Who We Are
Gerrit Laning - Operations manager
Gerrit joined the Vision AfriKa family in 2005 as the first full-time member on the staff. His involvement stems from a passion for the youth of previously disadvantaged communities and, specifically, Kayamandi. In addition to the managerial role, Gerrit also is the resident pastoral psychologist on the team. He also serves as consultant to other NGO’s setting up and managing projects in Kayamandi.
Lizelle Vos - Financial officer
Lizelle joined Vision AfriKa in 2006 as volunteer on the Grade 10 camps, with the help of her husband Erlo. She has a HONS Business Management Degree (US) and is in charge of the accounting as Financial Officer.
Mlandeli Dingile - Grade 12 Coordinator Kayamandi Branch and Vision V Branches
Mlandeli joined Vision AfriKa in the beginning of 2010 as a Grade 10 facilitator. With the expansion of the programmes and as a result of his own growth as manager, he was later promoted to the Grade 12 coordinator for Vision Afrika. He lives in Kayamandi and is passionate about working with children and youth. Currently, he is in Level 4 of his studies in ECD (Early Childhood Development) at Boland College.
Neil Fortuin- Grade 11 Coordinator, Vision K and Vision V Branches
Neil started at Vision AfriKa in October 2011.I’m the Gr. 11 coordinator. Studied at Boland College institution Sports and marketing. Neil coaches soccer for a local club in Vlottenburg for several years now and also acts as a coordinator for the club. He is ambitious and strives in helping and developing the youth of this country.
Bernie Treptow - Grade 10 Coordinator, Vision K and Vision V Branches
Bernie studied for a N6 Marketing Diploma (A+ Diploma and N+ Diploma) and has a MCSE Diploma (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer). In addition he did a three year Bible School Basic Doctrine. After that, he was involved in ministry for four years; two of them as a youth pastor. Bernie was also an Ethical Auditor with Africa Now and did ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) base code audits and Community development on farms.
Zukisa Xegwana Grade 9 Coordinator Vision K branch
Zukisa joined Vision AfriKa in the beginning of this year. He will be coordinating and running our first full year Grade 9 programme for the Vision K Branch. He is a local here in Kayamandi and is passionate about working with children and youth. He is a Second year student in Horticulture at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Zukisa gained experience at the Amy Biehl Foundation as a facilitator.
Emma Berkhout - European representative
Emma came to South Africa after finishing her MSc Social Psychology in The Netherlands. She joined our team in 2009 after receiving her certificate in Service Learning and Community Development at Stellenbosch University. Emma worked together with the Operation Manager and the two grade coordinators. Since 2011, she is back in the Netherlands and from there she now supports Vision AfriKa with fundraising and advice.
Volunteers
Vision AfriKa is, to a large extent, dependent on volunteers with the group leaders of both branches (Kayamandi and Vlottenburg) participating on a voluntary basis. At this moment we have 10 group leaders in the Grade 10 Life Skill year. In addition, 24 Art students of the University of Stellenbosch are working with the current Grade 11 learners and tutors from the Rotaract Stellenbosch assist the learners in all three grades with their homework.
