OUR STORY

Meet the Founders

B2THEWORLD was born out of a simple but costly conviction: children affected by war deserve more than survival, they deserve a future filled with hope, dignity, and opportunity.

As the founders Ben and Susie Thomas encountered the realities of conflict-affected communities around the world, they saw how deeply war disrupts education, families, and local leadership. They also saw something else, resilience, faith, and a deep desire for change from within those communities.

That belief shaped B2THEWORLD’S mission: to come alongside local leaders and help restore communities through education rooted in faith, partnership, and long-term commitment.

Today, Ben and Susie continue to lead with humility and purpose, believing that lasting transformation happens when people are empowered, not rescued, and when education becomes a pathway to healing and hope.

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Values & Beliefs

Faithful Presence

We commit to showing up with humility, consistency, and care, walking alongside communities for the long haul.

Human Flourishing

We believe every child is created with dignity and potential, deserving opportunities to grow in every area of life.

Global Partnerships

We work hand-in-hand with local leaders, churches, and communities to create change from within.

Spiritual Transformation

We trust that lasting change begins in the heart and is shaped by faith, hope, and love.

Transformative Education

We see education as a powerful pathway to healing, resilience, and a hopeful future.

Meet the Team

Our team and board bring diverse experiences and shared conviction to this work,united by faith, humility, and a commitment to long-term change. We believe restoration happens best when people listen well, serve faithfully, and walk together for the long haul.


  • Founders

    Ben and Susie Thomas have benefited throughout their lives from quality education, strong family values, and learning from and working with people from different cultures. 

    Ben & Susie’s very different upbringings and experiences combined to eventually lead them to found B2THEWORLD. 

    For Ben, the son of Indian immigrants who made their home in New York, a global mindset was integral to his development as a Malayalee-American. He was shaped by his family and community to appreciate roots, origins, and cultures of people worldwide, and has been pursuing global leadership since he was in college.

    Ben was Susie’s introduction to the world beyond America. She often dreamed of being a teacher in a school like the one she helped grow with her family. She had no idea that it wouldn’t be until she was in her 30s that she would see this dream realized, and she loved being the fifth-grade teacher at KICS and raising her kids in a similar environment to the one she loved. Susie currently serves at Delaware County Chrisitan school and loves her fifth graders!

    Included in their global call, Ben and Susie have the joy of parenting Simon, Talya, Charlie, and Annie and are constantly amazed at who they are and who they are becoming.

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Speaking Inquiry

  • Programs Director

    Benjamin (Benji) is a Kenyan Christian educator who is passionate about changing lives and raising godly leaders for the global community. As Programs Director at B2THEWOLRD Benji brings to the team 13 years of teaching and school leadership career experience from five East African Countries. Benji is an Education graduate, an ACSI-Certified High School Principal, and has completed the Paths to School Improvement trainer certification and a Master's Degree in Advanced Teaching with the University of the People (Online).

    Benji's Journey with B2THEWOLRD began in 2018 when he attended the first GEG and was touched by the B2THEWORLD's vision. Having served refugees in Somalia and post-war families in Ethiopia and Burundi, and now serving vulnerable children in Uganda, Benji so strongly believed that God had taken 13 years to prepare him for global service.  Benji and his wife Zainabu (Zain) are two passionate educationists nurturing their children, Genesis, Hillel, and Josh in the ways of the Lord.

Speaking Inquiry

  • Curriculum and Instructional Lead

    Douglas and his wife Kerry Bryan met at Kigali International Community School(KICS) in 2010 after Douglas moved to Rwanda in 2009. They share a passion for teaching kids about Christ. Douglas taught third grade at KICS for 14 years. He joyfully embraced the vision of KICS to impact the world for Christ through education. Douglas holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Douglas and his family joined B2THEWORLD in 2019. Now, Douglas is serving as Curriculum and Instructional Lead for B2THEWORLD, working remotely in Michigan, U.S. Douglas and Kerry have three wonderful young kids who grew up in Rwanda and are now navigating life in the U.S.

    SUPPORT DOUGLAS BRYAN

Speaking Inquiry

  • Iraq Country Coordinator


    Ammar Nassir serves as the Country Coordinator in Iraq. He is steering the process of bringing transformative education to local areas that will combat the generational impacts of war and empower communities, restoring hope for future generations. Through partnerships with local educational leaders and organizations, and dedicated training for local teachers, B2THEWORLD will ultimately develop high-quality, Christ-centered schools that foster resilience, hope, and holistic growth.

