Our mission is to provide access to clean water in Malawi, Africa.
Our vision is to be a bridge between here and there.
Thank you to everyone who has helped build the bridge...and drill those wells.
Our vision is to be a bridge between here and there.
Thank you to everyone who has helped build the bridge...and drill those wells.
Cindee Rood is the Founder and Executive Director of formidablejoy.
It was Cindee's love of travel, that led to her life of service.
Her wanderlust exposed her to the living conditions of so many living in extreme poverty. She could no longer "unsee" the suffering, and felt compelled to do something.
Cindee found that the simplest solution and most cost-effective way to improve the health and overall quality of life for people was to provide them access to clean water.
Of the 75 countries she has visited, it was Malawi, Africa that pulled at her heart. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world - only 8% of the country has access to electricity and 1/3 of the population lacks access to clean water.
To date, Cindee has personally spearheaded and completed 200+ water projects in 18 districts throughout Malawi - from remote villages to primary and preschools to hospitals and health centers.
formidablejoy, alongside our local partners, assess, review, and
celebrate every single project.
Notable projects and partners include:
The installation of a solar water system at Mercy James Centre.
Through a partnership with Raising Malawi, founded by Madonna in 2006,
30,000 liters of water a day are now available "off the grid" at
the only state-of-the-art pediatric hospital in the country.
Approval was granted by the Malawian Government, to drill 3 new water points inside Dzaleka Refugee Camp - home to 50,000. Our newest project at the camp came in 2023 - when we implemented a solar irrigation system for a group of female famers.
Our partnership with Raising Malawi continued for many years.
Together, we installed a backup water system for the Maternity Wing and Nursery at QECH, the largest hospital in Malawi. Nearly 12,000 babies are born at QECH each year, yet they averaged 6 hours a day without water.
We have gone on to install new solar water systems at Raising Malawi secondary and primary schools.
Our in-country partners past and present consist of the some of the most
respected, impactful NGOs in Malawi:
Raising Malawi, Mary's Meals, buildOn, African Parks, Malawi Water Project,
Archdiocese of Lilongwe-Benga Parish, HerLiberty, Moving Windmills, Tafika, GAIA, Wildlife Action Group, CorpsAfrica and Fisherman's Rest
best of all...we are (still) just getting started!
Cindee is and has been an active member within many other nonprofits including:
Rotary Club of Beverly Hills - Vice President of International and Board Member,
UNICEF USA Southern California - Former Chair of Speakers Series Committee (her son is also a former UNICEF Young Ambassador),
Cambodian Children's Fund, and Freedom to Choose Project Volunteer.
It was Cindee's love of travel, that led to her life of service.
Her wanderlust exposed her to the living conditions of so many living in extreme poverty. She could no longer "unsee" the suffering, and felt compelled to do something.
Cindee found that the simplest solution and most cost-effective way to improve the health and overall quality of life for people was to provide them access to clean water.
Of the 75 countries she has visited, it was Malawi, Africa that pulled at her heart. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world - only 8% of the country has access to electricity and 1/3 of the population lacks access to clean water.
To date, Cindee has personally spearheaded and completed 200+ water projects in 18 districts throughout Malawi - from remote villages to primary and preschools to hospitals and health centers.
formidablejoy, alongside our local partners, assess, review, and
celebrate every single project.
Notable projects and partners include:
The installation of a solar water system at Mercy James Centre.
Through a partnership with Raising Malawi, founded by Madonna in 2006,
30,000 liters of water a day are now available "off the grid" at
the only state-of-the-art pediatric hospital in the country.
Approval was granted by the Malawian Government, to drill 3 new water points inside Dzaleka Refugee Camp - home to 50,000. Our newest project at the camp came in 2023 - when we implemented a solar irrigation system for a group of female famers.
Our partnership with Raising Malawi continued for many years.
Together, we installed a backup water system for the Maternity Wing and Nursery at QECH, the largest hospital in Malawi. Nearly 12,000 babies are born at QECH each year, yet they averaged 6 hours a day without water.
We have gone on to install new solar water systems at Raising Malawi secondary and primary schools.
