Shadrack Donkor – Founder and Director
Shadrack, a Ghanaian native, envisioned Future Stars when he was 16 years old. Growing up in abject poverty Shadrack struggled to finance his education. In order to pay for high school he was forced to work in construction and at the local market. While in high school Shadrack managed to set aside time to teach children who couldn’t afford to go to school in Buduburam refugee camp. He called his students Future Stars.
Through pure determination and relentless work Shadrack succeeded in graduating high school. After graduation he decided to devote all his time to teaching impoverished children. With dedication and hard work he managed to rent a commercial building and an apartment. The commercial building was turned into a primary school and the apartment was transformed into a children’s home. Shadrack currently lives with the children in the children’s home, and works tirelessly to ensure they have access to water, food, shelter, and education.
Caroline Silva – Board Member
Caroline, born and raised in Brazil, went on a one-year-journey in 2018, traveling throughout Africa and Asia. Doing volunteering projects in Zambia and Ethiopia before, she fell in love with the Buduburam community. She has seen many other projects in multiple countries that are seeking only the money the volunteer is bringing and not the purpose of the person being there. That’s why she thinks Future Stars has the best projects one can ever experience; your presence really makes a difference on a daily basis, and because you stay at the children’s home, it allows you to be with the children not only at school hours, making your time there more transforming. Together with her brother Igor, she has aided Future Stars financially through fundraisers and has spent countless hours volunteering in Ghana.
Igor Silva – Board Member
Born and raised in Brazil, Igor is a business student who has a passion for helping those in need. He grew up with the tradition of volunteering for local organizations throughout the Christmas season. In 2018 his sister invited him to volunteer in Ghana with her. He jumped on the opportunity and immediately fell in love with the people of Buduburam. After volunteering, he started a fundraiser that raised nearly $10,000 USD. After the fundraiser, he returned to Ghana and spent more time volunteering. Due to his incredible dedication and character, Future Stars decided to reach out to Igor and invite him to be part of our team.
Rod Cain – Board Member
Rod has always had a passion for people and cross-cultural experiences. He has served as both president and director consultant for a large business organization in Vermont, a place he has called home since 1985. He has volunteered and worked for hospice services as well as served on the board of an HIV/AIDS non-profit. As a massage therapist and business owner of a successful holistic healthcare practice, his focus has consistently involved nurturing others. But in 2019, he knew he needed to broaden his scope. Holding the belief that most human suffering can be traced to poverty, Rod visited Future Stars with the intention of creating a bigger vision: connecting his business and community at home with a worthy, grassroots organization striving to empower its own community through the lives, education and well-being of its children. Rod found a second home with Future Stars and is very excited for future visits, contributing to its sustainability and self-sufficiency while building the hope and opportunities for the amazing children in its care.
Victor Blackwell – Board Member
victor was born and raised in the MidAtlantic Region of the United States. He began volunteering as a teenager and has supported organizations dedicated to literacy, education and anti-recidivism and ending domestic violence. He has also volunteered at orphanages, schools and community centers in Kenya, Uganda and Israel. Victor was introduced to Future Stars International while searching for a volunteer opportunity in West Africa in 2018. He was so impressed by the selfless work of Shadrack and his team, and so moved by the warm reception of the Buduburam community, that he committed to himself to continue to support Future Stars. Victor’s focus on the board of Future Stars is to explore sustainable fundraising resources and support networks in the United States.
Dreson Russell – Board Member
Born and raised in Alabama, Dreson has always been passionate about giving back to the community. He is a recent graduate at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) where he majored in Neuroscience. He is an active member of many organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Empower Women, NAACP, American Red Cross, and may more. Eager to continue his efforts, he now serves as a Board Member for Future Stars. Dreson is also no stranger to giving back to the educational industry as he serves as the founder and current president of Project EMS, a notable nonprofit located in Alabama. As a volunteer, Dreson was enthusiastic about helping in any way possible and spent majority of his time assisting at St Gregory Catholic Hospital in Buduburam, Ghana. As a board member, he aids in bringing awareness and funding in the southern region of the United States. Currently, Dreson is working as a researcher under the department of Neurology at UAB while he awaits his acceptance into medical school.
Oretha Quaye – Primary School Teacher
Oretha’s main passion in life is mentoring and teaching at-risk youth. She has worked for Future Stars from the very beginning. Before Future Stars could afford to hire teachers, she worked as a volunteer, dedicating 50 plus hours a week without any compensation. Over the years, she has furthered her expertise as a teacher and transformed our children’s lives. She believes wholeheartedly in all of our children.
Eugenia Ofori – Children’s Home Caregiver
Eugenia was born and raised in Ho, Ghana. She grew up in abject poverty as an orphan, by working in the streets she managed to finance her education up to the senior high school level. She joined Future Stars to mentor at-risk youth. To this day, she still works tirelessly to encourage, care for, and support all of our children.