About Wings of Hope
History of Wings of Hope Global Cooperative
President David Weeks founded Wings of Hope Global Cooperative as the Global Craft Cooperative (EIN 84-2393155) in July 2019, when he was supporting the Osiligi Women’s Craft Cooperative in Kenya. The Wings of Hope Global Cooperative trade name, established in September 2023, better describes its valuable, global philanthropic mission. Wings of Hope Global Cooperative is listed with the IRS as Global Craft Cooperative (EIN 84-2383155) a 501c3.
The organization is an extension of Mr. Weeks’ International philanthropic work as Director of Global Education at the Glenelg Country School in Howard County Maryland.
Vision & Mission
To live in a global community where resources are more equitably distributed to maximize human potential and purpose in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
The Wings of Hope Global Cooperative seeks to provide resources to promote good health, education, and economic growth that will empower people in need.
Meet Our Team
The Wings of Hope Board of Directors is comprised of talented, committed people familiar with the cultures we service. By working collaboratively with trusted and capable on-site supervisors in each project location, we ensure responsible project management.
Our donors and funding agencies can feel confident that their contributions are sustainable and that they are making a positive difference in addressing one or more major social, economic, or environmental global concerns.
Founder of Wings of Hope
About David Weeks
An educator since 1973 with experience at the elementary, middle, and high school levels of instruction as well as adult education, David Weeks, greatly values promoting student potential and engaging in community service both locally and globally. He has conducted workshops in service learning and became a Service-Learning Fellow with the Maryland State Board of Education for his public and private school partnership programs. With his passion for service, Mr. Weeks has received numerous service awards for both local and international projects. As the Director of Global Education and Community Service at the Glenelg Country School he collaborated with his former students on the Kenya, Ghana, and Guinea projects in the Wings of Hope Global Cooperative.
David Weeks has led student trips to Thailand, India and Haiti and has helped to construct medical clinics in Thailand, Haiti, and Kenya. His extensive travel experience has helped him to recognize the need to address resource inequity. Mr. Weeks chairs the Build Haiti Foundation Board and serves on three other nonprofit boards. His education includes an ESOL Master’s Certificate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), an MA and Med from Loyola University in Maryland and a BA from Harvard College. He currently resides in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Accomplishments as Director of Global Education & Service
- C2C Health Clinic, Haiti
- New Hope Clinic, Thailand
- Osiligi Medical Dispensary, Kenya
- Osiligi Medical Complex (Pharmacy with Dentistry and Ophthalmology Offices)
- Student Trip Leader to India, Haiti, and Thailand
- House Captain for Rebuilding Together Howard County
- 2011 Holland Humanitarian Award from Howard County Community Action Council and other educator/ service awards
- Service-Learning Fellow with the Maryland State Department of Education
Student Recognition For Website Work
Thanks to the creative efforts of Krish Bhatia and his students: Anya Shah, Emile Davies Potter, Tushar Rajeevan and Shlok Mehta, the Wings of Hope Global Cooperative website was initially developed. Krish Bhatia worked closely with Founder David Weeks in establishing the domain website and in supporting Mr. Weeks’ vision of how to present the five country projects.
He particularly appreciated the research Krish Bhatia, and his students provided for each of the countries featured on the website. As an educator, Mr. Weeks values the role of mentor and is particularly grateful to Krish Bhatia for the guidance he gave to his students and for his pro bono contribution for the initial design suggestions for the Wings of Hope Global Cooperative website.
Board Members
Vice President, Guinea Board
N’Mah Keita
N’Mah Keita has over two decades of dedicated public service experience with a career that spans roles at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of State. Ms. Keita has been an unwavering advocate for positive change and community betterment, both locally and globally. In addition to her distinguished government service, she is a compassionate soul with a heart for humanitarian work. Ms. Keita is a founding member of “Wells of Hope Africa”, an organization committed to bringing clean and accessible water to impoverished communities. Whether it’s volunteering at a local homeless shelter, being a community organizer in immigrant communities, spearheading food and clothes drives for orphanages, or collaborating on the next transformative project with Wings of Hope, her dedication to making the world a better place shines through.
