Project Help Afghanistan

William Seo, founder and President

William Seo has been involved with different organizations since 1986 to volunteer in community outreach projects in different parts of the world, such as South Korea, Philippines, Mexico, and North America. William Seo founded Project Help Afghanistan (PHA) while he was deployed to Afghanistan with U.S. Army in 2009.
What started to get a pair of shoes to a local Afghan national worker developed in to multiple projects, helping more than 3,000 Afghans by the end of the deployment with the support of numerous individuals, churches, and non-profit organizations from U.S. and other parts of the world.

William was immigrated to U.S. in 1984 with his family. He dropped out of St. Matthews University School of Medicine and served as the President and CEO of BioMedical26, inc. for 6 years.

He has received Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) for the humanitarian effort in Afghanistan.

His vision is to provide Home(H), Education(E), Medical(M), and Employment(E) to overcome poverty in Afghanistan and different parts of the world.

Melvyn Lopez, Vice-President

Melvin Lopez was born on August 11, 1971, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He attended high school at Notre Dame High School in Caguas, Puerto Rico, graduating in 1988. He enlisted into the Army National Guard on 16 June 1989 and attended college at the University of Puerto Rico. He enlisted into the Active Army on 4 December 1992.

He has been in the Army for the last 18 years serving at various positions including Squad Leader, Ranger Instructor, and Brigade Air Operations Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO).

His current assignment is with the 2-503rd, 173rd Airborne, Vicenza, Italy since 2008. As a Platoon Sergeant, he has prepared 4th Platoon, Destined Company for its current deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Nargarhar Province of Afghanistan.

His military education includes 11B (Infantry) Advanced Individual Training, Warriors Leader Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Pre-Ranger Course, Ranger School, Pathfinder School, Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, Air Assault School, Sniper School, Sniper Employment Officer Course, Total Army Instructor Training Course, Unit Prevention Leader Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Long Range Surveillance Leaders Course, and Anti-Terrorist/Force Protection Level 2 Training.

Melvin Lopez awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (6 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (5 OLC), Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), Army Superior Unit Award (ASUA), Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (ARCAM), National Defense Service Medal (1 Bronze Service Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal (GWTEM), Global War on Terror Service Medal (GWTSM), Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM), Multinational Force and Observers Medal (MFOM), NATO Medal (1 Bronze Service Star), Ranger Tab, Combat Infatryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Pathfinder’s Badge, Master Parachutist Wings with one combat jump, Air Assault Badge, German Jump Wings, Hungarian Jump Wings, Ecuadorian Jump Wings, Brazilian Jump Wings, and Italian Jump Wings.

His Civilian Education include a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Design from SUNY Empire State College (GPA 4.00), a Master of Business Administration in Global Management from the University of Phoenix (GPA 3.89), and is 24 credits away from earning a Ph. D. in Management from North-Central University (current GPA 3.89).

Melvin Lopez community involvement history includes volunteering at the local Roman Catholic Church; volunteering at Habitat for Humanity over 50 hours; being a tutor for the Machine Tool Technology department at Columbus Technical College (Columbus, GA) for over 300 hours; assisting members of the Peace Corps in Vicenza, Italy with the acquisition of equipment for the St. Joseph Children’s Hospital in Ghana; and currently, working with Project Help Afghanistan at COP Garcia, Afghanistan.

Richard Johnson, Secretary

Richard Johnson was born on 12 March, 1969 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts where he majored in music performance and minored in music composition. He entered the United States Army on 13 June 1988; upon the completion of Basic Combat Training at Fort Bliss, Texas; he attended the United States Army Medical Department Center & School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas for training as a Combat Medic.

Richard served on several assignments throughout his almost 22-year military career:

1. 560th Medical Company, Camp Humphreys, Korea (1988-89)
2. 1-34 Armor Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas (1989-1992)
3. 554th Military Police Company, Patch Barracks, Germany (1992-1996)
4. Stuttgart Health Clinic, Vaihingen, Germany (1992-1996)
5. 690th Medical Company, Fort Benning, Georgia (1996-99)
6. Friedberg Health Clinic, Friedberg, Germany (1999-2003)
7. 1-87 Infantry Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York (2003-2005)
8. 4-25 Field Artillery Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York (2005)
9. 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York (2005-08)
10. 1-32 Infantry Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York (2008-Present)

1. Operation Desert Storm – Iraq (Combat Tour 1991)
2. Operation Enduring Freedom IV – Afghanistan (Combat Tour 2003-04)
3. Operation Enduring Freedom VII – Afghanistan (Combat Tour 2005-06)
4. Operation Enduring Freedom IX – Afghanistan (Combat Tour 2009-10)

During my recent combat tour in Afghanistan (2009-10), he’s often noticed several its natives were without the basic necessities of which we Americans so much take for granted; simple clothing items, like shoes. Along with William Seo, he’s had to treat some Afghans; due to the simple fact that they simply could not afford simple everyday items like shoes; so that was what very much inspired him to join William in his quest to do all (and anything) possible to render assistance to what he strongly feels was once (and still to some great extent) a much abused, if not neglected, (war-torn) nation.

Esperanza A. Senterftt, board member

Esperanza Senterfitt has been volunteered to work with military families in her community whose loved ones are deployed since 2003 to express her deepest gratitude to deployed soldiers for their dedicated services to the nation.

Esperanza has also spent much of her own money to purchase and ship many needed items to support the poor nations around the globe. She sent 600 pairs of shoes in 2006 and 400 pairs in 2009 to 3rd world countries. This is just a small example of what she has done to express her compassion to poor nations.
She recently volunteered to join Project Help Afghanistan as a board member to do even greater work for the people in Afghanistan.

Her favorite quote from Helen Keller; “I cannot do everything. I accept that. Not being able to do everything is no excuse for doing nothing.”

Dr. Rafiulla Mohammad Sadiq, Co-founder and Director of Operations in Afghanistan

Dr. Rafiulla Sadiq (Dr. Rafi) is a very compassionate person, willing to serve his people in any way he can. Dr. Rafi met William while he was working with U.S. Army at a treatment center and joined Project Help Afghanistan. Since then Dr. Rafi has been a valuable asset to PHA and successfully assisted in every part of projects.

Dr. Rafi is an internist, graduated from a medical college in Jalabad city, Afghanistan in 2003. He has also completed General Management course, Office programs for computers, Special conversation course, Accounting course, and English conversation course.

He is fluent in Pashto, Dari, Urdu, Panjabi, and English.

His awards are Army Achievement Medal, Coin of Excellence from D-Company 2-503, U.S. Army, Certification of Appreciation from Project Help Afghanistan, Certificate of Achievement from the 10th Mountain Divistion, U.S. Army, and Coin of Best Service Award from Captain Senterfitt.

Asadullah Subhanullah, Administrator in Afghanistan

Asadullah Subhanullah (Asad) was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in May 5, 1986. Due to the civil war, his family moved to Peshwar, Pakistan where he attended primary and secondary schools. Asadullah is fluent in both English and Pashto and is educated and certified in Microsoft Office, MCSE, Photoshop, Ulead, and Operating systems troubleshooting.

He taught Microsoft Office and other software, as well as English at the Compro Institute of IT. Asadullah met William Seo while working as an Afghan Linguist with U.S. Army and started working for Project Help Afghanistan.