Velentina Mkakisha Mchongo is a committed and skilled community development specialist with experience in data gathering, loan management, client relations, public sensitization, and sales and marketing. She has worked in the public and microfinance sectors for more than three years, focusing on improving community welfare through creative problem-solving and effective service delivery. Velentina was born and raised in Kenya and attended Scott Christian University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in community development (2016–2020). With her extensive understanding of social dynamics, public policy, and community engagement, she has applied her academic knowledge throughout her career. In addition, she obtained a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education from Mwasere Girls High School between 2012 and 2015. Currently, Velentina volunteers at CorpsAfrica/Kenya, where she has gained practical skills such as mat weaving, bead making, soap making, kerol making, and shampoo making. Her passion for volunteering drives her commitment to empowering communities to become self-reliant in addressing their own needs. She looks forward to expanding her work with NGOs and other organizations dedicated to sustainable development and community empowerment. Velentina worked as a Microfinance Officer at Vision Capital Limited, a financial institution in Kenya, from January 2021 to July 2024. Her responsibilities included developing and executing strategic plans to drive revenue growth, recruiting and managing client groups, and overseeing the documentation, appraisal, disbursement, monitoring, and recovery of loans. She consistently exceeded sales targets through tailored solutions and ensured high levels of customer satisfaction. Furthermore, she monitored member accounts daily for missed installments, negotiated payment plans for overdue accounts, and prepared demand notices for overdue loans. During her internship as a Social Development Intern at the County Government of Machakos from January 2020 to April 2020, Velentina participated in group registration processes, assisted with cash transfers for the elderly and people with severe disabilities, and provided civic education to self-help groups on how to document their meeting minutes. She also managed office records through data recording and filing, sensitized the public on local government programs, and maintained strong relationships with clients and partners. In August 2019, Velentina worked as a Field Enumerator for the Kenya Planning and Housing Census, collecting census data through door-to-door interviews and contributing to the government’s decision-making on resource allocation.