leadership council

Formed in 2016 in The Netherlands

Ubuntu Mundo provides strategic planning and fundraising to support a network of small-scale projects feeding children all over the world.

Ubuntu Mundo establishes roots in distressed communities and supports local efforts to uplift futures.

Roland Oosterhout - Board Chair

Roland brings a background in finance and 20 years as a hedge fund manager in NYC to the enormous task of designing a global network to feed children.
 
Since co-founding Ubuntu Mundo in 2016, Roland has dedicated himself to working with local leaders to reach consensus around solutions, to building physical sites for farming and food programs, and to developing a business engine to sustain and grow Ubuntu Mundo's operations. Originally from The Netherlands, Roland now spends half of each year in South Africa developing the onsite programs of Ubuntu Mundo, and the balance of the year in The Netherlands, Mexico and the United States advancing its mission. Roland brings his financial skills and his deep commitment to doing what is right, to creating real opportunity for those who suffer because of being born into circumstances that unfairly limit opportunity.

Jacques van Os - Treasurer

Jacques has been on early retirement since 2014 after 43 years of employment at ABNAMRO. The invitation to join the Ubuntu Mundo Board as treasurer was gladly accepted. 
 
The decisive factor was the clear mission of the Foundation: the children. And the enthusiasm of Roland and Cecilya. Due to the life path of the great Nelson Mandela and the books of Wilber Smith, interest in South Africa was present at an early age. Children are also our number one priority in private. Together with Ewa I have 5 children and 2 grandchildren. Our second homeland is Poland.

Alewijn Medendorp - Secretary

Alewijn has been an entrepreneur from the start of his career. He started his first Internet company in 1995 and has now committed himself to building businesses in 3D printing and 3D scanning.
 
Alewijn met Roland during his time at Amsterdam University in the previous century. To his pleasant surprise many years later they got in touch again and was introduced to Ubuntu Mundo. Alewijn was impressed by the clear target and the way Unbuntu Mundo was organized. From the first Amsterdam marathon fundraising event Alewijn has been running yearly. Engaging current students and alumni is both effective and enjoyable. Alewijn is looking forward to a steady expansion of the number of children being part of Ubuntu Mundo.

Nelly Mofokeng - Director

 
Nelly Mofokeng is the Executive Director at A Spring of Hope South Africa where she is responsible for providing the strategic direction and leadership for the South African chapter of the organization, fundraising, stakeholder engagement and new program development.
 
Nelly was born and raised in Soweto. She started her humanitarian work as a volunteer at the South African Red Cross in the early ’90s.
She holds a diploma in financial accounting, degree in business administration, master’s degree in business leadership and a certificate in social entrepreneurship.
A greater part of her career was at Junior Achievement South Africa where she started out as data capturer and rose within the ranks to the position of managing director at the time of her departure.
Nelly is highly experienced in key functional areas which we believe will add great value to the Ubuntu South Africa. She has a well-developed commercial and business orientation, demonstrated success in achievement of measured outcomes aligned to strategy that has kept the business afloat in a though economic climate. She has demonstrated success in leveraging off established networks and developing relationships within the non-profit sector. She has championed strategic planning and execution of youth development programs which have produced successful outcomes in the South African context, whilst aligning with global business and social responsibility strategy.

Elmon Malapane - Director

Mr. Elmon Malapane was born and raised in Buffelshoek village. He worked at Seganyane Primary School in Bodlayabongolo. 
 
This is the community were Ubuntu South Africa opened its first community kitchen. He is currently in Sekhukhune District in Marble Hall as a Principal. He loved working with children and developed love for feeding them while in Bodlayabongolo. He is always eager to assist and see the needy kids in the area and around the world been fed. Feed one child and you shall have fed a nation.

Thembisile Ndlovu - Director

Mrs.Thembisile Ndlovu is from Timbavati village. She is a medical doctor and very passionate about helping people especially children. 
 
She grew up in a community where she saw children suffering because of poor socioeconomic status. She is very happy to be part of Ubuntu Mundo and it is her hope that we will be able to expand and cover a lot of disadvantaged children.

Albert Horn - Director

Albert was born in Musina, in the Limpopo province of South Africa. In this agriculture rich area, he spent many hours as a child between the vegetable crops and citrus orchards on the farms of close friends.
 
There his love for nature and farming started. His family moved to Potchefstroom when he was older and this is where he completed his high school career. He went on to study agriculture at the Potchefstroom Agricultural College. 
Today Albert has 17 years experience in various areas of the agricultural sector. Amongst others, he was responsible for vegetable seed productions for Starke Ayres in the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga. Thereafter he returned to his roots and acted as Agricultural Manager at the Tiger Brands Tomato Paste unit in Musina. Albert worked for Tiger Brands for 4 years. A vegetable seedling- and citrus tree nursery in Hoedspruit neared him and offered him the position of Technical and Marketing Manager. Everyone who knows Albert, knows his other big love is the Kruger Park and its beautiful wildlife. This made the decision to take the offer and make the move to Hoedspruit, very easy. He held his position at the nursery for 10 years. It was also during this time that Albert met Roland and Cecilya. This is also how Albert became involved with Ubuntu. 
Currently, he is privately consulting for various farmers and also acts as a crop advisor and sales representative for the agricultural chemical company, AECI as well as the fertilizer company Kynoch. 
Albert lives close to nature and also with great compassion for his fellow human beings. Therefore sharing his knowledge with others, comes easily for him. Even more so when it aids in the upliftment of the less fortunate.

Cecilya Bravo - Director

Cecilya, a born teacher and unifier, brings her love of the arts, together with her 18 years of experience as an educator, to her true passion — creating programs to nurture children in body, in mind and in spirit.
Originally from Mexico, Cecilya was educated in Mexico and Paris, and now splits her time between South Africa, Europe and the Americas, pursuing her mission of creating programs to uplift children. In the eyes of every child, she see boundless potential. Since co-founding Ubuntu Mundo in 2016, Cecilya has inspired local communities and a worldwide network of donors to come together and find solutions to circumstances that squander that potential. Working with local health care organizations, Cecilya finds the children most in need of nourishment. She draws on her deep empathy to create opportunities to celebrate each child’s unique spirit and gifts. She can be both teacher and student, bringing new skills and inspiration to the children, but just as keenly following their lead and celebrating in their joyful self-expression.

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