Our in-country partners past and present consist of the some of the most
respected, impactful NGOs in Malawi:
Raising Malawi, Mary's Meals, buildOn, African Parks, Malawi Water Project,
Archdiocese of Lilongwe-Benga Parish, HerLiberty, Moving Windmills, Tafika, GAIA, Wildlife Action Group, CorpsAfrica and Fisherman's Rest
best of all...we are (still) just getting started!
Cindee is and has been an active member within many other nonprofits including:
Rotary Club of Beverly Hills - Vice President of International and Board Member,
UNICEF USA Southern California - Former Chair of Speakers Series Committee (her son is also a former UNICEF Young Ambassador),
Cambodian Children's Fund, and Freedom to Choose Project Volunteer.
Cindee Rood is the Founder and Executive Director of formidablejoy.
It was Cindee's love of travel, that led to her life of service. Her wanderlust exposed her to the living conditions of so many living in extreme poverty. She could no longer "unsee" the suffering, and felt compelled to do something.
Cindee found that the simplest solution and most cost-effective way to improve the health and overall quality of life for people was to provide them access to clean water.
Of the 75 countries she has visited, it was Malawi, Africa that pulled at her heart. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world - only 8% of the country have access to electricity and 1/3 of the population lacks access to clean water.
To date, Cindee has personally spearheaded and completed over 200 water projects in 18 districts throughout Malawi - from the most remote villages to largest hospital in the country.
formidablejoy, alongside our local partners, assess, review, and
celebrate every single project.
Notable projects and partners include:
The installation of a solar water system at Mercy James Centre. Through a partnership with Raising Malawi, founded by Madonna in 2006, 30,000 liters of water a day are now available "off the grid" at the only state-of-the-art pediatric hospital in Malawi.
Approval was granted by the Malawian Government to drill 3 new water points inside Dzaleka Refugee Camp - home to 50,000. Our newest project at the camp came in 2023 - when we implemented a solar irrigation system for a group of female famers.
Our partnership with Raising Malawi continued for many years.
Together, we installed a backup water system for the Maternity Wing and Nursery at QECH, the largest hospital in Malawi. Nearly 12,000 babies are born at QECH each year, yet they averaged 6 hours a day without water.
We have gone on to install new solar water systems at 3 Raising Malawi secondary and primary schools.
Our in-country partners past and present consist of the some of the most respected, impactful NGOs in Malawi:
Raising Malawi, Mary's Meals, buildOn, African Parks, Malawi Water Project,
Archdiocese of Lilongwe-Benga Parish, Tafika, HerLiberty, CoprsAfrica, Moving Windmills, GAIA, Wildlife Action Group and Fisherman's Rest
best of all...
we are (still) just getting started!
Cindee is and has been an active member within many other nonprofits including:
Rotary Club of Beverly Hills - Vice President of International and Board Member,
UNICEF USA Southern California - Former Chair of Speakers Series Committee (her son is also a former UNICEF Young Ambassador),
Cambodian Children's Fund, and Freedom to Choose Project Volunteer.
It was Cindee's love of travel, that led to her life of service. Her wanderlust exposed her to the living conditions of so many living in extreme poverty. She could no longer "unsee" the suffering, and felt compelled to do something.
Cindee found that the simplest solution and most cost-effective way to improve the health and overall quality of life for people was to provide them access to clean water.
Of the 75 countries she has visited, it was Malawi, Africa that pulled at her heart. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world - only 8% of the country have access to electricity and 1/3 of the population lacks access to clean water.
To date, Cindee has personally spearheaded and completed over 200 water projects in 18 districts throughout Malawi - from the most remote villages to largest hospital in the country.
formidablejoy, alongside our local partners, assess, review, and
celebrate every single project.
Notable projects and partners include:
The installation of a solar water system at Mercy James Centre. Through a partnership with Raising Malawi, founded by Madonna in 2006, 30,000 liters of water a day are now available "off the grid" at the only state-of-the-art pediatric hospital in Malawi.
Approval was granted by the Malawian Government to drill 3 new water points inside Dzaleka Refugee Camp - home to 50,000. Our newest project at the camp came in 2023 - when we implemented a solar irrigation system for a group of female famers.
Our partnership with Raising Malawi continued for many years.
