Introducing the Fellows Class of 2010

We are so pleased to announce our new class of Acumen Fund Fellows. These extraordinary individuals, who were chosen from hundreds of applicants, will be supporting the work of investees in India, Pakistan and Kenya.

• Sule Amadu will work with D.light Design in India. He has a background in global social sustainable enterprise and mechanical engineering with an MBA from Colorado State University.
• Josephat Byaruhanga will work in Kenya with Western Seeds, which promotes sustainability and produces seed varieties appropriate for traditionally low-income farmers. He has experience managing rural community development programs and a Masters in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis.
• Gamuchirai Chituri will work with UHEAL, which provides access to specialized eye care services previously unavailable to low-income customers in Kenya. She has built an enterprise that trains young entrepreneurs from Zimbabwe in starting businesses.
• Sarah Dimson will work in Pakistan with AMC, a for-profit, low-income housing company. She has experience in non profit consulting and affordable housing development and a BA in Science, Technology & Society from Stanford University.
• Yehia Houry will work in India with 1298. He has experience as a financial analyst, focusing on access to financing for the poor and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University.
• Asim Hussnain will work with Micro Drip in Pakistan. He has a background in microfinance and microenterprise development and an MBA from Lahore University of Management Science.
• Kevin Martin will work in Kenya with D.Light Design on marketing. He has experience in sustainable enterprise working with international development organizations and an MBA from the University of North Carolina.
• Satoko Okamoto will work with AyurVaid in India. She has a background in microfinance and advocating public/private partnerships in international peacebuilding initiatives.  Satoko has a masters from Johns Hopkins University.
• Meghan Simkins will work with LifeSpring hospitals in India. She has a background in public health and business administration and a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University.
• Muhammad Zahoor will work in Pakistan with FMIA. He has experience managing rural development programs and in public-sector education, and he holds masters degrees from the University of Peshawar and Malakand University in Pakistan.

We’re looking forward to the arrival of our new class in September. They’ll be spending eight weeks with Acumen Fund in New York for training before departing for individual assignments with investees. The Fellows will be sharing their experiences here on the Acumen blog, so please stay tuned!

For the complete announcement, click here.