Our Team

Isabella Huang|Founder

I am a 17-year-old student at Stanford University’s Online High School. I have been lucky to always have had access to quality education: from YKPao Bilingual in Shanghai, China to Kojimachi Elementary School in Tokyo, Japan and finally American School in Japan. Since eighth grade, I have been a full time student at Stanford OHS. Outside of school, I rank Top 8 in national youth fencing in Japan, am a USA National Speech and Debate Association Champion, and Harvard International Review silver medalist. 

Since elementary school, I have used free online learning resources such as Khan Academy and Project Gutenberg and participated in online programs such as Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth with honors and high honors in math and English, respectively, Stanford University’s AI4ALL, Iowa University’s Young Writer Studios, etc. For me, learning has always been any and every where, without borders. 

I founded this organization to bridge the gap for marginalized individuals: the 14,000 asylum seekers living in limbo due to a lack of resources, the 1.65 million individuals living under the poverty line, out of which at least 222,000 are minors. Hong Kong’s 70,000 tonnes of electronic waste can be repurposed and redistributed, facilitating access to online resources for underserved communities and reducing e-waste to create a more sustainable future. 

Aimé Girimana|Head of Operations

I first came to Hong Kong in 2004 from my home country Burundi in East Africa, where I worked as a human rights lawyer. After obtaining refugee status, I became the first refugee to be legally employed in Hong Kong in 2013. I have been committed to actively supporting asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong ever since. 

I direct my own project, Humanity Seekers, a refugee-led initiative to encourage the displaced community to take action and make their voices heard. I have collaborated with many other organizations to gather resources like food, clothes, and electrical appliances to support refugee families and their basic needs. I also partake in advocacy work to improve the living condition of refugees through food programs, coordination of in-kind donations, etc. 

In 2022, I was awarded the Hong Kong Humanity Award, organized by the Red Cross. I hope to continue to support and advocate for the displaced community in Hong Kong through providing basic necessities, dismantling negative perceptions of refugees, and encouraging and fostering voices, activism, and opportunity in the community. Learners Without Borders is a living example of advocacy and action, I am confident that our work will contribute greatly to our overall mission of equality. 

Nancy Kupfer|Director

I am a US-qualified attorney, but have lived and worked outside of the US for more than 35 years. Hong Kong has been my home for more than 20 of those years. The bulk of my professional career was spent as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Marriott International, where I worked for 25 years. During my career with Marriott, I was based in Hong Kong and Zurich. My work involved both franchise, management and real estate development of new hotels, as well as data privacy, branding, marketing and other legal aspects of operational matters for our 800+ hotels in the Asia Pacific region. Before joining Marriott, I worked in private legal practice in Singapore and New York, primarily in capital markets and aircraft finance.

I have always been active in pro bono legal work, primarily providing legal assistance to migrant workers. I worked with HELP for Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong for 15 years as a legal volunteer in their weekend clinic. After retiring from Marriott a few years ago, I decided I wanted to devote more time to this work, as I receive so much personal satisfaction from it.

It was through this work that I met Isabella, who is the founder and soul of Leaners without Borders. I think the work of this NGO is so important, and I was happy to lend my skills to help assist this intelligent and spirited young woman realize her vision!

Rebecca Zhang|Director

30 years ago, I had just graduated from university when I left China for Japan. After I finished my studies in Japan, I established my own design company. Since then, I have worked in design, photography, financial and career planning, and documentary production across different Asian-Pacific countries. Gradually, I turned to investment and finance and have projects in China, Japan, and now, Hong Kong. 

At the same time, I have learn tremendously as a mother. Thanks to the development and growth of the internet, I have remained an active learner and explorer throughout the growth of my child in a world filled with information. 

After the epidemic, I have become interested in contributing to society beyond my profession. Learners Without Borders provides an excellent opportunity to apply my decades of work experience in various fields to public welfare and social equality. 

Simon Constantinides|Head of Technology

I have over 35 years’ experience as an international banker and consultant having lived and worked across 3 continents. As a first-generation immigrant to 2 countries I identify with the challenges in starting fresh and not being familiar with local culture and customs.

Every new opportunity starts with having a solid education and to never stop learning. LWB strives to support those starting anew to learn new skills and build a better future. This is not just inspiring but essential to helping those who are starting fresh and looking to call a strange place home.