Our Team
We are a young and dynamic team. We live what we teach and we are committed to cultivating a generation of confident, conscious and responsible Earthchildren.
JANNA KRETZMAR
DIRECTOR
Janna holds a degree in Anthropology and Psychology, is a qualified yoga instructor with experience in informal education and youth facilitation. Her role is to ensure that the team works with integrity and passion in a way that is sustainable and professional, and in turn to provide our children with positive role models, high quality programmes and valuable skills for life. She believes that through deeply connecting to ‘self, other & earth’ we can co-create a world where people and the planet can thrive!
NOKS JADA
SCHOOLS’ PROGRAMME MANAGER KHAYELITSHA
Noks has been teaching children’s yoga since she started with Earthchild Project in 2007. She is also passionate about teaching yoga to parents, school teachers, and her community. Noks aims to nurture and inspire the children with whom she works by teaching them to love and believe in themselves.
PHILA SOPAZI
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Before Earthchild Project, Phila was the operations manager at Project Playground in Gugulethu. She is passionate about connecting with and empowering others to transform themselves and achieve their goals. Her role at ECP is to create an environment in which the team can make a powerful impact on our kids, our communities and our world.
MANDY ABRAHAMS
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Mandy studied Marketing at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and has over a decade of experience. She has gained extensive knowledge in both traditional and digital marketing while working in the public and private sector. Mandy has a keen interest in brand building and is passionate about purpose-driven communication which she believes drives her to make a meaningful impact in her role.
ROMILLY DE BUCK
PROJECT MANAGER
After studying a Bachelor of Social Science, Rom explored working in bookshops, the film industry, the hospitality industry, the publishing industry, and taught English in Taiwan and Peru. Her role assists the team to deliver their best selves in order to expose our Earthchild children and teachers to different ways of thinking and being.Â
ABIGAIL PETERS
SCHOOLS' PROGRAMME MANAGER LAVENDER HILL
Abigail holds a Degree with a Double Major in Political Science & Industrial & Organisational Psychology. She has over 14 years working experience in the Development sector and the NGO space. Before Earthchild Project she served as a Paralegal for 11 years for the veteran Human Rights NGO, Black Sash Trust. She has a passion for children’s rights and supporting young leaders in disadvantaged communities to become part of the change they want to see. She believes that we are all connected to each other and this one earth we have been given.
CARLY APPLEBY
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
Carly has a background in Nature Conservation and yoga, and is passionate about self development. She values the way that Earthchild Project nurtures self love within our children, and wants to bring the message of what ECP does to the world, so that they too can be a part of the change.
ANATHI PHITINJAZOMLUNGU
YOGA FACILITATOR
Anathi was a part of Earthchild Project since school and is now a passionate facilitator who takes pride in being a mentor for our children.The relationships that she builds with our Earthchildren brings her joy in her work.
ASEMAHLE NDODANA
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITATOR
Asemahle is an ECP graduate who interned with us after completing High School. As someone who completed the ECP Programmes, Mahle is confident in the positive impact that our programmes have on our children. She loves teaching what she is passionate about – nature and sustainability.
ATHI KHULU
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITATOR
Athi joined Earthchild Project in school and was involved with the first ECP Hiking Club. He now leads the hikes and is our environmental Green Team Lead. Athi loves teaching our children to fall in love with nature, the same way that Earthchild Project taught him to love nature.
BLANCHE LEUKES
YOGA FACILITATOR
Blanche holds an Honours Degree in Psychology, and is a qualified yoga and mindfulness instructor. She loves doing meaningful work that directly impacts the lives of young learners, and that she gets to see the world through their innocent and loving eyes. Knowing that children who are facing some very difficult circumstances can find a safe and nurturing space to escape to as a buffer.
JADENE VAN NEEL
YOGA FACILITATOR
Jadene has been an Earthchild Project participant since she was 10 years old and is now a full time yoga facilitator. She loves that she can give back to her community through supporting children in the same way the facilitators supported her when she was a child. She loves seeing her learners having fun and being free.
KURT MARMAAN
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITATOR
Kurt, a committed facilitator at Earthchild Project, has previously served as a team leader with Scouts South Africa and as an educator assistant at Levana Primary School. His current role centres on guiding learners through environmental education and wellness initiatives, helping them and himself grow and connect with nature.
LIYA MGUDLWA
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITATOR
Liya was an Earthchild Project Programme Participant and became an ECP intern straight after finishing highschool. Liya is passionate about helping children fall in love with nature and the unfamiliar, as well as creating meaningful relationships with our children.
NOSIPHIWO MOSHILIBANE
YOGA FACILITATOR
Before starting with Earthchild Project, Nosi was a professional dancer and performer in theater. She is also a yoga instructor and Mindfulness Facilitator and a Health Coach. She is passionate about restoring hope and bringing joy into the lives of our children, while teaching them about life.
MIHLALI MPAFA
EARTHCHILD PROJECT INTERN
A beneficiary of our programme, Milhali has extensive exposure and experience of Earthchild Project and is currently completing his internship in our internship programme. With experience as an Earthchild and as an educator’s assistant at Usasazo High School, he supports the next generation of beneficiaries with passion and ease. At ECP, he contributes to learners’ personal growth while gaining valuable skills in nonprofit work.