Executive Leadership Team
Cheryl and Lambert
Laki-Laka
Cheryl and Lambert are the co-founders of Mwana Villages. Lambert serves as the President for Mwana Villages, Congo. An ordained minister, Lambert works alongside our Congo Board of Directors and program team and maintains our relationships with important Congolese authorities. As a native Congolese, Lambert cares deeply about some of the most vulnerable children and families in his home country.
Cheryl serves as the Director of Operations for Mwana Villages, training and supporting the work of our Congolese leadership team on the ground. From a prior background in early childhood care, Cheryl has a passion for seeing the lives of children and families transform for the better. She is dedicated to seeing injustice end in Congo, and she works tirelessly for the dignity of those Mwana serves.
Wellon Bridgers
Wellon Bridgers serves as the U.S. Director for Mwana Villages and part of the global leadership team. Having walked through an unethical adoption experience only to find that a vulnerable family had been exploited, Wellon and Stephen’s eyes were opened to the challenges of the orphan crisis. Their love and admiration for Mwana was centered on how the organization cares passionately for vulnerable women and works to keep families together. Together, they co-founded Mwana Villages, U.S. to expand the work of the ministry. Wellon has a background in education, service leadership and volunteer programs. Wellon and Stephen are parents to four children; their youngest two were adopted from Mwana in 2015. See the Bridgers’ adoption video by The Archibald Project here.
Mari Beth Poor
Mari Beth serves as the US Director of Development. Before joining Mwana, she had a 21-year career in ministry and served in a variety of capacities including missions pastor, serving locally and globally in places like Tanzania, Honduras, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Colombia, Romania, Jamaica, Mexico and South Africa. The mission’s focus at the church where Mari Beth pastored was kids at risk, and she has witnessed families and children being transformed as Gospel concepts were applied to a global crisis. Her educational background includes a Master’s in Theological Studies from Beeson. She and her husband, Matt, reside in Birmingham, Alabama.
Congo-based leadership team
Jean and Madie Louvila
Jean serves as a Refuge Supervisor in Pointe-Noire, our ministry hub. As an ordained pastor, Jean faithfully ministers to the children and staff at the Refuge and to the vulnerable communities in the community.
Madie serves as our Community Liaison for the Mwana foster families and the vulnerable families we serve. She also serves as our QHSE supervisor for all Mwana Refuges and as a long-time refuge supervisor, she provides ongoing training to our caregivers. Jean and Madie live with their six children, including two Mwana foster children, in Pointe-Noire, Congo.
Rayal Makele
Originally from Nkayi, Congo, Rayal is the first born of a family of seven. Rayal studied Public Management at a university in South Africa, where he lived for almost six years. Since he was a child, he has been passionate about helping others, especially those in need. He became involved in a local orphanage in South Africa before returning to Congo so, upon his homecoming, the first thing he did was to find an orphanage where he could help. Rayal now serves on staff overseeing and is our administrative and finance manager.
Dresnol Heinebron
Dresnol Heinebron was born on October 6, 1989, in Dolisie, Republic of Congo. The eldest on his mother’s side and second in a larger paternal sibling group, he developed a strong sense of responsibility and leadership from an early age. He is married and carries that same commitment and steadiness into both his family life and his work.
He holds a baccalaureate in electrotechnics and has further strengthened his professional background through training in logistics and transport. Passionate about communication and global engagement, he has learned both English and Italian, believing that language is a powerful tool for connection and impact.
From childhood, Dresnol carried a deep dream of opening an orphanage and dedicating his life to serving children. In November 2018, that calling led him to Mwana, where he began as an instructor. Today, he serves as a supervisor, continuing to live out his vocation—guiding, mentoring, and inspiring children. For Dresnol, caring for children is not simply a profession; it is a lifelong calling.
Modeste Mbakou
Originally from the Kimongo district in Congo’s Niari Department, Modeste brings both strong technical training and a deep heart for children to his work. His training includes computer network maintenance, electromechanics disinfection practices.
From childhood, Modeste has been passionate about caring for children, investing deeply in the lives of his nephews, nieces, and the children at his church. He currently serves as assistant coordinator of the church’s children’s class, where he not only cares for children but also encourages others to do the same.
Modeste has been committed to caring for children at Mwana since 2018 and is now a member of the Mwana staff, serving in the role of supervisor, where his skills, leadership, and compassion continue to make a lasting impact.
Léo Sita
Originally from Pointe-Noire and the third of six children, Leo has a background in Industrial Maintenance. Having experienced hardship in his own childhood, he has always been deeply sensitive to the suffering of others.
He joined Mwana in October 2019 as an intern and later became the supervisor of one of our Refuges. Through his work, he developed a deeper understanding of orphan care and vulnerable communities. Today, he also serves in addition to his role as Refuge Supervisor as the Pointe-Noire Coordinator, continuing his commitment to serving those in need.
Rudy Milandou
Rudy Darius Milandou Mouanga is originally from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, and is the second-to-last of five children. He studied Logistics and Transport and QHSE in Accra, Ghana, and began his career with Panalpina, serving in HSE, managing general services, assisting the IT Manager, and later coordinating import–export and airport warehouse operations.
From childhood, Rudy was shaped by a deep commitment to serving others. With his parents, he helped children in need and the elderly in his community, and as a young person he helped organize efforts to provide Christmas gifts to underprivileged children. Through his professional connection with a cofounder of Mwana Village, he came to know the ministry and felt called to care for children there himself.
Today, Rudy serves as Director of Logistics, General Services, and Projects at Mwana Village. He oversees operations, supports the daily needs of the children—including school transportation—and, since January 2026, represents the organization before courts and government institutions by delegation of the Cofounder. Rudy and his wife are the foster parents for a Mwana child.
BOARDS OF DIRECTORS
United States
Courtney Baxley | Wellon Bridgers | Ashley Brigham | Jenny Burton | Ann Cade | Ben Davidson | Elliott Goudge | Benton Pitkanen | Kristen Shaw | Jen Tallon | Michelle Torbor
France
Yolaine Vienne | Marie-Josée Likibi | Marianne Laurendeau
CONGO
Lambert J. and Cheryl Laki-Laka | Lambert S. Laki-Laka | Jean de Dieu Louvila | Madie Louvila | Clault Aymar Titi-Levis | Joseph Bivihou | Perpetue Etsonn | Rayal Makele