Mava Dlepu

Garden Activity Leader

Mava promotes food security by empowering local community members with gardening skills so they can grow fresh produce and earn some extra income. He also equips Ubuntu clients with gender-related life skills through community outreach and training workshops.

Before he came to Ubuntu, Mava worked as an advisor to small-scale farmers in the for-profit world. Now he uses his expertise in permaculture, organic production, leadership and management to empower the township community. Mava has a bachelor's degree in Architecture and a Higher Diploma in Education from the University of Fort Hare.

Banks Gwaxula

Senior Advisor and Founder

Malizole “Banks” Gwaxula co-founded Ubuntu Education Fund in 1999. Since our inception, Banks has been at the helm of Ubuntu, ensuring we grow responsibly and remain accountable to our stakeholders. Prior to Ubuntu, he was a science teacher for 20 years at Emfundweni Primary School. A well-known figure in Port Elizabeth, Banks was born and brought up in the townships, and has been a community leader his entire life. Banks is the face of Ubuntu, serving as a global ambassador for the organization. He lives and breathes community development—an expert who guides us in tailoring our programs appropriately and acts as liaison between Ubuntu and the surrounding community. Banks has won several awards for public service: Community Builder of the Year 2007, Wall of Fame 2008, and Herald/General Motors Citizen of the Year 2010. He has a Senior Teacher’s Diploma from Algoa College.

Beth Honig

Development Manager, UK

Beth drives Ubuntu's fundraising activities in the UK. Working closely with individual philanthropists, foundations, corporate partners, and the South African community in London, she maintains and develops our support base in the UK to ensure the sustainability of our work in PE. She has been instrumental in making the UK office a major player in Ubuntu’s fundraising efforts, and has managed large campaigns and events for Ubuntu.

 

With strong personal and family ties to South Africa, Beth has been passionate about sustainable community development since before she can remember. Before joining Ubuntu in 2007, Beth worked in Ghana on various health and educational projects.  Beth holds a bachelor’s degree in  English and French from Trinity College, Dublin.

Jordan Levy

Managing Director

Jordan Levy joined Ubuntu in 2001 as a strategic advisor and never looked back.  He saw an opportunity to truly change a community half way around the world from his own community and didn’t think twice about it.  After assisting with the build and implementation of Ubuntu's long-term strategy for growth, he became Chief Operating Officer in 2005, running the entire South African office. Jordan focused the organization on integrating strong business acumen into its operations while committing Ubuntu to creating a proper Human Resources department (the backbone of Ubuntu). His vision of developing a sustainable institution bigger than those who founded it ensured the success we are having today.

As Managing Director, he currently oversees Ubuntu’s offices in London and New York, and the External Relations department in South Africa. Jordan is responsible for building the organization’s first External Relations department.  By combining his expertise in community development, fundraising and marketing with a true passion for Ubuntu, he has launched a world-class brand that will ensure future financial stability for the organization. He has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.

Jacob Lief

President and Founder

Jacob Lief co-founded Ubuntu Education Fund in 1999. He has developed Ubuntu into an internationally recognized model of sustainable development. Jacob oversees the organization’s work and focus, and is an acknowledged expert on community-based development and results-focused programming. He brings the vision of the organization to supporters all over the world, and manages more than 70 full-time staff members in South Africa, London, and New York. In 2010, Jacob was recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. He is an Aspen Global Fellow. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Diplomatic History from the University of Pennsylvania.

Bongi Mabusela

ECD Activity Team Leader

Bongi drives the development of early childhood development programs to address the emotional, cognitive, sensory, moral, and communicative needs of children from birth to the age of five.

 

Bongi was working as Operations Manager for a private HIV clinic before joining Ubuntu as a care worker. By showing dedication to the Ubuntu vision and receiving training in supervision, data management, and counseling, Bongi has worked her way up to this strategic position. Bongi is working on her bachelor’s degree in Social and Health Science at the University of South Africa. 

Tarryn Mthimkhulu

Chief Financial Officer

Tarryn Mthimkhulu joined Ubuntu Education Fund in 2005 as a bookkeeper, and is now Chief Financial Officer. Over the past six years she has built the foundation for our financial department and led the restructuring for both the financial and human resource departments at Ubuntu. Tarryn's management philosophy is rooted in the belief that the non-profit sector is constantly undermining itself, and must follow the same strict guidelines as for-profit entities. Tarryn's bottom line approach to management has set the tone for Ubuntu. Tarryn has spent the last two years building systems, policies, protocols and reporting metrics that have allowed Ubuntu to grow to where it is today, an effective and efficient model for taking children out of poverty. Tarryn has a National Diploma in Accounting from Natal Technikon and is working on her Bachelor of Accounting at the University of South Africa.

