Meet the
Themba Team
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Project Managers
Thabisa Mdolomba – Agapé Educare
Elizabeth Solomons – Graceland Preschool
Erica Samson – Thembani Educare
Lindy Officer – Mama Themba
Unathi Mabulu – School of Hope
Marla van der Merwe – Themba Training
Founder Members
Frank Christie
Katherine Christie
Service Centre Staff
Katie Visser – Managing Director
Unathi Mabulu – Human Resources Manager
Paula Delport – Payroll & HR Coordinator
Yolanda Odendaal – Bookkeeper
Faith Mogotle – Financial Manager
Marketing and Fundraising Team
Amanda Nortje – Marketing & Fundraising Manager
Danelle Wilkinson – Graphic Design and Digital Marketing Coordinator
Sophie Olivier – Grant Writing Consultant
Morgan Domijan – Campaign Coordinator
Kate Christie – Major Gift Fundraiser
SouthAfrica
Board of Directors
A few people of integrity can go a long way.
Anthony Geard
Anthony Geard serves as the Chair on the board of the Thembalitsha Foundation. He has also been involved in the expansion of services to Adelaide in the Eastern Cape. He studied at the University of Cape Town, completing a Bachelor of Business Science (Honours) degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting. Anthony subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He is also a CFA charter holder. He has worked at Investec Securities as an investment analyst since 1999 in Johannesburg, London and Cape Town. Anthony now lives in Somerset West with his wife and two children and has been involved with Thembalitsha since 2010.
KATIE VISSER
Katie Visser brings a fresh approach to the non profit sector and specifically Thembalitsha Foundation, with over a decade of corporate experience in Human Resources Management. Her systems approach and openness to innovative ideas have added tremendous value to our work force over the past seven years. Her consultative leadership style and strategic thinking abilities contributes to her professional success as Operations Manager and now, Managing Director. Katie received the Thembalitsha Service Award twice over the past 5 years.
Gundo Maswime
Gundo is a graduate Civil Engineer and public policy specialist with 12 years of experience in the public sector. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town where he teaches part-time. He is passionate about maths education and community development.
Randall Adams
Randall Adams is an experienced development coordinator, with a demonstrated history of building and managing philanthropic relationships. He is the Senior Coordinator: Delegations and Diplomatic Corp Liaison at Stellenbosch University, with previous experience as a fundraiser, chairman of employment equity committee and voluntary chairman in the non-profit sector. Randall has excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, and extensive experience in project planning and implementation, as well as research and data analysis. With a MA degree in Business History, and his personal and professional investment in social and community justice, he brings a wealth of experience to the Thembalitsha Board of Directors.
Alison Carvalheiro
Alison Carvalheiro has acted as treasurer for various charitable organisations and now serves as treasurer and secretary to the board of Thembalitsha Foundation. She is a qualified chartered accountant who has worked in financial institutions and lectured at the University of Witwatersrand.
Monica Folscher
Monica has steered Thembalitsha into calm waters over the past eight years, giving strategic guidance and putting systems in place to catch up with the growth of the foundation. She has over 25 years of experience in NGO management and has academic qualifications in Communications, Political Science, and Journalism, with a Masters Degree in Psychology. With extensive experience in strategic planning & implementation, mentorship, community intervention systems and psycho-social support to vulnerable groups, she has received awards from Rapport, Business Against Crime and the Rotary Vocational Service Award.
Mark Volmink
Mark comes to the Foundation with a range of skills and extensive leadership and management experience acquired over a 20 year period, cross-cutting private, government and civil society sectors. He has a passion for Development and assisting those who experience exclusion, hunger or are trapped by similar circumstances associated with poverty. Mark obtained his Master’s degree in Development Studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and is currently pursuing his PhD at the Institute for Social Development (UWC). He is married with 3 children and is a sport loving individual, who enjoys road running and playing Squash.
