Founders & Staff

Real Humanitarian is a non-religious, non-political, registered 501(3)c Charity (EIN 26-3115367). We are dedicated to assisting disadvantaged children, their families and communities break free from the cycle of poverty.

Since our first beginnings in 2003 as Canadian Humanitarian in Canada, the projects that Real Humanitarian supports have continued to grow as well as the number of children and families that are benefited. In 2008 Real Humanitarian obtained charitable status in the U.S. under the name Kids Hope Ethiopia.  We have been operating as Real Humanitarian since 2020, and legally changed our name in Canada in 2023 to match.

In 2012, we obtained our Ethiopian charitable NGO license. In 2014 we licensed in Uganda and Malawi.

Board Chairman & Founder

Dr. Richard Northcott

Dr Richard Northcott is a physician from Medicine Hat Alberta, who has worked as a family physician, emergency physician, and hospitalist throughout his professional career. He currently works in Fort McMurray and Medicine Hat communities as hospitalist, and clinical physician. He is also active in medical volunteer work in Africa as part of his service to Real Humanitarian.

Dr Northcott is a co- founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Real Humanitarian.

Executive Director - Programs

Deborah Northcott

Co-founder Deborah has been a full-time volunteer since 2009: as child program development advisor, volunteer expedition coordinator, and fundraising event advisor.  

With the help of Ethiopian program managers, she developed the Holistic Child Centered Network Model, which is used in many of the after school support programs of Real Humanitarian. 

She travels to Africa 2- 4 times a year.

About Our Founders

Co-founders Deborah and Dr Richard Northcott have a full history of international service and experience.  Through their experiences and charitable involvement, they recognized a need for Education Support for children in Africa.  As adoptive parents of Ethiopian children, their connection to that country led them to start their first programs in Ethiopia, and Real Humanitarian's first Education Support Center was begun.  

Dr Northcott first visited Ethiopia in 1994, and arrived home resolved to do more. That experience was the impetus for the creation of Real Humanitarian.

Deborah has education in social work and child developmental psychology. From 1995 until 2008 she was an Adoption Service Coordinator for a private international adoption agency, and International Adoption Consultant across Canada. She has travelled extensively throughout Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean as part of her duties during that time, working with federal ministries and local community initiatives to improve intervention options for children in crisis. Deborah has spent her personal and professional years nurturing and caring for children. They are her passion.

In 2009, she made the move to working with Real Humanitarian full-time.

In 2011, they were the recipients of Honorary Applied Baccalaureate Degrees by the Medicine Hat College, for their African development service.

Meet Our Team

Executive Director - Operations

Rachel Austin

Ethiopia Country Representative

Bisrat Sime

Grant Reporting Coordinator

Charity Ehnisz

Donor Relations Coordinator

Maria Lang

Financial Officer

Jessica Lavigne

Grants Coordinator

Daniel Da Cunha

Fundraising Coordinator

Jerry Cao

Social Media Coordinator

Allan Agustin

Program Director
Kirkos 

Abiy

Program Director
SSCM 

Bekele

Program Director
Kality 

Walelegne

Project Financial Coordinator

Tagel

Social Worker
Alemgena

Wondimu

Program Director
Gulele 

Tilahun

Education Attendant
Alemgena 

Tigist

Program Associate
Scholarship

Mulu Alem

Education Facilitator
Alemgena 

Genet

Program Manager
Kersa

Fikadu

Administrative Finance Officer

Dereje

Program Manager
Turge 

Bulbula

Social Worker
Kirkos

Ayele

Program Accountant
Gulele

Almaz

Program Manager
Halecu

Fasika

Our Board of Directors

Dr. Richard Northcott, Chairman
Dr. Justin Steed
Paul Morrell
Dr. Matthew Gibb
Jonathan Tieman
W. Ian Watson
Anea Bogue
Jordan Johnson
Wallace Odd
Cherish Newman