🧑‍🤝‍🧑Our Team

Empowered Leadership, Inspired Service

At the heart of the Liberated Humanitarian Organisation (LHO) is a dynamic and accountable leadership structure built to advance our mission across South Africa’s nine provinces. Our team spans from visionary leaders to grassroots champions, all working together to deliver lasting change.

👤 President & Vice President

Ms Sandra Genkoe- President
The visionary leader and founding president of LHO, responsible for strategic oversight and national leadership.

Ms Carolize Du Toit – Vice President
Assists the President with national engagement and coordination across key governance structures.

🏛️ National Board of Governors

Accountable to the President

The National Board of Governors ensures ethical leadership, policy oversight, and financial governance. They are the custodians of the organization’s long-term mission and values.

Key Responsibilities:

Approving strategic policy
Ensuring good governance and compliance
Providing advisory support to the President

The National Board of Governors Include:

Ps Ashley Peters – Safety, Security, Human Rights and Justice
Prof Carlu Van Der Westhuizen – Argricultural Development and Food Security
Ps Ambrose Allies – Human Settlements
Mr Fuad Erentzen – Economic Development and Job Creation
Mr Gregory Boaz – Digital Transformation and ICT
Mr Glenwill Sweetland – Financial Management and Accounting
Mr Keegan Everson – Social Development
Mr Marlon Louw – Education and Innovation
Mr Daniel Larhein – Infrastructure Development
Mrs Elsabe Larhein – Health and Well Being
Mrs Stephanie Kelly – TBA
Mr Glen Victor – Water and Sanitation
Mr Emmanuel Siegelaar – Poverty Eradication

🧩 National Board of Directors

Reports to the National Board of Governors

This board leads operational strategy, national partnerships, and programmatic planning. Directors manage the rollout of LHO’s key focus areas aligned to the 17 SDGs under the Leadership of the Managing Director.

Managing Director:

Key Responsibilities:

Managing national portfolios (Health, Education, Environment, etc.)
Liaising with funders and international partners
Overseeing compliance and risk

Portfolio Leads Include:

Director of Health & Wellbeing
Oversees national health programs, wellness campaigns, and partnerships with health departments.
Director of Education & Innovation
Leads education reform, digital learning, innovation hubs, and youth development strategies.
Director of Sustainability & Environment
Manages environmental programs, climate action, conservation, and green infrastructure.
Director of Social Development
Coordinates community upliftment, poverty eradication, and vulnerable group support.
Director of Economic Development & Job Creation
Focuses on entrepreneurship, employment initiatives, cooperatives, and economic inclusion.
Director of Agriculture & Food Security
Leads programs on sustainable farming, nutrition, and food distribution.
Director of Women & Gender Empowerment
Drives gender equity, anti-GBV campaigns, and economic inclusion for women.
Director of Infrastructure, Water & Sanitation
Oversees clean water access, rural infrastructure, and sanitation projects.
Director of Youth & Civic Engagement
Champions youth participation in civic life, leadership development, and nation-building.
Director of Arts, Culture & Heritage
Supports creative arts, indigenous culture, and social cohesion through heritage promotion.
Director of Faith & Moral Development
Engages religious stakeholders in peacebuilding, ethics, and spiritual transformation.
Director of Digital Transformation & ICT
Oversees digital inclusion, ICT infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
Director of Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Leads the design and tracking of results-based indicators across all LHO programs.
Director of Human Rights & Justice
Manages legal education, access to justice, and protection of vulnerable populations.
Director of Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
Develops collaborations with government, private sector, donors, and international bodies.

🏢 National Executive Committee

Reports to the National Board of Directors

The Executive Committee manages national operations and leads program delivery through provincial hubs and Community Assistance Centres (CACs).

Key Responsibilities:

Coordinating day-to-day implementation
Supervising national staff
Managing reporting and monitoring systems

Executive Roles:

Secretary General
National Treasurer
Head of Communications
Monitoring & Evaluation Lead

🤝 Working Committees

Reports to the National Executive Committee

Our Working Committees are the strategic engines behind the implementation of LHO’s mission across all nine provinces. These teams are made up of dedicated professionals, volunteers, and community members who are passionate about driving real impact from the ground up. Each committee aligns its work with one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

1. Youth Empowerment Committee

SDG Alignment: 4, 8, 10, 17
Key Responsibilities:

Design and deliver youth mentorship, leadership, and skills development programs
Coordinate youth innovation labs, hackathons, and entrepreneurship bootcamps
Create platforms for youth voices in decision-making (e.g., youth councils)
Promote civic education, volunteerism, and democratic participation among young people

