Our Mission
Why We Exist
Our mission is to serve, empower, and advocate for at-risk youth through sustainable, quality sports ministry, which facilitates community, education, and ultimately spiritual growth.
Our vision is to see the youth of Rwanda come to know and love God so that they can become leaders who will change their country and the world.
Started in 2009, as Play For Hope, The Kefa Project is all about seeing at-risk youth transformed in every aspect of their lives. Kefa pronounced kay-fuh is a Rwandan spelling of Kepha or Cephas the name Jesus gave Peter when he was declared the rock. We want every child's life to built on a solid rock, a firm foundation.
We love sports. But we do so much more than sports. Our beliefs are rooted in the Nicene Creed. But to put it more simply we have been transformed by Jesus and want to share that same love with others. (1)
Sports are an avenue for us to create families for at-risk youth in Rwanda. Our goal is to help them feel welcomed, no longer alone, to help them re-enter education both formally and informally, learn finance and business skills, be reconciled to their own families, to know God, and change themselves and then their communities.
(1) We work with youth of all faiths and would never discriminate against or force or coerce a child to believe in what we believe in to receive any of our services.
Our Team
100% of Those Working on the Ground Are African.
Richard Rwamahungu
Technical Director
Emile Ngiruwonsanga
Academy Director
Grace Nyinawumuntu
Office Manager
Pascal Niyigaba
Coach
Valentine Murebwayire
Coach
Ezekial Hitiyakare
Coach
Akili Rachid
Coach
Dieudonne Muyenzi
Coach
Damascene Rutagengwa
Academy Life
Gady Munyaneza
Academy Education
Beatrice Kabayije
Academy Mom
Felicien Muhirwa
Academy Farm Manager/Assistant Cook
Eric Nsabiyumva
Coach
Isaac Twagirayezu
Injury Prevention Specialist
Willy Bayangama
Equipment Manager
Ernestine Mukanyandwi
Coach
Jean Pierre Muhire
Academy Cook
Eric Iracyadukunda
Catch-Up School Coach
Jean de Dieu Billgates Ndarihoranye
Academy Computer Science Teacher
For compliance with local Rwandan law, the Kefa Project and our staff are partnered together with Lawyers of Hope - a Rwandan NGO.
Our Board
The Board That Plays Together Is The Board That Stays Together?
Brian Beckman
Executive Director/Founder
Brian founded the Kefa Project (formerly Play For Hope) in 2009 after a trip to Rwanda in 2008 with a deep desire to see sports used to bring love to the most vulnerable youth in Rwanda and beyond. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in Exercise and Sport Science and Psychology. He is FMS Level 1 Certified and has experience in various clinical and training settings. In his spare time he enjoys picking up 20L jerry cans in odd ways.
Kylee Barton
Board Secretary
Kylee Barton grew up playing soccer and serving Christ and fell in love with the Kefa Project's Mission to help vulnerable youth in Rwanda through both of those means. She graduated from the University of Portland with a major in Organizational Communications, where she was able to study abroad and satisfy her travel bug. She took her first mission trip to Cuba when she was 23 and made it to Rwanda last Christmas, with the hopes of going back next year. She currently works as a Footwear Product Director at Nike, where she is constantly surrounded by her love of sport and the opportunity to use her passport.
Rodney Alexander
Vice President
Rodney Alexander Jr is the loving husband to LyTonya and an amazing father to two beautiful girls. Rodney is a college graduate from UNC-CH with a B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science and Psychology double major. He also received a Masters of Arts in Ministry with Concentration in International Biblical Community Development from John Brown University and Kanakuk Institute and has a certificate from Duke University in Nonprofit Management. Along with his service on the board, his ministry includes serving as Children's and Youth Pastor for his local church and a member of the church's teaching team. Rodney is passionate about health and wellness and competes as a USA Powerlifting athlete.
Glenn Butner
Board Treasurer
Glenn is Assistant Professor of Theology and Christian Ministry at Sterling College in Sterling, KS, where he teaches classes on theology, Bible, and missions. He completed his Ph.D. in systematic theology at Marquette University. Previously a chaplain in prisons, a hospital, and a homeless shelter, Glenn is particularly passionate about working with the Kefa Project's chaplaincy program. He currently lives in Sterling, KS with his wife Lydia and their son Elias.
Ian Hawley
Board Member
Ian Hawley came on a trip with us in 2013 and has been a big part of what we are doing since! He currently resides in Portland, OR where he works for Intel.
Guy Lyons
Board Member
Guy has a degree in Biblical Studies Languages and with his family spent eight years as overseas missionaries based in Chiangmai, Thailand as overseas photojournalist correspondents. They now live and serve as "missionaries" in a low income area living by faith for financial provision and the provisions needed to help others.
Traveling to 25 different countries, God has forever altered his view of this world and our purpose in it. He is still learning what it is to follow Jesus Christ, make disciples, and try to live with attitudes of openness to hear God's Spirit. After learning of the work of Kefa and Brian, its careful approach to ministering in culturally appropriate ways, and its focus of reaching those for whom Jesus' heart breaks, he decided to serve with the board. He believes strongly in the Kefa's mission that: "What you did and did not do unto the least of these, you did and did not do unto Me." - Jesus
Jeremy Clark
Board Member
Jeremy grew up playing soccer in Eastern NC before moving to Chapel Hill and beginning a career in video production. It was at UNC that he met, Kefa Founder, Brian, and learned about the Kefa Project. Jeremy volunteered with Kefa for a number of years, and was able to travel to Rwanda in 2013 with a group of others to teach filmmaking. Since then Jeremy has continued to support the film students remotely, and works with Brian on fundraising, live events, web development, and other aspects of Kefa. He currently lives in Durham, NC