Her tireless efforts in both her professional and volunteer endeavors reflect a deep-seated passion for uplifting others and creating positive impacts. Ms. Keita has a BA in International Affairs, Business Economics, and graduate studies in Strategic Business Intelligence from Trinity University. She is currently a Senior Management Analyst at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and resides in Frederick, Maryland.
Secretary
Laura Smit
Born in The Netherlands, raised in Latin America and Europe, and fluent in English, Spanish and Dutch, Laura Smit has experience in anthropology, international public health, and Sister Cities cultural exchange programs. As Program Officer at the International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, Ms. Smit managed USAID family planning projects in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. She conducted training workshops in Latin America and the Caribbean for frontline staff on family planning, sexual health, quality of care and communications. In Columbia, Maryland, Ms. Smit managed Columbia’s five Sister Cities relationships in China, France, Ghana, Haiti, and Spain, coordinating international high school exchanges as well as adult culinary and art exchanges.
Working at the Columbia Association, she organized a variety of multicultural programs for the community, including a World Languages Cafe, community cultural festivals, and an International Book Club. Ms. Smit has traveled extensively in India, Southeast Asia, East and West Africa and Europe. Her education includes a master’s in public health from Columbia University, a Master’s Certificate from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in Translation & Interpreting (Spanish-English), an ESOL Master’s Certificate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), a Certificate in Medical Interpreting from Howard Community College and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from UCSB. She currently resides in Santa Ynez, California.
Treasurer
Dr. Anne Zeng
Before 2021, Anne had been living in the science and engineering world. She was a Ph. D. in electrical engineering, a technical expert in microelectronics, and an engineering manager. From 2021 to 2023, She was a dedicated parent volunteer in the MYPIC (Maryland Youth Partners in Change) program at Glenelg Country School, where she had the opportunity to work closely with the Founder and Director Mr. David Weeks. It was the MYPIC program that opened up a new world to her. Through this program, she learned about the homeless situation in the Baltimore area, how important it is to provide resources to people who need help, and how everyone can make a difference, no matter if it is big or small.
She also had the opportunity to observe Mr. Weeks’ leadership in global education and community service and witness his efforts in addressing resource inequity globally. All these have become her inspiration and motivation to get involved more. Anne is excited to work with the team at the Wings of Global, ang bring in her organizational and leadership skills. She currently resides in Clarksville, Maryland.
Pakistan Board
Suleman Malik
Suleman Malik’s background includes aligning high performance teams with corporate vision, developing collaborative partnerships at all levels of an organization, and executing well-defined and prioritized program roadmaps to unlock business value. He has more than twenty-five years of experience as a technology and data management professional supporting and leading enterprise-wide transformation and operational improvement programs that leverage industry-leading technology and business practices. His nonprofit experience evolved from his desire to promote Pakistani cultural and educational events when he was working in New England. Mr. Malik was instrumental in the formation of a Pakistani cultural organization with activities, which extended from Southern Massachusetts into Rhode Island.
Suleman Malik has also been an active community member in faith-based organizations, where he has helped in establishing a library and the administration for a weekend faith-based school. His guidance has supported administrative processes, volunteer staff management and promotion of enrollment for parents interested in faith-based education for their children. Presently an active member in the interfaith community in Howard County, Maryland, he has participated in and promoted dialog among the different faith communities through the Courageous Conversations program. Mr. Malik has served on various committees such as By Laws, Outreach and Finance with local faith-based organizations. His education includes a master’s in information systems for Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University. For the past 13+ years, Suleman Malik has resided with his family in Howard County, Maryland.