Speaking Inquiry

  • South Sudan Country Coordinator

    Joseph serves as South Sudan’s country coordinator for B2THEWORLD, working in South Sudan. Born and raised in South Sudan. He taught Biology and Physics at St. Mary’s girls secondary school and doubled as academic registrar at Kuajok Health Sciences Institute after graduating from Aweil Institute in 2018. He believes in empowering the community and students through education and healthcare delivery. His passion led to pursuing a certificate in primary education and diploma in clinical medicine and public health. Apart from teaching and caring for the patient, he participated in community volunteering and youth ministry leadership and school as well. As a staff member, he is so happy to advocate and support students to their full potential through transformative education!

Speaking Inquiry


  • Pakistan Country Coordinator

    Shahzaib Gulzar serves as the Country Coordinator for B2THEWORLD in Pakistan. He holds a Master of Education (M.Ed) and brings over 10 years of experience in educational leadership, including his tenure as school principal at Friends Public High School in Kasur. The school’s mission was to open doors for children with extremely limited educational opportunities—many of whom faced a life confined to brick kiln labor.

    This work deeply shaped Shahzaib’s passion for ensuring quality education for Pakistan’s most marginalized children, including those bound to brick kilns, street cleaning, and factory work. He views education as a powerful tool to break the cycles of poverty, bonded labor, and child labor. Throughout his career, Shahzaib has engaged with brick kiln owners, workers, and community leaders to foster a culture that values education. As part of the B2THEWORLD team, he is committed to advocating for and supporting students so they can reach their full potential through transformative learning opportunities.

Speaking Inquiry


  • Cameroon Project Coordinator

    Bruno Yinyu is a seasoned Project Manager with more than 10 years of experience in both local and international NGOs in Cameroon. He has successfully led cross-functional teams across a range of projects in environmental conservation, humanitarian response, and education research, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

    Beyond his professional work, Bruno and his wife serve as ministers of the gospel and are actively engaged in their local church. A devoted husband and father, he is deeply passionate about supporting vulnerable communities and advocating for the future of children impacted by war.

Speaking Inquiry

  • People and Culture Lead

    Suzan is a dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in Human Resource Management,  administration, operations, events planning, and training coordination. She has worked in both local and international NGOs. With this vast experience, Suzan brings a well-rounded skill set to her roles. Currently, Suzan serves as the Admissions & Marketing Coordinator at KICS as well as People and Culture Lead at B2THEWORLD. Suzan is a Christian, and a proud mother of three children, two daughters and a son, balancing her professional commitments with her family life. She resides in Kigali- Rwanda.

  • Operations Lead

    Shante serves B2THEWORLD as the Operations Lead. She has supported educational initiatives for over 17 years, both in non-profit and corporate spaces focusing on operations, strategic planning, development, project management, and team building. She resides in the US in the Greater Philadelphia Area with her husband and son.

Speaking Inquiry


  • Director of Finance

    Erica Munyaneza is currently serving as the Director of Finance for B2THEWORLD, working remotely in Kigali, Rwanda.  

    Erica has co-founded or served nine non-profits around the globe since 2001, serving in the areas administration, finance, operations, and program development. She holds a bachelors in music business and a masters in accounting and has a passion for helping non-profits succeed through good financial management and efficient operations.

    Erica, and her family of four, have lived in Kigali, Rwanda since 2014. Aside from her work at B2THEWORLD, she and her husband have a church ministry in East Africa which includes developing children and youth musicians, creating African children’s worship media, and educating 2000 children.

Meet the Missionary Educators

  • SIMS PROJECT

    Francis and Audrey Sims are serving with B2THEWORLD at Kigali International Community School since 2017. Francis is the Primary Physical Education teacher at KICS and heads up the Primary Specials Department and the Primary Athletics Department. Audrey is a registered nurse. She hopes to use her background in nursing to bless the KICS community as well as the greater Kigali community. Francis and Audrey have three children, Chloe, Caleb, and Seth.

    Francis grew up in a missions-focused family in Pennsylvania, and Audrey grew up as a second-generation missionary kid in East and Central Africa. They have seen first-hand the devastation of war and have a heart for seeing war-torn nations transformed by the gospel. They are excited for the opportunity to be part B2THEWORLD in sharing the hope of Jesus through education.

