History

Following a MA from Yale, CleanBirth.org’s founder Kristyn Zalota has focused on projects that empower women in the developing world.  From 2008-2011, she worked with Burmese, Cambodian and Ugandan women and saw that prenatal and postnatal care was largely unavailable in their countries.

Motivated to make birth safer, she discovered Clean Birth Kits.  Having learned about the dire state of birthing in Laos, she partnered in 2012 with Our Village Associate (OVA) to bring Clean Birth Kits and education to southern Laos.

In addition to allying with experts in Laos, Kristyn has sought out committed Board Members:

Max Zalota, Treasurer, holds an MBA from Oxford University and has extensive experience in the business world. With over a decade of experience leading corporate communications, Jenny Fouracre is tasked with developing CleanBirth.org’s public relations strategy. Shannon Lawton-O’Boyle, doula and Lamaze childbirth educator, promotes CleanBirth.org’s innovative effort to become sustainable by selling baby shower products.

Further, we have a presence in in Vientiane, Laos’ capital.  We are lucky to have Dee Harlow as our liaison for donors and NGOs. She also acts as a consultant for community programming and proposal writing.  Further, Valerie Baumal, founder of ANAKIJO Batik Design, donates a portion of her sales.

We have also attracted a group of volunteers in the US.  Ariana Thibodeau heads up media production; Marla Katz is a teen-fundraising dynamo; Karen Helburn of Just Hatched advises on baby shower products, Marcella Kovac of The Bananaland offers her marketing and design expertise.