Our People

Shin Fujiyama, co-founder of SHH, serves as the organization’s Executive Director, focusing on long-term vision, fundraising, global partnerships, and public speaking. Shin was born in Niigata, Japan in 1983 and soon moved to the US with his family to settle in Falls Church, Virginia. He received his B.A. at the University of Mary Washington in International Affairs and struggled through organic chemistry in the pre-med program. To direct the nonprofit he created in his dorm room with his sister, he opted against a career in medicine. In his free time, Shin enjoys training at his kickboxing gym, playing soccer for numerous teams and reading books like Three Cups of Tea. He has received many awards for his work in Honduras and was named a CNN Hero in 2009.

Bobby Durrette oversees all fundraising campaigns as well as recruitment for service learning trips. Additionally, he is responsible for all technology and communications needs of Students Helping Honduras. Bobby graduated from the University of Mary Washington in May 2009 with a degree in International Affairs. Before officially joining SHH staff, Bobby worked as a volunteer since 2007. He has served as a technology adviser, Student Board representative from the UMW chapter, and Student Board/Board of Directors Liaison. Bobby avidly enjoys traveling, and he has volunteered previously in India, Laos, and Cambodia. There is a dog at Siete de Abril in Honduras who has been named after Bobby. He is also the owner of a nonprofit technology consulting firm, Durrette Consulting.

Katerine Williams serves as the Director of Student Engagement. Katerine graduated from Virginia Tech in 2010 with degrees in International Studies and Spanish. After her first SHH volunteer trip in May 2007, she was hooked and returned to co-found the SHH chapter at Virginia Tech her sophomore year and served as co-president until the spring of her senior year. An avid volunteer in college, Katerine was a member of Circle K International and participated in the Pilot Street Project where she taught English to adult African refugees and tutored high school students.

Katerine spent most breaks volunteering in Honduras including the summer of 2009 as an SHH Summer Fellow. She loves working with children and discussing international development. In her spare time, Katerine enjoys dancing, hiking, reading fantasy novels, and whipping up concoctions in the kitchen!

Walker Somerville serves as the coordinator for the Villa Soleada project, as well as the Honduras Director for the La Ceiba microfinance program. He recently graduated from the College of William and Mary with dual majors in International Relations and Latin American Studies. He has been involved in SHH since his first year at college, and felt that spending time in Honduras was the only logical step in his post-college planning. You can find him most days at the work site for our Villa Soleada project. He is an avid photographer, so check back to the site regularly to see if he has uploaded any photos of our projects.

Amanda serves as Student Director, leading the SHH Student Board for the 2010-2011 academic year. She is a Junior at Towson University in Maryland and majors in Family Studies and Community Development with a focus in Non-Profit Leadership. After volunteering in Honduras for the first time in January, she co-founded the Towson University chapter of SHH and now serves as Co-President. Before working with SHH, Amanda served as the President for the Towson chapter of Circle-K International and currently serves on the executive board of American Humanics at Towson. Amanda is working towards a career in international development and is grateful to start that journey with SHH. In her spare time she loves to read, play sports and be crafty with her roommates!

Ana Lucia Galo is a Honduran educator working "on the ground" with SHH in various capacities. Ana Lucia is the director of our weekly Kids Camp held on Fridays at Villa Soleada. She also serves as the Honduras liaison for La Ceiba, the microfinance branch of SHH. In addition, she is also works as a chaperon for students in our Women's Academy Scholarship Program. During service learning trips, Ana Lucia also helps with logistics. Born in the city of El Progreso, Ana plays a vital role in helping SHH's operations running smoothly.

Marlene Kindred joined the SHH team as Office Administrator officially in 2008, even though she had been working with SHH for several years prior through UMW. Marlene is a native of Fredericksburg, VA and still resides on the family property where she grew up. Her college major was Horticulture and she worked as a professional florist and landscape designer for fifteen years before coming to serve as the Administrator of the Campus Christian Community. She has been married to her husband, John, for 31 years and they have one daughter, Hope, who is a junior at UMW. Her other interests include gardening, creating with her hands, junking and antiquing, scrapbooking and camping.

Wesley was born and raised in Nashville, TN. In December of 2006, he graduated with a degree in graphic design from Austin Peay State University, Tennessee. In February of 2008 he joined Americacorps' National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). Ever since Americorps NCCC, he had been looking for a way to combine both his passions for non-profits as well as his love for graphic design. SHH welcomes Wesley to the team! Check out his portfolio on his website, Inadequate Seating.