Our Team
-
Zina Gomes
Co-founder & Board President
Born in Cape Verde Islands, Zina is a Co-Founder and AMINGA's Board President. She graduated Cum Laude from Boston College, where she was a recipient of the Dean’s College award for character. Zina is passionate about sports, wellness, and mindfulness and is eager to bring opportunities to youth in the Global South. She is using her passion, compassion and strengths in service of others.
-
Elisabete Gomes
Co-Founder
A national of the Cape Verde Islands, Elisabete earned a degree in Economics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is a former Cape Verdean National team handball goalkeeper with 4 regional championship titles and 5 national championships titles with ABC Praia team. As a resident of Mindelo, São Vicente island, she has been leading AMINGA’s local partnership outreach and program development. Elisabete is a founding member and Director of the Board of Directors of AMINGA.
-
João “Betinho” Gomes
Co-founder
Born in Cape Verde Islands, Betinho has won 3 Portuguese basketball championships, 2 Portuguese Super Cups and 1 Portuguese Cup, since 2007. In 2020, he was named ‘The Player of the Decade’ in Portugal and the national MVP of the Portuguese League 2019/2020 season. Betinho is an example of what can happen when opportunity meets hard work, discipline, and dedication. He is a founding member and Director of the Board of Directors of AMINGA.
-
Sofia Gomes
Co-founder
Born in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal, Sofia has played professional basketball in Portugal and Spain, where she won championships in both countries. She has won a Portuguese Super Cup, a Portuguese Cup, and was named a valuable member of the Portuguese national team. Sofia has a degree in Sports Education and wants to motivate others, especially girls, to be their best selves. She is a founding member and Director of the Board of Directors of AMINGA.
-
Stephanie Guirand
Secretary
A Haitian-born member of the Haitian American community, Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree from SOAS, and is presently a Sociology doctoral candidate at Goldsmiths, University of London. She has an extensive experience working on community-based projects and is the inaugural Board Secretary of the Board of Directors of AMINGA.