Last year may have been a tumultuous year for the world, but in many spaces, it also brought about changes that mark the start of new and exciting chapters. For the small Hope Africa Collective team located in the US, a new chapter began late last year as we welcomed Samantha Watson as our Communications & Donor Relations Manager!

Samantha will be taking on a transformed role that combines overall communication functions on the US team – coordinating donations and communicating with donors, writing blog posts and announcements, and managing social media channels. We are so thankful for everyone who supports and partners with Hope Africa Collective, and in this role, Samantha will be the primary point of contact to care for our donors and cultivate support.

A Global Mission

Samantha brings with her a wide range of experience that has developed her heart for working with people. She was previously on staff with Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, Florida, one of our partner churches with a big heart for missions. After learning about the opportunity to join the Hope Africa Collective team, Samantha was excited about the potential to get involved in missions on a deeper level.

“In 2011, God really put on my heart to want to go globally, and ever since then I have had a passion for learning about other cultures and wanting to be a part of what God is doing in other areas of the world,” says Samantha. “I like getting people invested in and excited about global ministry!”

Samantha’s past experience has fostered a passion for people and how she can communicate best with them. She now brings her bubbly people skills into a space where she can cultivate relationships with our partners, donors, and community – both online and in person. “I am most excited about helping people who are already connected to [us] fall even more in love with Hope Africa. I want them to feel they are even more connected…finding ways to do that whether through communications or experiences. I want to be a part of that and help [our donors] be a part of that.”

We Want to Know You!

We’re confident that when you meet and talk to Samantha, you will quickly get a sense for how much she sincerely enjoys getting to speak with you. When asked about what she wants to share with our supporters, Samantha responded, “I want to know them! I genuinely want to know them. I want to know the parts of Hope Africa they’re most passionate about…I find joy in answering their questions. I want to hear how I can serve them better as they participate with us in what God is doing through this ministry.”

Kenzie Wells, who has served as our Donor Relations & Social Media Manager, and Alece Ronzino, who has served as our Communications Director, are both moving on to exciting new chapters in their lives! We’re so thankful for the many years of their talent, hard work, and heart they have brought to the team.  We can’t wait to see what’s on the horizon for them.

While change can sometimes be challenging, it can also be a moment for growth and joy. We are excited to see how God uses Kenzie and Alece in their next chapter, and we thank them for serving Hope Africa Collective so well!

Please join us in wishing Kenzie and Alece well, and please help us welcome Samantha to the team!

And if you’d like to know more about how you can partner with us in 2021, head over to Give Hope 21 to dive into the stories of hope.