Who We Are
Our Teachers & Staff
Dipo Banda
BA. SE, Head Teacher Grades 5-7
Sylvia Kamwi
BA. SE, Teacher Grade 4
Favour Nawale
PTD (Sp. ED.) Grades 2-3
Kennedy Mbewe
Deaf Educator, Asst Teacher, Pre-K-Grade 1
Sydney Habbanji
Landscaper, Former Student
Founder & Leadership Team
Lisa Zahra
Founder & Director
Lisa Zahra’s journey to Zambia began with a simple yet profound realization: deaf children in the U.S. had access to robust resources—what did deaf children in Africa have? In 2002, this question led her to leave her position as an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter and volunteer in Zambia. She started her work in the rural village of Monze, where she saw firsthand the barriers deaf children faced—most had no access to language, education, or even the chance to communicate with their own families. In 2015, she moved to Livingstone to establish what is now the DeSanto Centre for the Deaf, the only school in the region solely dedicated to deaf education. Driven by a deep commitment to ensuring that no deaf child is left without language or opportunity, Lisa has remained a volunteer, receiving only a small stipend to ensure all funds go directly to the children’s education and care. Her passion continues to shape DeSanto into a place of transformation, inclusion, and empowerment.
Memory Kamwi
Administrator
As Administrator of the DeSanto Centre for the Deaf, Memory serves as the second-in-command to the Founder and Director, overseeing daily operations and holding key fiduciary responsibilities. She is also the mother of four Deaf sons, three of whom are DeSanto graduates, with her youngest currently enrolled at the Centre. This lived experience gives Memory deep, firsthand insight into Deaf culture and the barriers Deaf children and their families often face. Fluent in Zambian Sign Language and American Sign Language, she is a trusted leader, advocate, and bridge between the Centre, families, and the Deaf community.
Board Members
US Board of Directors
Gary DeSanto
Board Member
Laura Johnson
President
Debbie Rosenfeld
Secretary
Robert Rosenfeld
Board Member
Anthony Testa
Board Member
Christine Testa
Board Member
Lisa Zahra
Board Member
Zambian Board of Directors
Johannes Gottfried
Assistant Director
Memory Kamwi
Administrator
Chisha Nakazwe
Secretary
Mickeal L. Quillman, Jr.
Treasurer
Lisa Zahra
Director
Values and Governance
Guided by our mission to expand access to quality education for Deaf children in Zambia, DeSanto Centre for the Deaf is grounded in values of dignity, inclusion, cultural respect, and long-term sustainability. We believe Deaf children thrive when education is rooted in sign language, when Deaf culture is respected, and when families and communities are engaged as partners. These values shape not only our programs, but also how we lead, make decisions, and hold ourselves accountable.
The Centre is governed by both a Zambian Board of Directors and a U.S. Board of Directors, reflecting our commitment to shared leadership, local expertise, and responsible stewardship. Together, the boards provide strategic oversight, financial accountability, and fiduciary governance, while ensuring that decision-making remains aligned with the needs of Deaf children and families in Zambia. Our governance structure emphasizes transparency, ethical leadership, and safeguarding, supported by formal policies related to child protection, financial management, privacy, and organizational integrity. Through this collaborative approach, we aim to build an institution that is trusted, resilient, and responsive for the long term.
Financials and Transparency
Accountability and integrity in everything we do.
At DeSanto Centre, every dollar is invested directly into creating opportunities for deaf children. We believe in complete transparency about how donor contributions support our mission.
How Donations Are Used
At DeSanto, we believe that those who support our mission deserve to know exactly how their contributions are used. Ninety percent of all funds received go directly to student support, with four percent covering administrative costs and seven percent supporting the infrastructure and operations that make our students’ daily experience possible. We are committed to responsible stewardship of every dollar we receive.
Our finances are reviewed annually by a certified accountant in Zambia, a practice we have maintained for ten consecutive years. This independent oversight reflects our commitment to accountability, integrity, and the trust our donors and partners place in us.