Nomawethu Mxaka

Counselor

Nomawethu conducts home visits, counsels Ubuntu students, advocates for clients to get medical treatment, and teaches creative thinking and academic enrichment classes in the after-school program.

 

When Ubuntu met Nomawethu she was unemployed. She volunteered at a local clinic but lacked the foundation she needed to have the impact that she wanted. Through intense training and hard work, she learned specific skills that have empowered her to give back more effectively. Nomawethu now works full-time at Ubuntu as a trained counselor, and her growth and influence within the community continue to increase. Nomawethu passed her matric at Thembalethu High School, and has since then completed courses in home-based care for HIV/AIDS and First Aid.

Fezeka Mzalazala

Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation

Fezeka Mzalazala oversees all data collection and analysis that inform strategic planning in the organization. She manages Ubuntu’s complex tracking systems that include everything from client interactions to analysis of what is working, what is not, and why. She is in charge of the process by which we create qualitative and quantitative reports that keep us accountable to both our board and the community.

 

Before joining Ubuntu, Fezeka worked in a hair salon. Ubuntu invested in Fezeka by training her in health education and management. Fezeka has been a health educator, counselor, team leader, and now manager. Her work is crucial for Ubuntu to meet its goal of transparent, efficient, impactful interventions. Fezeka is working on her bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Social Services at the University of South Africa.

Papy Nkubizi

Program Administrator, Education

Papy oversees Ubuntu’s after-school program, which prepares the community’s students with the educational assets they need to complete high school. In addition, he runs the scholarship program to ensure that each child has access to financial, academic, and psychosocial support before graduation and well beyond.

A Burundian refugee, Papy fled his homeland and studied youth work before starting as an intern at Ubuntu. Over two years, his dedicated passion for education led to greater responsibility and the leadership skills needed to administer a program that gives thousands of children the tools to thrive. Papy has a General Certificate of Secondary Education from Makamba College, Burundi, and is in the final stages of getting his bachelor’s in Youth Work from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Asanda Nogaya

Finance Officer

Asanda monitors Ubuntu's daily finances, maintains accounting policies and procedures, and makes sure the organization is provided with reliable financial information.

 

In 2008, Asanda was hired as a financial assistant and was later promoted to finance officer due to her notable diligence and passion. Asanda has worked at several NGOs and wholeheartedly believes in Ubuntu’s holistic model for education and wellness. Her eye for detail ensures financial accountability throughout the organization. Asanda passed her matric and is currently taking accounting and PA courses at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Jana Zindell

Managing Director

Jana Zindell has been with Ubuntu since 2001 and currently serves as Managing Director. She oversees the entire Program Department. Jana was responsible for the design and development of the Ubuntu Model.  Over the past decade, she has built and mentored a team that delivers truly world-class health and education interventions to the most vulnerable children in South Africa.  Her vision and commitment to “leveling the playing field” for Ubuntu’s clients have pushed the organization to where it is today.

In 2006, Jana assumed the role of project manager for the Ubuntu Centre, our award-winning 25,000 sq foot complex. When the Centre opened in 2010, Jana handed over to the community of Zwide more than a building—the Centre is a statement that the children of the townships deserver the best the world has to offer.

Jana has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, and a master’s degree in International Development and Public Policy from Georgetown University.

Gcobani Zonke

Deputy President

Gcobani Zonke has been with Ubuntu since its inception in 1999. Gcobani exudes ubuntu – his truly selfless nature sets the tone for the organization. His wisdom and patience in mentoring staff are essential to Ubuntu. He is involved in every executive strategic and planning decision. He is a leader in fundraising and partnerships. He brings his proven ability to create and sustain new organizations. He is a key liaison between Ubuntu and the community in which we work.

 

Gcobani participates in community meetings as well as strategic meetings, ensuring that Ubuntu’s programming is culturally appropriate, sensitive and strategic. Over the years, he has played various roles at Ubuntu, including teaching, building science and maths projects, designing life skills and health education curricula and participating in community networks. He cofounded the Leaderwise Schools Project, Young Ambassadors, and the Family Maths Program. Before joining Ubuntu, he was a teacher and Deputy Principal at Sivuyiseni Intermediate School. He has a B.Ed degree from the University of Port Elizabeth, a BA from Vista University in PE, a DES from Leeds University in the UK, and an SPTC from the Cape College of Education.