2. Women & Gender Equality Committee

SDG Alignment: 5, 10, 16
Key Responsibilities:

Advocate for gender equity and women’s rights across all sectors
Support survivors of gender-based violence through referral networks and counselling
Conduct empowerment and economic inclusion training for women and girls
Engage men and boys in dialogue to end harmful gender norms and practices

3. Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security Committee

SDG Alignment: 2, 12, 13
Key Responsibilities:

Support the development of community gardens, cooperatives, and food banks
Train farmers in climate-smart and regenerative farming methods
Promote indigenous and nutrient-rich crops for better health and food resilience
Partner with schools and clinics to deliver nutrition education

4. Health & Wellness Committee

SDG Alignment: 3
Key Responsibilities:

Facilitate mobile clinics, immunization drives, and health awareness campaigns
Address mental health stigma and provide community wellness support
Distribute sanitary pads, hygiene kits, and access to maternal healthcare
Coordinate HIV/AIDS prevention, education, and support networks

5. Education, Innovation & Digital Inclusion Committee

SDG Alignment: 4, 9
Key Responsibilities:

Establish community learning centres with offline and online learning tools
Promote access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics)
Drive adult literacy, early childhood education, and skills retraining programs
Enable digital inclusion through device donations and internet access

6. Infrastructure, Water & Sanitation Committee

SDG Alignment: 6, 9, 11
Key Responsibilities:

Facilitate access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
Collaborate on rural and peri-urban infrastructure development projects
Install community taps, toilets, and handwashing stations
Promote safe housing, roads, and public transport in underserved areas

7. Climate Action & Environmental Stewardship Committee

SDG Alignment: 13, 14, 15
Key Responsibilities:

Lead reforestation, recycling, and green education campaigns
Conduct climate change awareness and disaster preparedness programs
Promote renewable energy solutions in local communities
Advocate for protection of biodiversity, wetlands, and clean air initiatives

8. Economic Development & Job Creation Committee

SDG Alignment: 1, 8, 9
Key Responsibilities:

Develop community-based job creation projects and cooperatives
Offer financial literacy, savings groups, and small business training
Facilitate access to funding for local entrepreneurs and social enterprises
Partner with private sector and SMMEs to create economic opportunities

9. Human Rights & Justice Committee

SDG Alignment: 10, 16
Key Responsibilities:

Provide civic education and legal rights awareness campaigns
Collaborate with human rights bodies to protect vulnerable groups
Train local leaders in conflict resolution and peacebuilding
Establish local complaint and referral systems for justice access

10. Faith & Moral Regeneration Committee

SDG Alignment: Cross-cutting
Key Responsibilities:

Engage interfaith leaders in community healing and moral transformation
Facilitate national prayer initiatives, reconciliation forums, and values education
Promote tolerance, peace, and unity through faith-based development dialogues
Strengthen the ethical foundation of social programs through faith networks

11. Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee

SDG Alignment: 11, 4
Key Responsibilities:

Promote indigenous culture, language preservation, and storytelling
Support local artists, musicians, and performers through community showcases
Use creative arts for advocacy, healing, and public education
Celebrate heritage days and cultural festivals in local communities

12. Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact Committee

SDG Alignment: 17
Key Responsibilities:

Track performance metrics across all LHO programs and CACs
Conduct impact assessments, baseline studies, and community surveys
Develop dashboards and reporting tools for transparency
Ensure alignment with national and UN SDG frameworks

Our Committees Include:

Youth Empowerment Committee
Fosters leadership, education, skills development, and entrepreneurship for youth.
Women & Gender Equality Committee
Advocates for women’s rights, empowerment, and protection from gender-based violence.
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security Committee
Promotes local food systems, community gardens, and resilient farming practices.
Health & Wellness Committee
Focuses on public health, mental wellness, HIV/AIDS, maternal health, and healthcare access.
Education, Innovation & Digital Inclusion Committee
Drives literacy, digital access, STEAM education, and lifelong learning initiatives.
Infrastructure, Water & Sanitation Committee
Supports clean water access, hygiene promotion, and basic infrastructure development.
Climate Action & Environmental Stewardship Committee
Champions sustainability, green energy, reforestation, and environmental education.
Economic Development & Job Creation Committee
Promotes entrepreneurship, small business development, and economic empowerment.
Human Rights & Justice Committee
Addresses social justice, civic education, legal support, and community safety.
Faith & Moral Regeneration Committee
Works with faith-based groups to promote unity, reconciliation, and spiritual well-being.
Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee
Revives indigenous knowledge systems, supports creative expression, and preserves cultural identity.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact Committee
Ensures accountability, tracks program success, and supports data-informed decisions.