Support Francis and Audrey

  • REICHENBACH PROJECT

    Brian and Christy Reichenbach have spent their lives in both music and education ever since they met in college.  For over twenty years, Brian taught music at Christian colleges as well as working with younger instrumentalists in schools, churches, and summer music camps.  With degrees in music education, Christy taught in the public schools for eleven years before focusing on raising their four kids. 

    Having seen the power of education in their own lives, the lives of their students, and experiences of their own children, Brian and Christy are excited to use their gifts to serve the secondary school students at Kigali International Community School.  There, Brian will teach middle and high school band, and Christy will serve as a college counselor, preparing students for their next level of academic studies.  They are eager to help provide a high-quality education and intentional discipleship for students from all over the world who currently call Kigali home.

Support Brian and Christy

  • MBARAGA PROJECT

    Ivan and Jordan Mbaraga have been serving in Kigali, Rwanda since 2013. Jordan has served as the 4th grade teacher at KICS since 2015 and Ivan has served as the Director of Operations at KICS since 2018. Both armed with a Master's degree, education is their passion, especially in developing countries where it has the impact to transform the lives of individuals, communities, and countries.

    They have four children, Melissa, Aaliyah, Arrow, and Azarias. Melissa, Aaliyah, and Arrow attend KICS and love it!

    Bringing education to those most vulnerable after devastation is a privilege and honor to Jordan and Ivan. They are excited about the future and what that holds as B2THEWORLD "be's" to the world.

Support Jordan and Ivan

Meet the Board

  • Ben Thomas is a global education leader, mission and development practitioner, and entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of faith, leadership, and post-conflict transformation. He holds a Doctorate in Global Christianity and Development and is the Co-Founder and CEO of B2THEWORLD, an organization committed to expanding access to education in countries recovering from war and instability.

    For a decade, Dr. Thomas served as Head of School at Kigali International Community School in Rwanda, where he led one of East Africa’s most diverse international learning communities. Ben is a CESA and ACSI certified Head of School. His leadership experience spans the globe, and he’s lived in Ecuador, India, Rwanda, and the United States, giving him a rare cross-cultural lens on education, institutional growth, and global development.

    A 2022 Praxis Nonprofit Fellow, Ben is passionate about redemptive entrepreneurship — building organizations that reflect both excellence and moral conviction. His personal journey has also shaped his leadership philosophy. After walking alongside his wife through a brain tumor diagnosis and recovery, he speaks with authenticity about resilience, faith under pressure, and leading through suffering.

    Ben has delivered keynote addresses at Converge (2022) and Leaders Like Us (2023, 2026), and was a seminar speaker at Urbana (2022). He speaks widely on faith-driven development, global leadership, purpose in fragile contexts and building institutions that shape the future.

    He lives with his family in a forest outside Philadelphia and continues to advocate for education as one of the most powerful tools for long-term peace and human flourishing.

CEO & FOUNDER

  • Jay Ferguson, J.D., PhD is the Head of School of Grace Community School in Tyler, Texas. Jay is in his 23rd year as head of Grace.  Since that time, Jay has worked to build a flourishing culture at Grace, a vibrant educational community that has been awarded Blue Ribbon Exemplary status by the U.S. Department of Education in 2015 and 2017. He is an adjunct professor at Baylor University, and serves on the faculty of the Van Lunen Center at Calvin College. He has served on the adjunct faculties of Gordon College and at Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University. Jay is Past Chair of the Board of the Texas Private School Association (twice), former Executive Council Chair of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability, and former Chair of the executive board of the Association of Christian Schools International. Jay and his wife, Ashley, have three daughters: Emma, Annie, and Ellen. 

BOARD CHAIR

  • Marc is an ardent supporter of the work and mission of B2THEWORLD. He brings firsthand experience to the board through his work in international education. He and his family lived in Kigali, Rwanda, for three years and during that time, Marc partnered with the national medical school to educate, train, and equip medical students and residents. He has seen how a focus on education in post-conflict settings develops leaders, fosters a pattern of lifelong learning, and promotes a mindset for service. Marc has a heart for international missions and missionary care. Marc, his wife Kayan, and their three children live in Austin, Texas.

