OUR BOARD AND STAFF
JOSEPHNIE PASSIANY – MANAGING DIRECTOR
Josephine Passiany serves as the Managing Director of Mission With a Vision, where she has dedicated her career to championing the rights and welfare of girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) and early forced marriage.
A trained teacher by profession, Josephine made the bold decision to leave her teaching career when she recognized the urgent need to support vulnerable girls. Having personally undergone FGM at the age of 14, she was deeply moved to ensure that other girls would be spared from the pain and trauma she experienced.
Josephine joined Mission With a Vision in 2007 as the Safehouse Manager. Through her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment, she has played a pivotal role in expanding the organization’s reach and strengthening its capacity to rescue, protect, and empower thousands of girls.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nairobi and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education Management, Administration, and Leadership. Josephine’s personal experience, combined with her professional expertise, continues to inspire her mission to safeguard girls’ rights and create opportunities for them to achieve their full potential.
JOSEPHNIE PASSIANY – MANAGING DIRECTOR
Josephine Passiany serves as the Managing Director of Mission With a Vision, where she has dedicated her career to championing the rights and welfare of girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) and early forced marriage.
A trained teacher by profession, Josephine made the bold decision to leave her teaching career when she recognized the urgent need to support vulnerable girls. Having personally undergone FGM at the age of 14, she was deeply moved to ensure that other girls would be spared from the pain and trauma she experienced.
Josephine joined Mission With a Vision in 2007 as the Safehouse Manager. Through her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment, she has played a pivotal role in expanding the organization’s reach and strengthening its capacity to rescue, protect, and empower thousands of girls.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nairobi and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education Management, Administration, and Leadership. Josephine’s personal experience, combined with her professional expertise, continues to inspire her mission to safeguard girls’ rights and create opportunities for them to achieve their full potential.
PATRICK NGIGI - FOUNDER
Patrick K. Ngigi is the Founder of Mission With a Vision. His journey began while serving as a headteacher, where he witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by girls in his school, many of whom were being forced into marriage as early as ages 12 and 13.
In 1997, he rescued the first two girls from child marriage and, with no safe shelter available, placed them in the care of his mother during school holidays. When he later rescued a third girl, he sought alternative support and entrusted her to his pastor’s family, recognizing the urgent need for a safe and sustainable solution.
This vision gained momentum in 2002 when Patrick shared the challenges with Keaton and Anne Roebuck, who visited his school and offered their support. Together, they raised funds that led to the construction of the first safehouse in 2004, initially accommodating 12 girls. Since then, the initiative has grown tremendously, and to date, Mission With a Vision has successfully rescued and empowered more than 3,000 girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage.
Patrick is a dedicated educator and counselor. He holds a Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University, a Master of Education in Counseling from Egerton University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership and Governance at Africa International University. His unwavering commitment to education, leadership, and community transformation continues to drive the mission of safeguarding girls’ rights and empowering them to build brighter futures.
DEBRA HOPKINS – BOARD MEMBER
Debra first became involved with Mission With A Vision in 2006 when her daughter volunteered at the Safe House. She was deeply moved by the impact the organization has on the lives of the girls. She is proud to be part of an organization that makes a meaningful difference. Debra lives in Colorado, USA. She has made significant contributions by sponsoring numerous girls.
GILL PIPER – BOARD MEMBER
Gill Piper is based in the UK and spent 17 years working with an international NGO, delivering humanitarian aid to communities across the globe. Her career took a significant turn during a work trip to Kenya in 1998, when a colleague encouraged her to visit the Maasai Mara. That visit impacted her and inspired her to dedicate herself to supporting girls in finding positive paths away from the dangers of FGM.
Now involved in raising dementia awareness, Gill remains deeply committed to Mission With A Vision. She is proud of the incredible progress the organization has made under Patrick and Josephine’s leadership and understands the critical role of donor support in sustaining and expanding this impactful program. Gill’s hope is for Mission With A Vision to achieve complete self-sufficiency in the future.
JOSEPHINE ROTIKEN- BOARD MEMBER
Josephine holds a Law degree from Kabarak University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. She joined the Board in 2008 as a representative of the girls, having been rescued from a forced early marriage. A passionate advocate for girls’ rights, Josephine leads the girls at the Safe House, serving as a mentor and role model. Her dedication to supporting and empowering others is at the heart of her work.
RACHEL HORNER – BOARD MEMBER
Rachel Horner is a freelance journalist and dedicated anti-FGM campaigner. Her journey with Mission With A Vision began in 2014 while volunteering on a collaborative project between MWV and the UK-based charity, Mission Direct.
