Okoa Founders

Just two months after they were married, Tyler and Hanna Liv Workman knew the Lord was calling them to something different...something unique...something that seemed really big and outrageous to most people who heard their vision.

On October 24, 2008, they sat down in their living room with two good friends and incorporated Okoa Refuge in Florida. Shortly after, they applied for their 501(c)3 not for profit status...and after a lot of paperwork, some invaluable help from friends, and hours of prayer, they received their tax exempt status on July 9, 2009. 

Okoa started with a dream...and the dream hasn't changed. It has grown and matured. It has become even more than Tyler or Liv ever imagined it would.

What started as a dream...
What started as a home for just a few children...
What started as two newlyweds who lived off half their outside income and poured the rest into the organization...
What started as two full time workers who, after selling, packing and shipping everything they owned, couldn't even afford to pay themselves from the meager donations to the organization...
...has become an incredible movement of God in Uganda. 

They reside permanently in Masaka, Uganda where they joyfully and wildly raise their six children. 

The team

Presently, Okoa Refuge has one hundred sixty full time Ugandan staff and one full time American staff member in Uganda. Stateside, there are three full time staff members, two part-timers and so many awesome volunteers!

Each and every staff member has an important and valuable role in the workings of the organization. These staff members range from administrators to social workers, matrons, cooks, security guards, nurses and farmers!

Kalanda David, Uganda
COO

David was the first full time staff member that Okoa ever hired. He is an integral part of Okoa and the Workman's lives. He is Tyler's righthand man and surely Okoa would not be what it is without his hand in each and every thing. He serves as the Chief of Operations in Uganda and oversees all of Okoa's projects. He is the proud husband of Moureen and, together, they have three beautiful children.
 

THE US team

Based in Jacksonville, our US team supports the ongoing work at Okoa Refuge in so many ways.

Raleigh Pedro, US Director of Operations
Sarah Szarmack, US Office Manager
Destiny Cowart, Development Associate

The board

Okoa has been incredibly blessed by all of its board members. Each plays a different, yet valuable, role in the workings of the organization. 

Tyler Workman, President
Dr. Kim Dal Porto, Chairman
Chris Foley, Vice-Chair
Christy Popwell, Secretary
Ginger Allen, Board Treasurer
Glenn Doyle
Sean Moore
Rick Graham
Chris Parker Josh Ehrenfeld Megan Phillips