POWERED BY WOMEN

We are proud to be a female-led organization, providing compassionate solutions to break the cycle of trauma, and establish a new cycle of trust, well-being, choice and independence.

Sarah founded HFC in 2005 with her husband John Berger. Formerly, she was a composer of music for TV and film, and before that, a counselor and art teacher at Creative Arts Workshops in New York City. Sarah is the author of THIS IS NO ORDINARY JOYand co-author of STANDING IN THE WAY. You can view Sarah’s TED Talk about Living Heroically on YouTube. Sarah is passionate about empowering survivors to be changemakers in their families and communities.

Sarah Symons

Founder & Executive Director

Since joining Her Future Coalition in 2017, Amanda has played a pivotal role in managing U.S. fundraising efforts, cultivating donor relationships, and contributing to the organization’s strategic planning. Her expertise extends to branding and digital presence—she designs and maintains the organization’s website, graphics, and overall brand identity, ensuring a compelling and cohesive message that amplifies the HFC mission.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kent State University and has pursued graduate studies in Masters of Teaching. As a 500 E-RYT certified yoga instructor, she brings mindfulness and holistic healing into her advocacy efforts. She is an integral member of the Yoga Medicine® executive team, where she oversees the Seva Foundation, a key partner of HFC that leverages yoga and wellness to empower survivors worldwide.

Driven by a deep commitment to social justice and empowerment, Amanda blends strategic leadership, creative vision, and compassionate action to help build a future where women and children are able to reclaim their dignity, secure their independence, and live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Amanda B. Cunningham

Managing Director

Since 2012 John Das has worked for Sari Bari, a nonprofit organization in Kolkata, India. John has also worked for the Government at the Election Commission of India, and as a volunteer at Loyal Leathers. John graduated from Calcutta University with a business degree and is currently working towards his second degree in social work. John joins HFC with high energy and a passion for community outreach; he's looking forward to expanding HFC's reach.

John Das

Country Director, India

Maura has been living and working in Kolkata for the past 20 years, as an art teacher and translator. She is passionate about helping provide top quality education to all children, regardless of their background or economic circumstances. Maura was invited to represent Her Future Coalition at the Obama Foundation's Girl's Opportunity Alliance summit in Athens, Greece in 2023.

Maura Hurley

Education & Sponsorship Program Director

Srabani received her Masters Degree from Calcutta University and has been involved in women’s and child rights movements for the last twenty-five years, as the Founder and Chairperson of South Kolkata Hamari Muskan- a grassroots anti-trafficking organization working in red lights of Kolkata. She has extensive experience in providing legal assistance to victims of violence. Srabani believes passionately in a gender equal society and has the ability to create adolescent and women’s groups and to build resilience in them to become future leaders.

Srabani Sarkar Neon

India Regional Lead

Anjali the Founder and President of Freedom and Hope – a charity fighting trafficking with education in her home region of Nuwakot, Nepal – and the Hasta Memorial School (Freedom School). She is a leading voice in Nepal’s anti-trafficking movement, and a core partner and senior advisor of HFC. Anjali is the co-author of ‘Standing in the Way – from Trafficking Survivor to Human Rights Activist, with HFC Founder Sarah Symons.

Anjali Tamang

Nepal Regional Lead

Wanjiru is a passionate leader with over a decade of experience in program management, resource mobilization and financial oversight. Her expertise spans grassroots and high-level program management, making her a dynamic force in the development sector. As an advocate for social change, her work is driven by a deep commitment to empowering girls and women through education and protection from harmful practices. She believes in addressing social issues at their root causes, working tirelessly to create lasting solutions for vulnerable communities.

In her role as the Executive Director of Samburu Girls Foundation and Girls Not Brides Kenya Co-convenor (a national partnership in ending child marriage in Kenya), Wanjiru has played a pivot role in transforming education and safe spaces for over 2000 disadvantaged girls from Northern Kenya. Most of whom were at risk of child marriage, female genital mutilation, and other harmful practices. Under her leadership, the foundation has expanded its impact, implementing accelerated education programmes to out of school children to ensure children do not only access education but also thrive in their respective communities.

Wanjiru is a powerful speaker and advocate, using her voice to champion the rights of adolescent girls and women on national and international platforms. She believes that real change begins with awareness and continues to push for policies and community led solutions that protect and uplift vulnerable communities in Northern Kenya. Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to social justice make her a transformational force in the fight for gender equality and education.

Wanjiru Wahome

Kenya Regional Lead

Tish spearheads Mental Health Programming through a trauma sensitive lens, builds collaborative relationships with mental health practitioners, provides Wellness Coaching for staff, facilitates processing on HFC service trips + actively leads Trauma Sensitive Programs on the ground in Kolkata, India. Tish has 40 years of experience empowering others, fostered by a professional degree in Social Work alongside MBSR Jon Kabat Zinn Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training, 500 RYT, and certifications in Yoga Therapy + Meditation.

Tish Roy

Mental Health Program Director

Soma provides counseling, life skills training, and social work support to women and girls in all our Kolkata programs. She serves on the Executive Team, and as a translator for our English speaking volunteers and interns. Soma has a Bachelor degrees in Sociology, is a certified nurse and is currently taking classes in mental health programming.

Soma Seal

Hamari Duniya Program Director

Sonali first joined the HFC family as a program participant, growing up in a shelter home in Kolkata. After graduating high school, she joined our jewelry program and became an expert goldsmith while also working her way through college. She recently graduated from Netaji Open University with a degree in Liberal Arts with Bengali Honors.

Sonali Biswas

Kidderpore Children’s Program Director

John is the co-Founder of Her Future Coalition and Managing Director at Toniic, an impact investing nonprofit. Previously, he spent 18 years as an investment banker at Prudential Securities, Smith Barney, Schwab Capital Markets, and BB&T. John is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has extensive experience evaluating, improving, and financing business models in a variety of industries.

John Berger

Senior Strategic Advisor

Catherine Wanjohi is the founder of Life Bloom, an HFC partner organization. She is providing insight and advisory services for programs in Kenya, as well as leadership coaching to our team and girls. Catherine is a certified Transition Coach and member at ICF, Personal Leadership Mentor, professional Counsellor, organizational expert, journal writer, Trainer and published Author.

Catherine Wanjohi

Senior Strategic Advisor

Breanna has been involved in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years with tons of volunteer fundraising experience for national and international nonprofits, contributing as a nonprofit employee, and successful contracted grant writer. She has a Bachelor of Science in Health from the University of North Florida, has completed mental health first aid training and received a trauma-informed leadership certificate. Breanna is a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher and has taught yoga since 2009.

Breanna Tivvis

Grants and Immersions

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kara Penn is the Board President for Her Future Coalition. She is also the owner and principal consultant at Mission Spark, a social impact strategy and implementation consulting firm focused on transformative social change. She works on the front lines of practical management to co-design and implement innovative strategy solutions in complex, often resource-constrained settings. She also leads the Mission Spark Social Impact Fellows program for college and graduate students seeking to build careers in social impact. She has led award-winning community collaboratives; designed, managed and evaluated multi-year social change initiatives; and guided --as a trusted, results- driven partner-- more than 100 government, corporate, nonprofit, philanthropic and community-based organizations on mission-critical work. Several prestigious national programs, including Coro, Watson and Forte, have recognized her leadership and community contributions with fellowships. She is also the co-author of Fail Better: Design Smart Mistakes and Succeed Sooner, published by Harvard Business Review Press.

Kara Penn

Board President