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Our Team
We are young adults from across the globe with a diverse range of talents, experiences, and skills. Together, we form a team united in mission, passion, and purpose. We make very effort to lead Sports4HOPE in a manner that is worthy of the people and communities we will serve.
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Stephen Reynard
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I was born in Germany and have lived in Switzerland, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and France. The son of Andrew and Ruth Reynard, I spent the majority of my childhood moving around Europe and North America as my parents were evangelists in the Nazarene church. My grandparents, who devoted much of their lives to missionary work in Central Africa, fostered my interest for this region from an early age. I have participated in both competitive and recreational soccer leagues, playing four years of both high school and collegiate soccer. In 2007, I completed a BA in History at Trevecca Nazarene University. Upon graduation, I worked for one year as an eighth grade U.S. History teacher in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, where I also served as the school's soccer coach. In 2008, I enrolled in a two-year MA Program in International Peace and Conflict Resolution at Arcadia University and am a candidate for graduation in May 2010. My thesis research is centered on the use of sport as a mechanism for peacebuilding in conflict environments. I am also a 2010 candidate for a Graduate Certificate in International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) Management from James Madison University. My brother, Paul, and I co-founded Sports4HOPE in 2009 for two reasons: the need for peacebuilding, and our ability to implement a unique approach. Tragically, millions of people living in conflict environments spend the majority of their lives with little hope and opportunity. Recognizing this reality, as well as our own ability to do something about it, Paul and I committed to breaking the conflict trap, by founding Sports4HOPE. Although I recently became a citizen of the United States, I am currently finishing up my thesis and brushing up on my French here in Paris. My role within the organization is largely leadership and program development. |
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Paul Reynard |
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Born as a British citizen, I spent my childhood growing
up in Ireland, Switzerland, Canada and t
he Unites States. Working for the Nazarene Church as church planters, my parents, Andrew and Ruth Reynard, moved our family throughout Europe and North America. The frequent moves allowed for my siblings and me to learn to make friends quickly and adapt to new cultures. As a grandchild of two missionaries to Central Africa, I grew up listening to my grandparents' stories of their time spent in Africa. Through these stories I formed a srong interest in that region of the world. |
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Originally from Ottawa, Canada, my wife Hannah and I currently reside in Toronto, living in the shadow of the CN Tower. Whenever possible, I try to indulge my interests in sports (particularly hockey), international cuisine (which Toronto is great for!), and travel.
Kalongo grew up in the village of Bogoro, Ituri Region of Eastern DRC. He started a photography business when he was 17 by going around to villages in the area taking peoples pictures and selling it to them. He is able to speak French, German, English, Lingala, Swahili, and two tribal languages. He has worked with several international NGO's in Eastern DRC, including DIGUNA, Compassion International, and CBM. Kalongo completed a B.A. degree in Community Development in Nairobi, Kenya and has since returned to Eastern DRC, working as the Director of a community based rehabilitation program for CBM. Kalongo is also chairman of a community development NGO based in Eastern, DRC called Synergie Simama (SYS), which loosely translated into English means "together we stand up." The primary objective of SYS is to reduce poverty among communities and improve the living standards of persons with disabilities through the provision of medical and paramedical services. SYS was founded in October 2005 as a result of a platform created by a group of concerned physicians from Eastern DRC who felt that there must be an intentional effort made to include persons with disabilities in the development process. Collaboration and cooperation are two key values that underpin the SYS philosophy and approach to development. It is through collaborating and cooperating with other non-profits, such as Sports4HOPE, that SYS is able to maximize cost-efficiency and program-effectiveness. Kalongo has been involved in the development of Sports4HOPE from the very beginning and continues to play a key role. His vast knowledge of Eastern DRC and lifelong experience in community development work is an asset to the development of our first project in Eastern DRC. It is through Kalongo's involvement with Sports4HOPE that we are able to address many of the obstacles in our way to implementing a project in Eastern DRC. Not only does Kalongo have an outstanding reputation in the targeted communities, he can also help us with logistical support, project coordination, financial management, language translation, community mobilization, administration, project monitoring, program development, and networking with other non-profits in the area. Kalongo currently lives in Bunia, Eastern DRC with his family. |
