About us | The Thoughtful Path

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Our philosophy is that every child should have the opportunity to become a healthy, productive adult. The Thoughtful Path is designed to engage an entire community and enable its most vulnerable children to grow into empowered adults. We aim to increase life-expectancy, improve health, and enhance children’s life-long contribution to their community.

MUNSIEVILLE

Munsieville is a community of over 50,000 people, including over 10,000 orphans and vulnerable children, bordering Krugersdorp on Gauteng’s West Rand. We chose to work in Munsieville as it is one of South Africa’s oldest undeveloped townships and orphans and other vulnerable children there die young and are unable to escape the cycle of inter-generational poverty.

OUR PATRON

Munsieville was the childhood home of our patron, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, whose sister Gloria Radebe still lives there. Archbishop Tutu says: “This is a most impressive project in the township where I spent much of my childhood. I urge you to lend it your support so that together, we can accomplish something remarkable for our children and young people.”

It is with the greatest sadness that we must acknowledge the passing of our patron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the 26th December 2021. He has been a shining light for both the community and our charity, and his guidance and support will be sorely missed.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PATRON ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS DESMOND TUTU

OUR PEOPLE

Betty Nkoana

Project Director, Thoughtful Path Munsieville

Betty previously worked for The Haven Centre, a consortium of not-for-profit organisations committed to supporting orphans and other vulnerable children in South Africa. In 2010, Betty was appointed Project Manager of The Thoughtful Path: Munsieville programme, becoming Director of Operations in July 2012.

Saffiera Sello

Mentor Supervisor

Public Health specialist and Hub Mentor Supervisor, Saffiera joined the team in September 2012 and has been supporting the programme with her experience and wisdom ever since. Saffiera lives in Munsieville and has become a valuable contact for parents and caregivers needing support in the struggles with paperwork and complex registration processes.

Sibongile Mkhahluli

Manager, Children’s Embassy

Sibongile is a peer educator and public health mentor. With her development studies background she joined the Thoughtful Path team in June 2014, perfectly qualified to work with the House of Young Ambassadors and all volunteers. In February 2017 Sibongile also took over the management of the Children’s Embassy.

Gladys Hanxa

Manager, Hope Park Nutrition Centre

Gladys has a qualification in office administration, and now transfers her knowledge into presentations, booking systems and workshop organisation as the Nutrition Centre Manager. She lives at Hope Park with her children and oversees the premises. Her interest in growing vegetables and healthy cooking ensures workshops benefit the community.

Shelly Mojailo

Manager, Fhulofhelo Children’s Centre and Early Childhood Mentor

With many years’ experience in the care of pre-school children, Shelly received training to become a qualified Early Childhood Development educator. She supports those who are improving the quality of pre-school education and health at privately-owned facilities in Munsieville.

Sarah Modisane

Mentor, Vital Support Unit: Enterprise

Having lived in Munsieville for many years, and raising her own children there, Sarah has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by parents and caregivers in providing the necessities of life to children. She currently mentors the Thoughtful Path Enterprise Vital Support Unit, helping members to find solutions to poverty through economic activity.

Anette von Block

Chief Operations Officer

Anette has a degree in International Development, did research on traditional healing in South Africa, and is co-author of the Adverse Childhood Experience Study in Munsieville. She works closely with the Thoughtful Path Team until the whole programme is fully sustainable within the township community.

OUR BOARD

Mpho Bokaba

Board Member

Mpho started working with the project in 2016, taking 6 months to immerse herself full-time into the Munsieville community. She has over 20 years extensive commercial experience. Her work includes growing brands in African and Middle East markets, but her passion remains making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Betty Nkoana

Project Director, Thoughtful Path Munsieville

Betty previously worked for The Haven Centre, a consortium of not-for-profit organisations committed to supporting orphans and other vulnerable children in South Africa. In 2010, Betty was appointed Project Manager of The Thoughtful Path: Munsieville programme, becoming Director of Operations in July 2012.

Judith Mkhize

Board Member

Judith was previously the Principal of Rand Gold Primary Farm School in Maanharand. In 2015 she was appointed as Principal of Munsieville Ext 4 Primary School, which is open to all learners in the Munsieville area of Krugersdorp. “I believe that all learners can learn despite their challenges.”

Lista Cannon

Board Member

Lista is a lawyer from the USA and has supported The Thoughtful Path from the beginning. Her dedication and expertise has helped the programme to get stronger every year. Through her involvement Munsieville’s children now have their own Nutrition Facility.

Paul Brooks

Chair of Board

Paul is the founder of the Thoughtful Path Programme. With 35 years of experience in international development, he set up the different community action groups together with Betty Nkoana in 2010. The replica of the world cup in Munsieville, township-wide shack safety campaigns and health fairs were the first successes initiated by Paul.

The Thoughtful Path Charity is an association incorporated under the South African Companies Act 2008
NPO number: 225-495 | PBO number: 93006156
Email us: avonblock@projecthopeuk.org

Click for: Legal notices & Privacy policy