board of directors
Clare Campbell, Founder
Clare Campbell’s heart for people, and especially women and children, drives her to help others. Fueled by an insatiable desire to provide opportunity to those whose lives are terribly challenged, she founded Congo Threads, a not-for-profit educational and fund-raising organization. When not raising awareness and support for the beautiful people of Congo, and conjuring up future projects there, Clare loves to volunteer in her local community, participating in several women’s service groups, enjoy socializing with friends, and especially riding horses in the redwood forest.
Ginny Stern
Ginny Stern was trained as a hydrogeologist and has worked in public and environmental health for over 30 years. She has helped communities across the US, from the mountains of the Northwest to the Swamps of Florida. She currently lives in Olympia, Washington and shares a small houseboat with her 4 legged roommate: Ms. Vette.
Over the past 10 years, she has worked with two Olympia based nonprofits: Friendly Water for the World and the Tanzanian Teaching Foundation, helping to provide services such as clean water technology and sanitation, education, and basic support to at-risk children and adults. Ginny has joined Congo Threads in order to continue fostering hope and empowerment. In her own words, “As with most things that are built to last… you have to have a strong foundation, and that is that what Congo Threads provides to the children and families that are the heart of Ishara House.”
advisory board
Michelle Varrin
Michelle Varrin is a retired high school French teacher who daily looks for opportunities to bring balance to the vast disparity on this planet. Michelle has traveled the world and loves music and mountains and friends and cooking. On a really good day, you’ll find her on a trail hiking, skiing or biking. On a perfect day, her husband Chris, her son Sam and her daughter Izzy are with her on those trails.
David H. Albert
David H. Albert is co-founder of Friendly Water for the World. In 2012, he retired from a career in public health, put on new tires, and hasn’t missed a day since. David also is the founder of New Society Publishers , the author of 11 books and has founded three foundations. He has worked on and off in India for 44 years. David holds degrees from Williams College, Oxford University, and the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago, but will trade them for exotic musical instruments. He is an active Quaker, member of Olympia Monthly Meeting, and believes there is a light within all of us, of all races, religions, creeds that impels us toward the good. He is on the Board of the Congolese Integration Network .
Dr. Nicola Amadora
Dr. Nicola Amadora has been extensively traveling and working with people around the world for 30 years. Everywhere she encountered the hunger for real love. She felt called to respond to the horrors in the Congo, when Clare returned and shared the plight of those suffering. Nicola gladly offers her service to Congo Threads as an advisor and a psychologist with a sound spiritual orientation and extensive experience in somatic trauma therapy. She provides communication training and education for leaders and teams to build bridges between people and diverse cultures. When Nicola is not helping people, she loves riding horses in the wild, writing books and eating chocolate. www.nicolaamadora.com
Gale McCreary
Following a career of helping to empower people to make better healthcare choices, Gale McCreary now works to give our youth the confidence and public speaking skills to find their voices and change the world. Gale lives with her beloved mate and farm animals among the massive ancient coastal redwoods, which gives her the perspective that we are but temporary stewards of our planet and must strive to make it a better place.