VICE CHAIR

  • Originally from Wisconsin, Lowell is a retired career Air Force officer, living in Beavercreek, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, and a law degree from Cornell Law School. After retiring from active duty, he worked as a Certified Financial Planner for a few years, and later took a civilian attorney position with the Air Force investigating procurement fraud. Lowell has been a financial partner of B2THEWORLD since its inception.  He is active in his church, serving as an elder and chairman of the missions committee.  He and his wife Leny, a retired school teacher, enjoy camping, hiking, biking, card games, board games, and pickleball. They have three adult married children and seven grandchildren residing in Delaware, Oklahoma, and California.

TREASURER

  • Tia Gaines is a consultant, writer, and conference speaker who devotes herself to advocating for diversity, unity, and belonging within Christian education as well as innovation and technology. She has served in education for over 20 years, including time teaching internationally, and in both suburban and urban contexts. Tia has created curriculum and resource material on the topic of cultural humility, as well as intercultural competency, dialogue, and reflection with a specific love and passion for urban education, community engagement, and school partnerships. She also works in the Office of Social Equity and Community at the University of Pennsylvania where she created and leads the Equity in Action Visiting Scholars program. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and serves as a Flourishing Schools Institute faculty member. Tia and her husband Joel reside in Philadelphia where her husband led The City School and now leads The Hope Center. They have four children: Josiah, Hosanna, Eliana, and Adoniah.

SECRETARY

  • CEO and Founder of Players Health, Tyrre Burks was born and raised in the southside of Chicago, where his love of sports began. As a former collegiate and professional athlete, he was motivated to found Players Health because of the impact youth sports had on his life. He experienced firsthand the positive impact sports can have on someone’s life when the experience is filled with love, trust, and safety. Having a positive influence on sports culture has been a dream of his for his entire life. From athlete to coach to entrepreneur, Tyrre is on a mission through Players Health to create safer and more accessible environments for all sports.

DIRECTOR

  • Kayan has been a part of the B2THEWORLD team since its inception as a founding board member. She serves the B2THEWORLD Board utilizing her Ph.D in statistics in a variety of ways. She is passionate about education, serving those who do not know Jesus, and has a deep love for Rwanda having lived there for 3 years. Kayan, her husband Marc, and their three children live in Austin, Texas.

DIRECTOR

  • Alvin was the first alumni representative on the B2THEWORLD board. Alvin graduated from KICS and then completed his studies in Industrial engineering and engineering physics at Cal Poly Pomona. Through his position on the board, he is able to bring an alumni perspective to the organization and learn from other leaders. He has a great passion for Rwanda and Africa, in general. Alvin wants to see his country Rwanda on the path to growth while being an example for other countries that are going through some of the challenges it has faced. While there is still a long road ahead, he believes the future is bright. For Alvin, continuing to push forward and build onto what the generation before his have built, is an opportunity he hopes to pursue at B2THEWORLD. Alvin is married to his wife Isaro and they have a beautiful baby boy.

DIRECTOR

  • Dr. Kondwani Precious Mwangala serves with World Vision International in Rwanda as Deputy Chief of Party for the USDA-funded Food for Education Program, providing program leadership, project management, financial oversight, and donor and partner engagement. An NGO leader with over 20 years of experience across Africa in development and emergency contexts, he has led organizational development and change initiatives, managed multi-million-dollar programs, and built high-performing, cross-cultural teams. In previous business development leadership roles with World Vision Rwanda and World Vision Malawi, he raised $200 million over seven years. He also served with World Relief and the Student Christian Organisation in Malawi. Kondwani holds a PhD in Change Management, an MSc in Leadership and Change, an MBA, a Development Studies Certificate, and a BA in Biblical Studies and Education, and serves as Chairman of the Elders Governing Board at Christian Life Assembly in Kigali. He and his wife, Ida, have two children, Leticia and Leroy.

DIRECTOR

  • Kathryn (Katie) Wiens is the Executive Director of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA). Along with her teaching at Baylor University, Wheaton College, and Kennesaw State University, she has done extensive research and writing on independent and faith-based schools as well as single-gender education.

    Katie  also serves as Fellow with the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, a BSCL Scholar at Baylor University, and a Research Fellow with Cardus.  Katie also has extensive experience in K-12 Christian schooling, having served as an administrator and faculty at several private Christian schools. She has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of St. Thomas, and her doctorate from Boston University.

DIRECTOR