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I grew up in a small town in western Maine, and over the past few years have lived in a number of cities, states, and countries. I have finally settled, for the time being, in New York City. Aside from my work with Sports4HOPE, I also work full-time as a Development & Program Coordinator for the Resolution Project, a non-profit based in New York focused on youth leadership development. |
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Having grown up in Hendersonville, a suburb of Nashville, community has always been at the forefront of my life. Through recreational, club, and high school sports teams, as well as church programs and a close knit family, I have learned to appreciate, and now fully endorse the value of wholesome and Christian surroundings. In 2004, after my first year of college, I took my first international mission trip. From that point on, I have been adamant about using my strengths and education to provide joy and opportunity to those who have not been as fortunate as I have. After high school, I gave up an athletic scholarship to pursue my interest in architecture. After five years at the University of Tennessee, I graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. While the measurable part of my college education was taught by professors, the immeasurable part of my education came from the students and population that made up the campus community and surrounding area. This came largely though my passion for soccer. Despite the lack of a men's varsity squad, the diverse talent in the Knoxville area soon became evident as I quickly made friends with many international players, joined an indoor league, and played competitively for all five years of school both with and against top level competition; including Division 1 college, semi pro, retired pro, and EPL practice squad players. Throughout this time, my involvement in soccer and other extracurricular activities afforded me the opportunity to befriend many individuals from numerous social classes, ethnicities, and religions. It is these one-on-one personal relationships that have taught me lessons of cultural differences, international strife and conflict, mass poverty, and social inequalities. I have also seen how sports can bring all these people together, despite their seemingly insurmountable differences. Now, post-graduation, I have been accelerating my career as a soccer coach and trainer, which started when I was in high school. I am currently a part of the New York RedBulls Player Development Programs coaching staff and couch up there seasonally. I also hold an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and an NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma.
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Jessie Ensminger Knoxville, TN jessie.ensminger@sports4hope.org |
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I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee surrounded by great friends and my wonderful family. However, in 2009, I decided it was time for something new and have enjoyed my new life in Washington, D.C. ever since. Needless to say, I am very thankful to be on the Sports4HOPE team. I cannot imagine a better group of individuals to work alongside. Specifically, my role in Sports4HOPE focuses on communications. I look forward to keeping you, and everyone else, updated as we journey through the year! |
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As a child of an interracial military couple (my mom is German and my dad is African American), I was born in Germany and we moved back and forth between Germany and North Carolina. I attended college at East Carolina University where I majored in Elementary Education and Family and Community Services. After graduation I opted for a change of scenery and moved to Atlanta, GA. For the past twelve years I have lived in Atlanta working in the education arena, in the private sector, and in the non-profit world. My passion for Africa was ignited in 2003 when I watched the movie "Hotel Rwanda", and learned of the 800,000 people that were killed in three months as the world (including myself) sat by and did nothing to help. From then on, I vowed that I would be more educated about global issues and more involved. These events led me to start a master's degree program in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from which I graduated with Rachel and Stephen in 2010. As a part of this program, I spent six months living, working, and studying in Tanzania and am eager to get back to East Africa. Although I have been a strong supporter of Sports4HOPE from the onset, I have only recently joined the Sports4HOPE team, as the Peace Education lead, a component of which I am a firm believer. As Coleman McCarthy, founder of the Center for Teaching Peace stated, "Unless we teach our children peace, someone else will teach them violence." Peace is something that can be learned and as educators, parents, community memebers, etc, it is up to us to teach it. The goal of peace education is to transform the minds of learners so as to build a more peaceful world, and for those learners to become agents of social change. I am currently interning with a peace education organization to help further develop their curriculum and professional development program for educators. The skills and knowledge that I have gained through this internship along with my background and expertise in education and community development are all being utilized to help further the mission of Sports4HOPE. |
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