Together, we installed a backup water system for the Maternity Wing and Nursery at QECH, the largest hospital in Malawi. Nearly 12,000 babies are born at QECH each year, yet they averaged 6 hours a day without water.
We have gone on to install new solar water systems at 3 Raising Malawi secondary and primary schools.
Our in-country partners past and present consist of the some of the most respected, impactful NGOs in Malawi:
Raising Malawi, Mary's Meals, buildOn, African Parks, Malawi Water Project,
Archdiocese of Lilongwe-Benga Parish, Tafika, HerLiberty, CoprsAfrica, Moving Windmills, GAIA, Wildlife Action Group and Fisherman's Rest
best of all...
we are (still) just getting started!
Cindee is and has been an active member within many other nonprofits including:
Rotary Club of Beverly Hills - Vice President of International and Board Member,
UNICEF USA Southern California - Former Chair of Speakers Series Committee (her son is also a former UNICEF Young Ambassador),
Cambodian Children's Fund, and Freedom to Choose Project Volunteer.
Our mission is to provide access to clean water in Malawi, Africa.
Our vision is to be a bridge between here and there.
Thank you to everyone who has helped build this bridge...and drill those wells.
Our vision is to be a bridge between here and there.
Thank you to everyone who has helped build this bridge...and drill those wells.
The love of Malawi began with this ONE little girl!
Cindee visited Malawi for the first time in 2014, planning for it to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience as a volunteer at an orphanage.
Instead, that visit changed the trajectory of her life.
Shyreen stole Cindee's heart the very first day they met at the orphanage.
Meeting Shyreen, and so many other beautiful souls in Malawi, inspired her and called her to keep coming back...again & again.
Thanks to this ONE little girl, and YOU...so many more children will be impacted.
The power of ONE!
Cindee is based in Los Angeles, and travels to Malawi several times a year.
Cindee visited Malawi for the first time in 2014, planning for it to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience as a volunteer at an orphanage.
Instead, that visit changed the trajectory of her life.
Shyreen stole Cindee's heart the very first day they met at the orphanage.
Meeting Shyreen, and so many other beautiful souls in Malawi, inspired her and called her to keep coming back...again & again.
Thanks to this ONE little girl, and YOU...so many more children will be impacted.
The power of ONE!
Cindee is based in Los Angeles, and travels to Malawi several times a year.
formidablejoy
Board of Directors
We are women…helping women*
azimayi akamathandizana zinthu zabwino zambiri zimachitika
when women support each other, incredible things happen
*and so many men...including board members, Chiletso Msang'azi & Shupo Kumwendo
Board of Directors
We are women…helping women*
azimayi akamathandizana zinthu zabwino zambiri zimachitika
when women support each other, incredible things happen
*and so many men...including board members, Chiletso Msang'azi & Shupo Kumwendo
SAPNA ABROL
Ms. Sapna Abrol is an Environmental Scientist specializing in water quality, with a strong academic and professional foundation. She earned her M.S. in Environmental Chemistry from UCLA and her B.S. in Chemistry from UC Irvine. With over a decade of experience in environmental consulting, Ms. Abrol has focused on Environmental Management Systems, water quality regulations, and sustainable development, primarily in Southern California. She now serves as the CEO of Alpha Environmental, a company dedicated to providing non-toxic, environmentally friendly raw materials and ingredients for the personal care industry.A passionate advocate for sustainability, Sapna promotes a zero-waste lifestyle and actively works to combat plastic pollution and reduce single-use plastics. She also maintains strong ties to Malawi, where her family resides.
TIKHALA ITAYE-LOUGHLIN
Tikhala is, simply put, a force of nature.
She is the founder of Her Liberty, a youth-led nonprofit that empowers young people to become change agents within their communities. In addition, Tikhala serves as the Director of Global Movement Building for Women in Global Health, an organization dedicated to ensuring women are represented at all levels of decision-making, particularly in global health leadership in low- and middle-income countries.A recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, Tikhala was selected from thousands of applicants in Malawi to pursue her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Washington. She also holds a Law degree from the University of Namibia, showcasing her diverse academic and professional expertise.
Currently residing in Malawi, Tikhala is not only a trailblazer in her field but also a proud new mom to her daughter, Violet.
