Our Story
Daughters is a nonprofit organization founded and led by four passionate women who believe that education is a powerful path to a fulfilling and impactful life. We are dedicated to supporting driven and talented girls and women who face social and economic barriers, helping them grow into the strongest, most empowered version of themselves.
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We believe true empowerment begins with access to knowledge, opportunity, and support. By fostering strong education, financial literacy, emotional intelligence, leadership skills, and essential life tools, we help girls and young women build the confidence to lead, the courage to create, and the power to uplift their families and communities. When equipped with these foundations, they don’t just imagine a better future—they create it.
The Journey of Daughters
Global Roots
The journey of Daughters began in 2008, when our founder, Karen, was deeply moved by Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza—a powerful memoir about surviving the Rwandan genocide and rebuilding a life through education. Inspired by this story, Karen launched Daughters to support girls and women in pursuing their educational dreams, focusing primarily on communities in Kenya and Southern Africa.​
A New Chapter
​In 2025, a dinner conversation with three close friends—Angela, Mary, and Pam—sparked a powerful new chapter. Angela, a dedicated English teacher and community connector, shared her dream of supporting girls in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district. Karen instantly saw the potential for Daughters to make a local impact.
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Mary, a Math teacher with prior career in fundraising, and Pam, a college, career, and scholarship counselor, brought vital expertise to the table. That night, it felt like the stars aligned—a shared purpose had landed right in the middle of their dinner table.
Local Impact
Together, with backgrounds in education, career and leadership coaching and fundraising they reimagined Daughters with a renewed mission: empowering girls and young women in the Chapel Hill–Carrboro–Durham area.
Meet the Board of Directors
Karen Jooste
Founder & President of Daughters
Karen Jooste is the founder and President of Daughters, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for talented young women who face limited access to education—but have the drive, spirit, and potential to lead and thrive.
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Raised in South Africa, Karen experienced the impact of a patriarchal society that often undervalued girls' education. Grateful for her own opportunity to study medicine—a path that transformed her life—she became passionate about helping girls and women access similar life-changing possibilities.
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The name Daughters was inspired by her own daughters and the belief that we are all “daughters of the world,” united in the shared mission of uplifting one another.
Angela McChesney
Board Member
Angela has been teaching multilingual learners for more than 30 years and has taught in North Carolina, California, the United Arab Emirates, England, Portugal, and Russia. She has a life-long interest in learning about other cultures, countries, and languages.
Angela believes that education, exposure to role models, and learning about professional opportunities transform students’ and families’ lives. She is committed to empowering her female students and caregivers, as they are often the unsung heroes who work tirelessly to support their families.
Angela is honored to be involved with Daughters, channeling her energy and passion into supporting young women who aim to realize their full potential, strengthen their families, and contribute to the growth of their communities.
Mary Ollila
Board Member
Mary Ollila is a dedicated educator and lifelong advocate for youth and community development. For the past eight years, she has taught mathematics at Carrboro High School in Carrboro, North Carolina, with a special focus on Newcomers—students who have recently arrived in the United States. Her goal is to equip these students with the math skills they need to succeed in school, careers, and life.
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Mary came to education after a successful career in nonprofit fundraising. Originally from Ohio, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Systems Analysis from Miami University. Her professional journey includes leadership roles as Development Director at UNC Children’s Hospital, the UNC Medical School Foundation, and United Way in both Los Angeles, California, and Columbus, Ohio.
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Inspired by her passion for numbers and her deep commitment to working with adolescents, Mary returned to school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to earn her teaching credentials. She brings to the classroom—and to the boardroom—a unique blend of analytical thinking, compassion, and community-driven experience.
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In her free time, Mary enjoys learning languages, traveling, reading, playing pickleball, and hiking in the woods with her dogs. She also cherishes time with her family and values every opportunity to connect across cultures and generations.
Pam Reed
Board Member
Pam has spent over nine years helping students navigate the path to college, working in the college access world. She is passionate about making higher education more accessible, especially for students who face extra hurdles along the way. She brings that same energy and heart to her work with Daughters.
Pam joined Daughters because she believes in the transformational impact of education and how higher education can break generational cycles of poverty, open doors to career opportunities, and improve quality of life.
When she’s not advocating for Daughters, Pam enjoys her work as the Scholarship and College Access Coordinator at the Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation, spending time with family, tending her vegetable/flower garden, and unwinding with a good needlepoint project.