WORLD VISION GHANA WELCOMES A NEW NATIONAL DIRECTOR
On June 5, 2023, at the World Vision Head Office in Accra, Laura Del Valle walked into her first meeting with staff. It was a weekly policy-sharing meeting where staff met to discuss the week’s events and other pending tasks. The outgoing National Director, Dickens Thunde, warmly welcomed Laura in an opening statement. "We welcome you, and we are delighted you accepted to work with World Vision Ghana and with this wonderful team," he said.
Laura, in an acceptance speech, also expressed her excitement about joining the Orange family in Ghana. "When I came last year, I was deeply impressed with the ministry and services you are delivering to the children, and that is what caught my heart and my attention, and I am here just to be one of you to serve the children, families, and communities in Ghana so they can strive for a brighter future. That is our promise to the children of Ghana, that we will do what is supposed to be done, especially to help the most vulnerable children have a better future,’’ she said.
In subsequent days, Laura met with the various departments in the head office. She also met staff working in the Southern Region. The teams made presentations highlighting their work and providing an overview of their departments. Later that week, Laura and Dickens, along with selected staff, made a trip to Tamale, Northern Region, to engage with staff supporting operations.
This was an eye-opening trip, with Area Programme managers and the Healthy Environment and Wellness (HEAL) team providing insights into their operations. The trip would not have been complete without a devotion led by Laura. During this solemn time, she shared about "the power of a timeless prayer", taking her inspiration from John 17:20–25. The reflections from the scripture reminded us of our mandate as children of God and the need for us to work together to show the love that Christ showed us.
Laura encouraged the staff of World Vision Ghana to commit to serving in line with the vision and mission of the organisation. In her reflections on her first week, she expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and shared how inspired she is by the commitment and professionalism of World Vision Ghana staff.
Laura is joining the Ghana team with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Laura Del Valle is a passionate and seasoned development and humanitarian leader with over 30 years of experience within and outside World Vision. She has served as the National Director of World Vision El Salvador since 2013. Since she joined World Vision in 2001, she has held various positions, including Operations Director at World Vision El Salvador, Program Quality Specialist at LACRO, and Research and Development Associate at the Global Center. She also demonstrated adaptive and thoughtful leadership in her different roles at the European Union and Plan International.
As an advocate for child protection and the well-being of boys and girls, Laura aims to inspire others to serve children with love and passion and to deliver high-quality results. She believes that children should be contributors to the transformational experiences they deserve for a better future in a world free of violence and filled with the tender love of Jesus. Laura speaks passionately on these issues at church and external events such as the G625 Forum, the National Legislative Assembly in El Salvador, and the Human Mobility Forum in Rome.
Laura has a bachelor's degree in sociology from El Salvador University, a master's degree in art from Eastern University, and a doctoral degree in leadership from Gull University. She holds a specialisation in the management of NGOs from the TEC of Monterrey, Mexico. She is also a certified ontological coach for business from the International Federation of Professional Ontological Coaches. She is a member of several boards and communities of practice related to child development and education.
World Vision Ghana is excited to be working with Laura as she leads the office into the next phase.