Although her home is in Bozeman, Mont., Shannon Ongaro's extensive world travels have made her a citizen of the world. After graduating with a master's degree in history from Montana State University, Shannon was a history teacher and academic program director for The Traveling School, roles that gave her the chance to explore both southern Africa and New Zealand. Shannon has been working with The Tandana Foundation since 2007, and she was instrumental in the development of the Mali Volunteer Vacation Program.  In addition to her work on the Mali program, Shannon has worked as program coordinator for Health Care Volunteer Vacations in Ecuador, as well as for a custom volunteer program through the University of Utah. Shannon is an insightful observer with a sincere interest in the social and political development of the countries in which she works. At the same time, Shannon's upbeat personality and friendly demeanor make her a natural leader and a welcome addition to any group, whether the activity is hiking in the wilderness or debating issues.

It was in 1998 that Anna Taft first traveled to Ecuador and began building the relationships that would inspire her to found The Tandana Foundation in 2004. During her initial trip to the country, Anna spent four months working in the rural community of Panecillo as a volunteer elementary school teacher.  During her time at Whitman College, where she earned a degree in politics with a minor in environmental studies, Anna organized trips for her fellow students. After graduation, Anna took to the road, teaching for The Traveling School in South America and New Zealand, as well as coordinating service projects for the school. Anna also built her leadership skills as a member of the field staff at Deer Hill Expeditions in Colorado for eight summers. With The Tandana Foundation, Anna has the opportunity to introduce new friends--the volunteers--to her old friends in the countries Tandana visits, building unique cultural bridges that can only come from deep connections like those she has made with the people of Ecuador and Mali.

If Rumi and Kuri Quilumbango, of Panecillo, Ecuador, have anything to say about it, their godmother, Lindsey Oswald, will frequently make return trips to their native country.  Lindsey first began working with The Tandana Foundation in 2008, when she lived with a host family in Ecuador as the Tandana intern.  And even though she now lives in Salt Lake City, Lindsey continues to travel to Ecuador as a program coordinator for Health Care Volunteer Vacations. Lindsey has more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, including work as development director for Wasatch Community Gardens and DharmaTech, and as development director and membership coordinator for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. Lindsey earned a bachelor's degree in Women's Studies and Environmental Studies with a minor in Spanish from Bowdoin College, and she holds a TEFL certification. Lindsey has also lived with a host family in Venezuela—and no matter where she travels, her patient personality and calm demeanor make her popular among locals and travelers alike.

Paul Dreyer is certainly no stranger to planning, organizing and coordinating group projects and travel experiences. He has worked for more than 20 different schools and organizations that focus on experiential and alternative education, working mostly in wilderness areas and developing countries.  His work has taken him to places as far away as Morocco and Nepal, as well as to areas all over the United States.  But his credentials don't stop there--Paul also has a master's degree in counseling and is a registered wilderness emergency medical technician who has taught with the Wilderness Medicine Institute for nine years. Paul first stepped into the Tandana community as program coordinator for the March 2010 Health Care Volunteer Vacation in Ecuador. An outdoorsman who is drawn to the mountains, Paul is excited to work with Tandana, an organization he praises for being well-organized, staffed by good people and focused on doing the best possible work for the communities it serves.

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