Myanmar Board
Dr. Khin Rupa Maung
Dr. Khin Rupa Maung, a native of Myanmar, graduated from the Institute of Medicine 1 in Yangon, Myanmar. She has practiced in Jamaica and later in the United States. Driven by a growing awareness of healthcare disparities within immigrant communities, Dr. Maung joined the nonprofit organization Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington, D.C. in 2012 to screen Myanmar immigrants for hepatitis. Her dedication at HBI led her to become a Burmese Spokesperson for the Hepatitis B United Speakers Bureau. In addition to her work with HBI, Dr. Maung collaborated with the Asian American Center of Frederick, where she advocated for the healthcare needs of Burmese immigrants, especially refugees. As a trusted source of COVID-19 information for the Burmese community in Maryland, she contributed to translating brochures on COVID-19 information and addressed Asian hate crimes for the Maryland Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives.
Following the 2021 coup in Myanmar, Dr. Maung played a pivotal role in fundraising for humanitarian support in healthcare, aiding those affected by the crisis in her native country. Alongside her friends, she coordinated the provision of medical equipment and supplies to clinics serving displaced populations and played a crucial role in establishing a small blood bank at a frontline hospital. She has showcased Burmese culture at various local events, including the Maryland Governor’s Asian Pacific Island Heritage Month Celebrations, Fiesta Asia of Washington DC, and Frederick Asian Cultural Series and at her three children’s local Glenelg Country School. In 2023, Dr. Maung was appointed as an AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Commissioner in Howard County, MD. She continues to advocate tirelessly for the healthcare and community needs of the AAPI population. Dr. Maung presently lives with her family in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Kenya Board
Dr. Linet Kandie
Born and raised in Kenya, Dr. Linet N. Kandie, DNP, APRN, CRNP relocated to the United States of America to pursue further education many decades ago. Dr. Linet Kandie holds a Kenya Registered Nursing license from Cecely McDonell College of Health Sciences in Nairobi Kenya; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Family Nurse Practice from Bowie State University in Maryland, and Doctor of Nursing Practice from University of Alabama Huntsville. She holds an FNP certification.
Dr. Kandie has been practicing clinically for over 8 years. She has experience in Primary Care, Retail Health, Pain Management and Urgent Care. Her previous nursing and leadership experience was in numerous specialties for over 15 years both in Kenya and in the U.S. She is a member of several professional organizations including the Maryland Nurses Association, Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland, and American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She is also a member of the Asis Community Development and Empowerment, NGO, Inc and Kenyaluk Medical Foundation. Her passion is to impact lives one life at a time. Dr. Kandie presently resides in Laurel, Maryland
Ghana Board
Ibrahim (Anyars) Salih
Ibrahim Salih is the Founder and President of The Salih Self Development Center (SSDC). He earned a BS in Integrated Marketing and Communication from Hood College in Frederick Maryland. He founded the SSDC, when he was living in Maryland to improve the quality of life of the people in the impoverished neighborhood of his youth in the township of Aboabo, Kumasi Ghana. Under his leadership the Salih Self Development Center has been able to establish a vocational program in sewing to empower girls and young women in Aboabo.
Ibrahim has purchased land near the city of Kumasi for the future construction of a vocational training center that will not only provide training in sewing but will also teach youth valuable skills in building construction. He is currently working for a software company in San Diego, California, where he is presently residing and has lived in the United States for over 15 years.
Onsite Supervision
- TBA, Gilgit, Pakistan
- Bafode Doukoure, Wells of Hope Africa, Mangata, Guinea
- Andrew Thu, Chindwin Network, with Burmese, Myanmar
- Kikanae Punyua, Osiligi Foundation, Ntulele, Kenya
- Murtaba Mahmoud, Salih Center for Self Development, Kumasi, Ghana
Where We Work
Kenya
Maternal Health Care
Ghana
Vocational Training Center
Guinea
Well Installation
Myanmar
Prosthetics & Healthcare
Pakistan
Educational Scholarships
Donate Today: Empower People In Need
Your donation today will help Wings of Hope Global Cooperative develop and fund sustainable projects that help communities in need forge a path to future success. We work directly in countries like Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Pakistan and Myanmar.
With your donation, you'll be helping our organization expand our missions in these countries and create opportunities for future projects. If you want to donate to a specific project or country, click here to view our missions.