Reflecting on her experience, Rachel shares:
« What impressed me so much about Mission With A Vision is its unwavering focus on rescuing girls from FGM, providing them with a safe haven, and supporting their education. Patrick and his family’s efforts, carried out with such joy and love, have transformed a difficult and frightening time for these girls into an opportunity for hope. It’s never easy to leave behind your family and village, uncertain if you’ll ever return, but Patrick and his family have become surrogate parents to hundreds of girls over the years, creating a true home for them. »
To explore some of Rachel’s campaigning journalism, click here and here.
CATHERINE MUNAI – BOARD MEMBER
As one of the first girls supported by Mission With A Vision, Catherine’s journey with the organization has come full circle. Catherine is a passionate advocate for girls’ education, she has contributed her time and expertise on numerous occasions to support this cause. She is a registered nurse at Kenyatta National Hospital and holds a Diploma in Nursing from the Kenya Medical Training College. Inspired by the impact MWAV had on her life, she joined the Board to continue empowering and supporting more girls, ensuring they have the opportunities she once received.
JOHN Z. EANES - BOARD MEMBER
John’s involvement with Mission With A Vision began during his first mission trip to Kenya in 2018. At the time, the organization was working to enhance its economic self-sufficiency through farming. Leveraging his mechanical expertise, John played a pivotal role in securing a farming tractor for the girls’ safe house. With the tractor, the girls were not only able to plow and plant their own fields but also offer these services to others, generating income to support their living expenses and education. John now lives in Galveston and graduated from Texas State Technical Institute. He also founded his own business, Galveston Automotive Professionals, in 1992. John has provided invaluable technical and financial support to Mission With A Vision over the years.
DAN COLLINS – BOARD MEMBER
Based in Cambridge, UK, Daniel is an osteopath working across London and Thetford. He has been a passionate supporter and sponsor of Mission With A Vision since 2016, when he witnessed the charity’s impact firsthand during a missionary trip. He is impressed by the work the organization does to empower girls and women in Kenya, helping to create brighter futures for those most in need. Dan also serves on the Board of the Institute of Osteopathy and is an Army Reservist with the London Regiment.
ANNIE PORTER – BOARD MEMBER
Annie is an NLP trainer, mindset coach & business mentor based in the UK. She discovered Mission With A Vision through her colleague and good friend Dan Collis.
Annie was blown away by the synergy between her business vision and that of the charity. So much so, in December 2025 she visited Kenya with her husband to support the girls and raised £9000 to support with the safe house running costs before she arrived. She has also introduced 20 new sponsors from her community.
Annie delivered mindset and confidence workshops, which the girls loved, and gave them coaching on their business goals. Annie now sponsors 7 of our girls and has a goal of raising 100k to make the safe house financially self-sufficient through growing the tailoring business.
GILL MARTIN - BOARD MEMBER
Gill is a retired Geography and TEFL teacher from the UK with a passion for education and community development in developing countries. Her two years teaching in Nigeria shaped her career, which included 14 years managing education projects in Latin America and Asia. In 2013, nearing retirement, Gill began working with NGOs in Africa. She joined the Mission Direct team in 2015, where she met Patrick and was inspired by the work of Mission With A Vision. Since then, she has supported MWAV and sponsored three girls at the House of Hope. Gill also volunteers with Debt Advice Counselling and a Community Café for Migrants in London.
CECILIA NAIRUKO - COUNSELLOR & ADVOCACY COORDINATOR
Cecilia has a great passion in the fight against FGM and Child marriage. Being a survivor herself and having been raised at the safehouse she is determined to give all her best to the fight.
She holds a diploma in counselling Psychology from Eldoret National Polytechnic. She has a dream of opening a counselling centre in Narok to support girls & women suffering with GBV & also males with addictions in the community and beyond.
SELEINA NADOSOITO - BOARD MEMBER
Seleina Nadosoito went to school at St Mary's Girls High School with the support of Mission With A Vision. She is a great supporter of education for girls and has been supporting a girl as a sponsor herself.
She is currently working as a nurse in Germany thanks to her education with Mission With A Vision.
JACINTA NAISIMOI- FINANCE OFFICER
Jancinta was a beneficiary of Mission With A Vision during her schooling and now holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) from Bondo University. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in the same field at Mount Kenya University. Jancinta joined the organization as a staff member after graduation. She is passionate about supporting others and serves as the Finance Officer while also managing the farm. In this role, she supervises food production, contributing to the organization’s self-sufficiency and impact.
EMILY SADERA – PROGRAM OFFICER
Emily Sadera, is a beneficiary of Mission With A Vision and achieved her educational dream with the organization’s support, earning a diploma in Computer Studies. Following her graduation, she expressed a strong desire to give back to the organisation joined it in 2017 as a Program Officer. Emily is dedicated to serving the girls and her shared experiences with them make her an invaluable asset to the program.
© 2025 In collaboration with The New School