Sofia Neves
Managing Director
At the age of eight, she was shocked with the images of Ethiopian famine. She could not understand why other children in the world did not have the same privileges as her. For months she nagged her family to help. Their reply was always the same “the world is a place full of suffering and no one can do nothing about it." At the age of 25, Sofia moved to Africa with the firm belief that "We all have the duty to do something".
Marlize Badenhorst
Financial Officer
Marlize originates from Limpopo. She works in fast changing environments, holding the fiscus together. She has high work ethics, believes in team work and has strong family values. When not crunching numbers Marlize works through her bucket-list dreams.
Leoni Vaughn
Health4Life Manager
Leoni is by definition passionate about growth. Whether it is personal or spiritual, she believes one can never stop growing. We all are amazing individuals, our minds and hearts have no limitations except the ones we ourselves impose. This belief, along with her faith, is the main driving force in her quest to help.
Anwar Aricum
Health4Life Counsellor
Anwar's daily greeting is 'honey I'm home' as he welcomes everyone with his happy and warm smile. He loves the universe, which he believes doesn't give what you ask for with your thoughts, but rather gives you what you demand with your actions. He believes that your destiny is bound with the destinies of others.
His motto is "live for today".
Nkosana Mkhize
Health4Life Counsellor
Nkosana, originally from Soweto, is a type of person that likes simplicity. He is humble, full of enthusiasm and humour. He draws his inspiration from God's unconditional love and he believes that life is precious.
Laaiqah Brown
Health4Life Counsellor
Laaiqah is an independant person with a strong work ethic. She loves what she is does and she is always on the look out for the next person to help. She is honest and unapologetic about it! She enjoys music and food, but most of all spending time with her son.
Denecia Buys
Health4Life Counsellor
Denecia is someone who loves wholeheartedly. She believes in honesty and integrity. Her craziness is what adds to the world in a very positive way. She is driven by teaching, motivating others and being surrounded by young people.
Felicia Jantjies
Health4Life Counsellor
Felicia is a woman of few words but is a great listener. Her caring personality and keen sense of humour is one of her many qualitites. She always radiates warmth and understanding in everything she does.
Sindiswa Titi
Health4Life Counsellor
Sindiswa describes herself as shy, but talkative, once she warms up to people. With a background in community work, Sindiswa loves working with small children. Not an overly sensitive person, she believes that one can always learn new things about yourself if you are open to positive feedback from others.
Marlene Wilson
Therapist Consultant
Marlene’s caring spirit and expert listening ability mixed with no frills straight talk, heaps of pizazz and a wicked sense of humour has created a reputation that we all love. When you have the privilege of meeting up with Marlene, you are going to learn all about “The Finger” – what it does and where it belongs!
Desiree du Preez
Family Affairs Therapist
Desiree's journey through life has been one of humility, never boasting about her accomplishments. She maintains that it is important to keep the right perspective and she strives to install this in her children.
It is her passion and courage that makes her such a valuable resource for her family and people around her. She finds laughter, fun and much joy in everything. Life for her is a playground.
Noluthando Kwayimani
Family Affairs Facilitator
Nolly is a sweet and crazy young girl, she is always laughing and making fun of everything. She is commited to finding ways to challenge her weaknesses. Her motto is to work hard to not get the same feedback twice.
Nicole Joubert
Family Affairs Facilitator
Nicole holds the belief that one’s journey is predestined before one is born. She lives by the quote “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure” and believes that everyone has the potential to excel in anything they choose to do. Her quest is to help people realise that they are great no matter their circumstances. Nicole believes that if we all live our true, light and authentic version of ourselves, we will automatically give other people permission to do the same.
She also loves spending time dancing and singing with her son, reading and watching series.
Najma Fakier
Wellness Officer
Najma is fun-loving, funny and caring. She says she has a wicked sense of humour and is able to laugh at her own jokes. Najma is passionate about people and believes that everyone deserves a second chance. She is rewarded by seeing people overcome their obstacles. To relax, she loves reading and watching horror movies.
Queen Gum
Leaders' Quest Coach
Queen is a LOL kind of girl. She laughs at the most serious matters, she does this to let herself and everyone know that everything is going to be alright! She believes that everything happens for a reason. You can lock her up with a "Chinese" and she will still find a way to understand the person because she believes in the human race and the power of love.
Brian Matola
Leaders' Quest Coach
Brian Matola is a charismatic personality who has a long history with Life Choices having originally been part of the Life Choices Peer Education course whilst in high school (2006). He feels privileged to be a coach to the youth on Leaders' Quest and to be able to inspire the learners with his captivating ability to engage and interact with them at a real level. His story telling is legendary and awakens new ways of thinking in the youth he works with.