LISA VEBBER
Lisa Vebber is a PhD candidate at Penn State and holds a Master’s degree in Biology through a partnership between San Diego Zoo Global and Miami University of Ohio. With a focus on human-wildlife conflict and community-based conservation in Africa, Lisa is deeply passionate about wildlife preservation. She firmly believes that empowering local communities is the key to ensuring the survival of endangered species. In 2017, Lisa’s work at Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi, where she coordinated the translocation of 500 elephants, cemented her love for the country and its conservation efforts. Transitioning into conservation as a second career, she brings two decades of experience in the television industry, having held high-level positions at Warner Bros., Sony, Disney, Comcast, and NBC. Additionally, she has taught Data Analytics and Insights in the Master’s program at the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. Lisa’s extensive research and volunteer work include contributions to the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Raptor Study, leopard conservation in Namibia, and rhino studies in Malawi. Her diverse background and expertise provide valuable guidance to the growth and vision of Formidable Joy.
BONNIE DARROW
Bonnie brings extensive expertise in strategic planning and operations, honed during her 10 years as an executive in the automotive industry. She is deeply involved in her community, serving as the President of the Manhattan Beach Parent Teacher Association, where she has been an active board member for eight years. Bonnie also chairs the Grant Committee for the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation and serves on its board, playing a key role in supporting local education initiatives.
In addition, Bonnie is the President of the MBX Advisory Board, which provides guidance for athletic and activity programs at Mira Costa High School. She contributes further to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) through her involvement on the Health and Safety Committee, the Social Emotional Wellness Committee, and the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Committee. Bonnie’s dedication and leadership exemplify her commitment to fostering educational excellence and well-being in her community.
CHILETSO MSANG'AZI
Chiletso has worked in the humanitarian sector for many years as a leader in nutrition and education.
Chiletso resides in Malawi with his wife and newborn son.
Please check back soon as we update his impressive bio from the nonprofit and education sector.
SHUPO KUMWENDO
Proud to announce the recent appointment of newest board member, Shupo Kumwendo.
He is a true humanitarian and community leader, serving as Executive Director of Tafika. Humbled and honored to have him on our board. Shupo resides in Malawi with his wife and family. Please check back soon as we update his impressive bio.
AMY ROBINSON
Amy is another accomplished formidable female who first fell in love with Malawi while leading the Global Brand Management team at Cisco. Her passion for education and community development inspired her to build her first primary school in Malawi in 2015. Amy is the driving force behind our partnership with buildOn, which began in 2018 to fund and construct schools with solar water systems in the Kasungu district of Malawi. Amy’s connection with buildOn dates back to 2009 when she volunteered with the organization in San Francisco alongside Catarina Schwab, then the Vice President of Development. Proudly calling herself a “data nerd,” Amy is currently collaborating with WhatIf Innovation Partners (now part of Accenture) to develop an innovative whole-village model called Mudzi, which is in the early stages of research and development. Amy holds a BA in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Brown University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Her dedication to using data-driven solutions to empower communities makes her an invaluable force for change.
Advisory Board
Lindsey Alley
Chief Financial Officer; Houlihan Lokey
Bill Keller
Water Chemist and President; Aqua-tech Water Management
Michael Yarbro
Attorney
Tax returns (known as IRS Form 990 in the nonprofit world) can be found here:
2023 Form 990 (coming soon)
2022 Form 990
2021 Form 990
2020 Form 990
2019 Form 990
2018 Form 990
Proud recipient of the 2024 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency featured on GuideStar
Ms. Sapna Abrol is an Environmental Scientist specializing in water quality, with a strong academic and professional foundation. She earned her M.S. in Environmental Chemistry from UCLA and her B.S. in Chemistry from UC Irvine. With over a decade of experience in environmental consulting, Ms. Abrol has focused on Environmental Management Systems, water quality regulations, and sustainable development, primarily in Southern California. She now serves as the CEO of Alpha Environmental, a company dedicated to providing non-toxic, environmentally friendly raw materials and ingredients for the personal care industry.A passionate advocate for sustainability, Sapna promotes a zero-waste lifestyle and actively works to combat plastic pollution and reduce single-use plastics. She also maintains strong ties to Malawi, where her family resides.
