OUR TEAM

  • United States

  • Wilson K. Hannington – Executive Director/Founder

  • Wilson K HanningtonWilson graduated as a professional accountant. He passionately holds a philosophy in life of serving others beyond self. He's volunteered countless hours in church and projects around Kampala serving and mentoring the youth. Wilson has helped to start various safari tour companies in Uganda like View Africa Tour Specialists and Real Africa Excursions/ Adventures. He was also selected to be a teacher in Accounts and Commerce for Adult Literacy and Basic Education Centre under Makerere University.

    Although, his heart was to work with children and youth in communities and surroundings he grew up in. He joined his passion of reaching out to youth as the National Director for International Christian Youthworks. By working in different projects he began to see a huge need for school sponsorship, particularly for the older children. Out of this need and his desire to serve the community he started Empower A Child. Being sponsored as a child, from primary school through university, this program is very dear to his heart. He desires to to give back to the communities of children who have so little and would not be helped otherwise. He has big dreams for this organization from school sponsorship, to mentoring programs to create great future leaders, to setting up a training center to give these children and youth hands-on skills, and most importantly see these children discipled and living out the word of God in their lives.

  • Abbie Goodyer - U.S. Volunteer Coordinator

  • Abbie EAbbie is currently going to college in San Diego to become a nurse. She went to Uganda with Empower A Child in 2007 for 3 months where she fell in love with Africa. "I have always had a heart for Africa and serving others and I had an absolutely amazing experience in Uganda." She now works with Empower A Child as the US Volunteer Coordnator. "I can't wait to go back! I miss everything about it and I miss my friends there."

  • Jennifer Kabeera – Board of Directors

  • Jennifer JenkinsJennifer graduated from University with a degree in Media Communications. After college she worked in the television industry on award shows and reality shows, such as the Academy Awards and American Idol. With a growing desire to work with the AIDS epidemic in Africa, Jennifer went to Kenya for a short-term mission trip. It was in Kenya she discovered her desire to work with orphans. Upon return to the States she began to look for ways to work in Africa longer term. She began volunteering with International Christian Youthworks in 2006. After observing the needs of the community, she worked with Wilson, the National Director, to set-up a Empower A Child.

  • Megan Thompson - Board of Directors

  • Megan Thompson Megan went to University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Behavioral Science. Throughout college and after graduation she volunteered with several local organizations working with children with critical health problems and worked for a foster placement agency. After working with these organizations, her heart grew in compassion for the children that she soon became so attached. The need to do more for children in need grew as well. Through prayer and research, she felt God leading her to Africa to work with an organization helping children dealing with HIV/AIDS or orphaned because of it. The search led her to Uganda and Empower A Child. "I fell in love with every aspect of the country...from the beautiful smiling children to the lush green hills that spreads across the country. I was in Uganda for seven months and loved every minute of it! I was so excited about the work that Empower A Child is doing that I wanted to stay connected and continue the work even after I returned to the US. There are so many children that I fell in love with and lasting friendships that were built."

  • David Bottomley – Board of Directors

  • David BottomleyOver 20 years ago David's family decided to sponsored a young child in Africa and God allowed that to come full circle. David often wondered what became of that child they communicated with and prayed for. The child in Africa was Wilson Kabeera Hannington from Uganda. Through a miracle chain of events, Wilson came to America to meet David and his family and share his testimony and vision to help others, as he too had been helped.

    David's core profession for 35 years has been sales, marketing and merchandising in the supermarket and mass discount business channels. He currently works as the Director of Nonfoods and Specialty Foods for a central U.S. grocery wholesaler. He serves as an Elder at his church in Indiana, overseeing the prayer, altar team, healing rooms, and men's ministries. He and wife, Karen have 6 children and 4 grandchildren. "The Lord Jesus Christ has been Lord of my life since 1982; and sustained me. I am full of thanks, to be serving on the board of Empower A Child."

  • Victoria Epstein – Board of Directors

  • Victoria EpsteinVictoria is currently a business owner and franchise partner in the Recruiting and Consulting field of the Hospitality Industry. Victoria has always had a deep passion for missions, and has taken several short term missionary trips throughout different countries. After hearing of the awful circumstances in Uganda, specifically the war-affected children, she felt a strong desire to serve in East Africa and help the children in any way. After years of prayer, research, and a growing desire, Victoria founded Empower a Child and came to Africa to serve as a short term missionary in 2008. “I fell in love with Africa and knew right away that God was calling me to help further. I look forward to God bringing me back. I am so happy that God has found a way for me to continue to serve this ministry on the board while I am in the U.S.” Victoria serves at her church teaching Sunday School to the 5th and 6th grade girls, and as a leader on the prayer team for the College/20’s ministry. Victoria desires that God will bring her whole family to Africa soon including her husband and 2 children. “We have been blessed that God has allowed us the privilege of serving in local missions as a family, I can’t wait for all of us to serve in Africa soon.”

  • Mike and Kathy Thompson – Board of Directors

  • ThompsonsMike and Kathy Thompson live in Austin, Texas. They met while attending the University of Texas. Kathy's degree is in Elementary Education and Mike's is in Pharmacy. They are active in their church , having taught couples Bible study for almost 30 years, and have two grown daughters who also live in Austin.

    They became involved with Empower A Child through their oldest daughter, Megan, who has made two trips to Kampala. After hearing Megan's stories, their hearts were moved by the needs of the children of Uganda, and because they are so impressed with the ministry and its vision, they are glad to be a part of this team.