Sarah Dowling
Leaders' Quest Coach
Fairness, inclusivity and transparency are Sarah's guiding principles in life. With a systems perspective on life, she believes that for the whole system to work effectively, all parts need to work in harmony. Using her analytical mind, she enjoys working toward creating optimal outcomes. Sarah works on being aware of her wholeness and is excited about being a catalyst to support adolescents to discover their undiscovered value.
To relax, Sarah loves being in nature, exploring new places, connecting with family and friends, baking, and curling up with a good book or series.
Whitney Hendricks
Leaders' Quest Coach
Whitney likes to strike a balance between being around people and being alone. She likes to think of herself as crazy, she often thinks deeply about the things she sees around her and creates her own stories. It is just her own silly way of entertaining herself and being creative. Whitney believes that everyone creates their own journey in life.
Lelethu Noji
Leaders' Quest Coach
Lele is a bubbly person and an emotional being who believes that every day is a new chance to learn and right the wrongs of ‘yesterday.’ She loves working with youth and making change happen.
Matthew Williams
Leaders' Quest Coach
Matthew started his career in Biotechnology but soon realised his passion wasn’t being realised. He is interested in transformation coaching and is now focused on serving for the greater good by helping people and watching them succeed.
Bulela Ncanywa
Job Search Counsellor
‘Tough times never last, only tough people do’ has become Bulela’s mantra. She believes that she is who she is today because of what she has been through and now takes on each day with a victorious attitude all the while keeping her mantra top of mind.
Unathi Maqhula
Leaders' Quest Coach
Unathi is an enthusiastic person who believes anything is possible. “I am who I am because of who I have been. My life purpose is to serve, love and heal.” She has always believed that if you set your mind to something, you can hold it in your hands; and that your thoughts can become reality. Own your superpower and you will have powers to change the world. Unathi believes that if you want to help someone to change their life, help them change their mindset.
Bron Villet
Alumni Coach and Facilitator
Bron is a natural anthropologist, curious about people and cultures. She loves to travel, to connect and explore, recording her interactions through her lens. She has a deep empathy and an ability to get people to open up and share their stories. She is positive, energetic and enthusiastic and when not working you will find her on the mountain and in nature. Bron is excited to be working with youth who, she believes, are the future of an equal South Africa.
Godwin Dzvapatsra
Head of Curriculum and Learning
Godwin is experienced in the vocational education and training arena. His philosophy is grounded in lifelong learning. In the wake of skills shortage, he believes in a responsive curriculum in which all key players participate. In his spare time, Godwin enjoys walking, hiking and watching soccer.
Adele Cormac
Academy Administrator
Adele is a strong, independent and open-minded individual with a good work ethic. She has a passion for acquiring and sharing knowledge in the pursuit of improving our world. A “mama-bear,” who is fiercely protective of those she loves and defender of those she feels people are taking advantage of. Adele has a positive and sunny outlook on life and believes you can achieve anything you set your mind to. The saying by Bob Proctor epitomises this: “The only limits in our life are those we impose on ourselves.".
Ryan Geel
Academy Placements and Partnerships Officer
Ryan is a communicator and he approaches everything he touches in a thorough and passionate way. He is dependable and has sound judgement with a practical and logical approach to all of his endeavors in life. Ryan has a natural shining outlook to everything in life.
Candice Amon
Life Choices Academy Facilitator
Candice is an independent individual who is willing unravel potential in each every person she encounters in her life. Candice is very outspoken and draws strength from her achievements in life. She believes to GROW means to CHANGE, if you haven't been challenged you haven't GROWN.Enjoys seeing friends and family happy around her.
Jason Wandrag
Coding Lecturer
Jason Wandrag is an unwavering optimist who believes in the future. With a heart as big as his brain, he approaches students and problems with diligence and compassion. When not working, Jason enjoys playing football, cooking, gardening and being in nature.
Thapelo Tsotetsi
Coding Lecturer
Thapelo, a coding enthusiast, is a compassionate guy who enjoys learning new things. He believes that with time, patience and support anything can be mastered or achieved.
Machai Bulawayo
WordPress Developer
Machai grew up in the Copper Belt in Zambia. Exposed to professionals in his community, he developed a hunger for mathematics, architecture and design. This led Machai to study Computer Science at UNISA. In his spare time he enjoys video games and designing futuristic contemporary element apps (space, cars etc.)
Ehrin Manuel
Placement Partnership Officer
Growing up in the hills of Durban and the dusty streets of the Cape Flats have given Ehrin a blended outlook on life. A quote from Star Trek that has served as his moral compass: "The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few."
Ehrin has a happy disposition and claims he is borderline eccentric, diligent and curious and uses these characteristics to change people's lives one smile at a time. He has a teachable spirit and a macabre sense of humour. In his spare time, Ehrin has a passion for anime, video games and anything Marvel-related.
