Doris Ashrifie

Doris is helping Team Operations in Ghana. She is studying Linguistics and Psychology at the University of Ghana.

In her own words:

Reading has always been a part of my early life. Although I never really appreciated it from the start, as I came of age, my views about the world changed and so did my attitude towards reading. I have always wanted to be a philanthropist so helping Worldreader came naturally.

Hermione Ireland

Hermione has worked in publishing for longer than she admits, primarily at Dorling Kindersley as Marketing Director, working on both books and digital products. She loves working with Colin to develop Worldreader’s relationships and awareness in the UK and spends the rest of her time on her publishing consultancy, Byte Consulting, working with publishing tech start-ups and authors.

Most excited by: helping others reach books that will become lifelong favorites

Favorite book: Pride & Prejudice.

Allison Kingston – Operations and Environmental Sustainability Intern

Raised in a small town and educated in Canada’s capital, Allison Kingston has a developed a passion for international cooperation. Allison has recently graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science with a focus on International Relations. In her final year at Carleton, she constructed her Honor’s Research Essay on Feminism in Pop culture.

After playing roller derby for 2 years with Ottawa Roller Derby, Allison made her transition to coach for the London Middlesex Junior Roller Derby team in 2018. As a founding member of the Bluewater Sustainability Initiative from 2012-2014, Allison learned how passionate she was about all forms of sustainability and now has a desire to incorporate sustainability into all that she does.

Favourite book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Currently reading: Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

Jonathan Espayos – Regional Events Coordination Intern

Jonathan holds a BA, hons. in Political Science – First Class Standing from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. His honor’s research focused on the effects of decentralization on the anti-mining movement in the Philippines. He has volunteered for numerous organizations throughout his university and around Calgary.

Jonathan’s interests include comparative politics with a focus on Southeast Asia, environmental policy, and civil society.

Favorite Book: The Little Prince

Currently Reading: Divine Comedy by Dante

Sebastiaan van Leeuwen – Program Impact

Sebastiaan comes with a business innovation background and is helping the Impact team develop a Behaviour Change Toolkit which will advocate for an HCD approach in our project design phase.

He is currently in his fourth and final year of his degree in ‘Business Innovation’ at the Avans University of applied science in the Netherlands. While studying, Sebastiaan became familiar with the sustainable development goals. Since then he has been working on multiple projects for a Dutch non-profit organization called ‘One World Citizens’ in the field of quality education.

Currently reading:

The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdin

Carol Risher

Inspired by the site visits on the recent trip to Kenya, Carol Risher, a long-time supporter of Worldreader, asked if she could also serve as a volunteer. Carol lives in Southern California and works as an Executive Assistant at a trucking and warehousing company. Her extensive experience in HR management makes her a perfect volunteer!

Carol races sailboats and loves live theater.

Currently Reading: There There, a novel by Tommy Orange

Adam Zvric – Monitoring and Evaluation Intern

Adam holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations & Development Studies from the University of Windsor, where he concentrated in Economic Development. During his third year of his undergraduate degree, Adam spent the year on an international exchange in Tours, France, where he continued his studies along with taking French language training. Adam also holds a Master’s degree in International Peace & Security from King’s College London in the United Kingdom, where he researched the relationship between free trade economics and social conflict.

Prior to joining Worldreader, Adam interned at an NGO in London, U.K. that seeks to promote human rights and dialogue in Turkey, where he conducted research and assisted in organising a roundtable event in Oslo, Norway. Adam is excited to work with the staff in the Ghana team and develop his skills in impact evaluation while at Worldreader.

Favourite Book: The Giver

Currently Reading: The Book of Joy