arts Charter School that is currently under design and development.
Dr. Martey-Ochola advises women’s organizations in the US and Africa, HIV-AIDS intervention organizations, and youth entrepreneurship groups.  She was co-founder of the Sub-Saharan Africa Chamber of Commerce, an organization that facilitates trade and investment between the US and Africa. Under her direction the chamber facilitated US business entry into multiple African countries, advised several companies on best practices in doing business in Africa, and presented at many international business forums on African trade and investment. She received recognition from the White House as a champion of change due to her engagement with diaspora communities in the United States on matters of economic empowerment. Dr. Martey-Ochola also sits on the board of the Temple University Center for International Business Education and Research and the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs. 

 BOARD MEMBER

Born and raised in Zimbabwe Susan Sundai Charowedza Muzorewa is currently an Associate Professor of Accounting at Delaware State University in Dover Delaware. For the past 30 years she has lived and worked in both Zimbabwe and the US. After finally settling in PA in the last 20 years, she went on to obtain a CPA license (inactive) from PA as well as earn a PhD in Business Administration-Accounting from Morgan State University, Baltimore MD.

Living and working in both continents has truly enriched her perspective on life. “There is a lot that we can do to alleviate poverty if we put our minds to it”. Her work experience includes auditing, financial reporting, research and management consulting. Her work as a management consultant introduced her to the area of economic development and her goal in life has since been to use her knowledge to teach and actively build sustainable economic development programs in developing economies.

She has been actively involved in the Zimbabwe community here in PA. She was one of the founders of the programs that unites the Zimbabwe community throughout the USA through teleconferences. She financially supports several school children in Zimbabwe.. She is a wife, a mother of 2 daughters and 2 sons and a proud grandmother of 3 boys and 1 girl.  My tenet in life is “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else will follow”

BOARD MEMBER 

A product of the City of Coatesville, Ms Allen was born, raised and educated there. She continued her education in the city of Philadelphia and at Lincoln University.

Although she is certified in many professional occupations, she remains passionate about the economical and academical aspects of the lives of young children.  She currently teaches adult Sunday school and does childcare.  

Bernz is the CEO of Kickstart Digital Media Strategy & Solutions and currently is a Online Business Coach.  She helps entrepreneurs, small business owners and coaches, start and grow their business using social media funnels.  

Bernz currently have sponsored 3 girls and wants to continue helping the cause and its effort to save these vulnerable girls from early child marriage.

support@bernzbayabo.com