Global Aid For Humanity, Inc., 8250 Calvine Road, Suite #C309, Sacramento, CA 95828, United States
PRESIDENT of the board and CEO
Mr. Cheikh Amadou Tidiane Sow - Importer/Exporter
Mr. Cheikh Amadou Tidiane Sow was born in Thies, Senegal, West Africa. Mr. Sow spent his youth living and moving between Thies and Dakar, Senegal with his parents and younger siblings. Mr. Sow grew up in very humble beginnings and lived in modest dwellings, but he always believed he would become a great leader in his country one day just like other great leaders who come to serve the people of their country. As a very independent and courageous young man, he began traveling out of his homeland at the age of 12. Mr. Sow made his way to other neighboring countries where he learned to work hard, be responsible, reliable, and dependable to help those who were less fortunate and suffering from a lack of basic human necessities due to generational poverty, and to help support his family back home in Dakar. Mr. Sow spent time in other African countries, namely: Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Mauritania, where he learned critical life skills, survival tactics, and the importance of integrity and economic sustenance.
To support himself and his family, he worked every day tirelessly to send money back home to his parents and siblings for their well-being. Mr. Sow sold original art, paintings, and handcrafted carvings made by local artists and craft makers. He later gained notoriety among his peers for his skills and expertise making and selling his own traditional African Djembe drums. Mr. Sow is also a very gifted and talented drummer. He learned to play the Djembe drums while living in Burkina Faso along with a small group of friends and other young drummers.
At the age of 26, Mr. Sow left Senegal and traveled to the United States. Upon arriving in the United States in 2005, Mr. Sow spent years working as a janitor and later he worked as a carpenter in Jackson, CA. During this time, he used much of his income to pay for his travel and the 40 foot shipping containers sent to Senegal several times a year filled with a provision of goods, supplies, toiletries, commodities and vehicles to distribute and support many of the citizens in need. The humanitarian aid he transported on each trip was distributed in a fair and equitable manner to those who were homeless, the elderly, the youth, school children, mothers and infants, unemployed young adults, the disabled, rural families, and church goers living in abstract poverty in various regions throughout Dakar, Thies, Touba, and other small towns, villages, and rural areas.
After many years of continuous repetition serving struggling communities in his homeland, despite not seeing much improvement in living conditions among the citizens living on the streets, Mr. Sow envisioned a better future for his people and decided to redirect his efforts to create a long-term solution to an ongoing problem. He visualized building multiple self-contained, self-sufficient, sustainable community housing compounds to help the people improve their living conditions. His vision began the process of setting up his non-profit organization, Global Aid For Humanity, Inc. in 2019, to obtain his IRS 501(c)(3) Exemption Status (pending). Each housing compound will be a secure, safe haven where families and individuals of all ages could enhance their capabilities to live productive lives. GAFHI's life enrichment programs would ensure quality care and life enhancement, boost morale, provide economic empowerment, create new jobs and employment opportunities, and be a reliable community resource and outreach advocate for the people of the communities to reach their full potential, with a promise of maintenance, preservation, peace, and stability.
Secretary of the board and Consultant
Valinda Ala'Chappelle - Consultant, Trainer, Fund Developer & Motivational Speaker
Valinda Ala’Chappelle has more than thirty-five years of experience as a Nonprofit Organization, Business and Grant Fund Developer. She has helped to establish more than 300 businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and in foreign countries. She has been a consultant to State of California and the Vatican. Valinda is a graduate of Sacramento City College and the University of California, Davis. She has authored several publications and has been distinguished for community service and leadership in the Sacramento, California community. She has been nominated for Who’s Who in American Business Women.
In addition to developing grant resources, writing grant proposals, and consulting, she specializes in developing Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, State and Federal [501 (c)(3)] Exemption Applications, Business Plans and Business Development. She is a renowned international trainer and motivational speaker. She has planned national and international conferences, and held workshops and seminars throughout the world.
Valinda is commonly referred to as the “Dream Maker.”
Valinda has a 100% success rate for obtaining state and federal exemption recognition for nonprofit organizations, and has a diverse client base. She has access to information regarding available grant funding for nonprofit organizations through private foundations in the United States and internationally. She also brings a unique combination of expertise and experience to help organizations realize and achieve their missions. Goals and objectives are attained by transforming clients’ dreams and visions into reality and seeking the resources to implement them. Valinda has also assisted numerous organizations in acquiring millions of dollars in grant funding. More importantly, Valinda teaches organizations, “how to fish!”