Maxine Oliver
Placement Partnership Officer
Maxine Oliver is an organised and determined individual investing in personal growth and development. She enjoys reading and expanding her knowledge, as well as inspiring others to reach their potential. Often described as dynamite in a small package she believes that to get anywhere in life, standing still is not an option.
She loves networking and, to relax, Max enjoys time on her own, walking on the beach, quality time with her family and pets as well as taking drives whilst listening to good music.
Alexis Uys
Programme Manager
Alexis Uys believes we are all on a soul journey together, and her raison d'etre is to love and accept people exactly as they show up. Offering this acceptance of others allows her to enjoy watching them transform into the truest version of themselves. She has a heart for working in the community and engaging across different cultures.
A bubbly personality, she loves nature, being outdoors and surfing, and spending quality time with her family. To relax she enjoys time to read, and is invested in developing her spiritual beliefs.
Matt Fisher
New Ventures Studio Manager
Matt is a proudly South African SuperFan, an explorer of the imagination and front-line action man. A thought provoker and risk taker with a strong analytical mind not afraid to ask the BIG questions. Supporter of the underdog. Loyal to the best. A graduate. A hustler. An aspiring wealth creator and eternal team player.
Anja Mulder
M&E Officer
Anja holds a Masters Degree in Programme Evaluation from UCT and is a member of Life Choices’ M&E team. She has a very strong moral compass, is passionate about social justice and has always visualized using the skills she has gained to empower others. Anja spends her spare time reading, making and drinking coffee, and getting outdoors to explore new hiking trails.
Hollie Bradley
M&E Officer
Hollie is an open, straight forward and friendly person who is ambitious and hard working. She has a passion for new and exciting experiences, helping people, learning, family, love and laughter. After 5 years of studying she is looking forward to putting her knowledge to good use in the real world.
Joyce Umetor
M&E Officer
Joyce Umetor has a postgraduate degree in M&E from Stellenbosch University and is originally from Nigeria. She is a budding evaluator and a key part of our M&E team. Music and cooking are her other passions and she says 'you will always find me in the kitchen cooking traditional African dishes listening to my favorite music, Gospel.'
Innocent Masayira
Senior Sustainability Officer
Inno is an unfinished symphony. One distinctive characteristic of Innocent is that he is always in action. His mind is always wondering and his body is always in motion. Inno is daring, he has an interesting outlook to life, he questions and is not afraid to be questioned. For him, the sky is the limit.
Tarran Human
Financial Administrator
Tarran describes herself as a soft-hearted perfectionist who lives off the principles of faith, hope and love. A firm believer in all things positive, Tarran accepts as true that a positive mind leads to a positive life. She believes that we are in control of our own destiny as we write our own story.
Christopher Okwuraiwe
Sustainability Officer
One of Christopher’s favourite life quotes is “expect not and disappoint not” but on a lighter note some of the things Chris enjoys is listening to music, especially old school R&B and African Highlife. He relaxes when reading short stories, watching sports and learning about nature conservation efforts.
Justin Pretorius
Welfare Officer
Justin is all about growth, development and the importance of the holistic paradigm. He loves discovering and experiencing new things with a strong core belief that you have to try things at least once.
Lindia Trout
Operations Manager
Lindia is a generous, compassionate and free-spirited individual who believes that true happiness and success comes from within.
Linda Daniels
Marketing and Communications Officer
Linda is positive, self-motivated and curious. She enjoys learning something new, long walks and conversation. Family and friendship is important to her and she draws inspiration from people who drive positive change in the world.
Milly Vaughan
Office Assistant
Milly is a passionate, humble woman who believes that hard work will get you to where you want to go. She has used this mantra to achieve her personal goals in life and has grown out of depression into a strong, motivated woman. She believes that one’s circumstances do not define one’s life. Outside of work, Milly loves spending time with her family and friends.
Thandazwa Mpontshane
Office Assistant
Thandi is a loving mom who is raising her beautiful daughter to be an empowered woman. She is kind and enjoys helping people in need and is good at working with kids. She says she is a dreamer who believes who dreams will come true.
Philiswa Mqambeli
Receptionist
Philiswa is a fun-loving people’s person who can be shy at times. She loves her family and will do anything for them, giving wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return. She believes that is why she joined Life Choices, to enjoy the rewards of giving.
Vivian Stevens
Maintenance
Vivian enjoys being needed and keeping the Life Choices premises tip top. He believes honesty and hard work are core values in life. When he’s not maintaining things, he loves walking and reading.
Mxolisi Mtwesi
Driver
Mxolisi loves the youth and is a proud father to his family of 7 children. He serves the Life Choices community programmes as a driver and loves being part of the change.