MANAGEMENT and STAFF

The vision of iThemba Lethu, which is to integrate children into family environments, is mirrored by the make up of the team.

The management team
consists of 10 members, 4 of whom are office bearers. Below is a concise description of the specific experience that each person brings to the organisation. There are 5 couples on the management team. The reason for this is that according to the vision of the organisation, which is about integrating children into family environments, having families involved in this venture will mirror that desire. Every team member brings the experience of working closely in a team.

Anna Coutsoudis (Chairperson).
Anna is an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Natal, Durban. She brings extensive scientific and research experience in the field of HIV /AIDS. Anna is on the eldership team of Glenridge Church International.

Nick Coutsoudis.
Nick is a full-time elder at Glenridge Church International. He brings the direct input of the eldership onto the iThemba Lethu management team as well as spiritual wisdom, and a clear plumbline of iThemba Lethu's spiritual direction and boundaries.

Shaun Baxendale (Placement Officer) and his wife, Charlene (Treasurer) have had extensive experience in working with young children and have been involved in running a children's group at Glenridge Church International. They have had experience in two cross-cultural adoptions (one of whom was an HIV infected child), and are therefore ideally placed to both care for children and encourage the adoption of orphans into families. Charlene is a qualified bookkeeper.

Stephanie Thomas (Health Officer) is a Medical Doctor with a heart for healing and restoration. She has a background in psychiatry and community liaison, and has had extensive youth work experience.

Monty Thomas has had extensive experience in youth work, especially amongst under-privileged communities. Monty also brings networking skills and experience and has successfully managed a youth organisation.

Gary Phillips was a consultant on economic and workplace issues and a former director of a research unit at the University of Natal, Durban. He brings a questioning thoroughness and rigour to the work of iThemba Lethu. He also brings the experience of financial and organisational management. He is a full time elder of Glenridge Church International.

Andra Hellberg-Phillips brings organisation and community development experience, as well as experience in leadership development. She has worked in the South African NGO environment for a number of years, and more recently in poor communities in the Durban area. She is on the eldership team of Glenridge Church International