Kel Chai Ich is a team of talented and passionette change makers
Our team comes from a wide range of back grounds. Bringing their own expertise and background each member is instrumental in making Kel Chai Ich a success.
Our Leadership Team
Several years ago Kel Chai Ich started with a simple question. How can we provide the support provided our friends, and had provided to us in a sustainable and impactful way.
Gulnazik
Gulnazik is a senior at Columbia University, majoring in Political Science, and is a current Social Impact Fellow at Columbia World Projects. Originally from Kyrgyzstan, her commitment to educational equity is shaped by her own experience navigating educational challenges and by her time as a U.S. State Department exchange student in the Bay Area, California.
Joe McCleary
Joe worked in Kerben, Kyrgyzstan, as a Peace Corps Volunteer before moving on to complete a Master’s in development studies from the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex. He has also worked and volunteered in Japan, Kazakhstan, and Thailand in a variety of roles. He currently works in research and advocacy surrounding education, vulnerability, migration, and houselessness. He plays a key role in ensuring that Kel Chai Ich programs remain grounded in community needs and continue to grow sustainably.
Aibiike
Aibiike has begun her career as a teacher while also working as an interpreter and translator for the Project Implementation Unit of the Islamic Development Bank. Later, she expanded into the tech field, developing websites and digital tools that enhance communication and efficiency. She is passionate about making education accessible for everyone, especially girls and students from rural areas. Through Kel Chai Ich, Aibiike takes a modest yet meaningful step toward that vision.
Rounding Out Our Leadership Team
Our Team Grows to over 30 volunteers, presenters, interns, and team members during peak programing. Our Leadership team are core team members who provide year round support to ensure the success of Kel Chai Ich.
Ümit Çapanoğlu
Program Coordinator
Ümit graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus on information systems and International Studies. As a program coordinator and mentor at Kel Chai Ich, she strives to empower future generations with the resources and tools they need to pursue their dreams through higher education. Her experiences in cross-cultural communication and program development locally and in countries like Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Chile, and Japan have promoted interactive educational workshops and enhanced access to help support participants’ long-term objectives.
Gegee Munkh-Otgon
Program Coordinator
Gegee is an alumna of the University of California, San Diego, where she majored in International Studies and Economics with a focus on international law and statistical economics. She is working as a federal court case filer. Originally from Mongolia, she is a passionate advocate for expanding access to higher education for students from developing countries and has been mentoring youth from Mongolia since high school. She is currently working with UC San Diego and the San Diego Superior Court on research analyzing disparities in homicide sentencing. At Kel Chai Ich, she helps guide students through the same higher-education journey she once took on her own.
Nargiza Ruskalova
On-Site Program Coordinator
Nargiza worked with Peace Corps Volunteers in the Aksy English Camp as the English Language Teacher Coordinator. A 2021 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement alumna, she studied at Montana State University. She works with the Kel Chai Ich program as a Local Coordinator and implements her own USG Small Grants projects on Inclusive Education and the Creative Economy (2023–2024). A graduate of the American University of Central Asia with a Master of Arts in Teaching, she has worked as an interpreter for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and mentored students in American University of Central Asia Teaching Methodology and Practicum courses. She continues to initiate social projects that promote innovative and inclusive education.
Aidana Rysbekova
Outreach Coordinator
Aidana is a recent graduate of College of San Mateo, who works as a Finance and Business Administration Specialist at Stanford University. She has volunteered with projects organized by Peace Corps Volunteers and now works in finance at Stanford University. Through her work with Kel Chai Ich, she aspires to support other young women who believe that attending their dream school is an attainable goal.
Katherina Delgado
Project Coordinator
Katie first met the founders of Kel Chai Ich while volunteering in the Peace Corps, Kyrgyzstan, from 2016-2018. Katie has worked in 4 different countries as an English Teacher to university and elementary students. Recently, she changed careers and has been working as a project manager. Her work abroad and project management experience have made her an invaluable addition to the Kel Chai Ich team. Katie provides administrative support and consults on curriculum development.