TIKHALA ITAYE-LOUGHLIN
Tikhala is, simply put, a force of nature.
She is the founder of Her Liberty, a youth-led nonprofit that empowers young people to become change agents within their communities. In addition, Tikhala serves as the Director of Global Movement Building for Women in Global Health, an organization dedicated to ensuring women are represented at all levels of decision-making, particularly in global health leadership in low- and middle-income countries.A recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, Tikhala was selected from thousands of applicants in Malawi to pursue her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Washington. She also holds a Law degree from the University of Namibia, showcasing her diverse academic and professional expertise.
Currently residing in Malawi, Tikhala is not only a trailblazer in her field but also a proud new mom to her daughter, Violet.
LISA VEBBER
Lisa Vebber is a PhD candidate at Penn State and holds a Master’s degree in Biology through a partnership between San Diego Zoo Global and Miami University of Ohio. With a focus on human-wildlife conflict and community-based conservation in Africa, Lisa is deeply passionate about wildlife preservation. She firmly believes that empowering local communities is the key to ensuring the survival of endangered species. In 2017, Lisa’s work at Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi, where she coordinated the translocation of 500 elephants, cemented her love for the country and its conservation efforts. Transitioning into conservation as a second career, she brings two decades of experience in the television industry, having held high-level positions at Warner Bros., Sony, Disney, Comcast, and NBC. Additionally, she has taught Data Analytics and Insights in the Master’s program at the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. Lisa’s extensive research and volunteer work include contributions to the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Raptor Study, leopard conservation in Namibia, and rhino studies in Malawi. Her diverse background and expertise provide valuable guidance to the growth and vision of Formidable Joy.
BONNIE DARROW
Bonnie brings extensive expertise in strategic planning and operations, honed during her 10 years as an executive in the automotive industry. She is deeply involved in her community, serving as the President of the Manhattan Beach Parent Teacher Association, where she has been an active board member for eight years. Bonnie also chairs the Grant Committee for the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation and serves on its board, playing a key role in supporting local education initiatives.
In addition, Bonnie is the President of the MBX Advisory Board, which provides guidance for athletic and activity programs at Mira Costa High School. She contributes further to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) through her involvement on the Health and Safety Committee, the Social Emotional Wellness Committee, and the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Committee. Bonnie’s dedication and leadership exemplify her commitment to fostering educational excellence and well-being in her community.
CHILETSO MSANG'AZI
Chiletso has worked in the humanitarian sector for many years as a leader in nutrition and education.
Chiletso resides in Malawi with his wife and newborn son.
Please check back soon as we update his impressive bio from the nonprofit and education sector.
SHUPO KUMWENDO
Proud to announce the recent appointment of newest board member, Shupo Kumwendo.
He is a true humanitarian and community leader, serving as Executive Director of Tafika. Humbled and honored to have him on our board. Shupo resides in Malawi with his wife and family. Please check back soon as we update his impressive bio.
AMY ROBINSON
Amy is another accomplished formidable female who first fell in love with Malawi while leading the Global Brand Management team at Cisco. Her passion for education and community development inspired her to build her first primary school in Malawi in 2015. Amy is the driving force behind our partnership with buildOn, which began in 2018 to fund and construct schools with solar water systems in the Kasungu district of Malawi. Amy’s connection with buildOn dates back to 2009 when she volunteered with the organization in San Francisco alongside Catarina Schwab, then the Vice President of Development. Proudly calling herself a “data nerd,” Amy is currently collaborating with WhatIf Innovation Partners (now part of Accenture) to develop an innovative whole-village model called Mudzi, which is in the early stages of research and development. Amy holds a BA in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Brown University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Her dedication to using data-driven solutions to empower communities makes her an invaluable force for change.
Advisory Board
Lindsey Alley
Chief Financial Officer; Houlihan Lokey
Bill Keller
Water Chemist and President; Aqua-tech Water Management
Michael Yarbro
Attorney
Tax returns (known as IRS Form 990 in the nonprofit world) can be found here:
2023 Form 990 (coming soon)
2022 Form 990
2021 Form 990
2020 Form 990
2019 Form 990
2018 Form 990
Proud recipient of the 2024 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency featured on GuideStar
