SOS Africa Charity Staff
SOS Africa's UK Office
To contact SOS Africa's staff, either email us: info@sosafrica.com or call our UK office: (+44) 01749 340426.
UK President: Matthew Crowcombe
Matt has worked as SOS Africa's UK President since the charity's birth in 2003. He co-founded SOS Africa with Henry Matthews during his gap year to South Africa in 2002/03. At that time Matt was on a teaching assistant placement at the International School of South Africa, in Mafikeng. Henry showed Matt around the local township, and made him aware of the problems faced by the local community, and in particular the poor standard of education available to local township children. After much discussion, Matt and Henry decided that they were in the ideal position to help these children and decide to establish SOS Africa. This dream was realised in January 2003, when Henry and Matt took Thabo Mokete, SOS Africa's first child to his first day at Mafikeng Primary School: "That experience remains one of the proudest moments of my life. From then on I knew that my life had a new purpose." Matt returned to England in April of that year and set up the UK office, which would focus on the raising of funds throughout the UK and around the world.
Matt's main task is to supervise of the day to day runnings of the charity's UK office in Shepton Mallet. This includes the development of various fundraising and marketing initiatives, handling the charity's administration, and the designing and maintance of the charity's website.
As well as working for SOS Africa, Matt is also currently writing a PhD at Swansea University. His PhD focuses on transitional politics in Africa, which ties in well with his SOS Africa role.
UK Secretary: Ann Crowcombe
Ann has been working voluntarily for SOS Africa since its birth seven years ago. Throughout this time she has provided and continues to provide an invaluable service on our side of the globe, as the charity’s secretary in England. Ann ta assists with the day to day runnings of the charity. However, she focuses much of her attention on the marketing of SOS Africa. Without her passion and determination SOS Africa would not be the success story that it is today.
As well as her position with SOS Africa, Ann is the full-time marketing manager of King's School Bruton, and Hazlegrove School in Somerset. She is also a member of the school's Senior Management team.
Charity Shop Manager: Emma Rose-Ellis
Emma is SOS Africa's most recent appointment. She joined SOS Africa's UK team in February of this year when she was appointed manager of the newly opened SOS Africa shop, in Ilfracombe, North Devon. Thanks to her hard work and the work of her volunteers; Jack, Maureen and Colleen, the shop has thrived since its opening. She supervises the day-to-day running of the shop, ranging from the collecting and sorting of stock to the management of the shops accounts. Without Emma's efforts, the SOS Africa Shop and the vital funds which it continues to raise, would not have been possible.
On top of her commitments to SOS Africa, Emma is also an accounts technician.
Graphic Design/Fundraising: Claudia Titley
As SOS Africa’s graphic designer and fundraiser Claudia Titley is an integral part of SOS Africa’s UK Team. She first became involved with the charity back in 2009 when she founded the ‘SOS Africa Portsmouth University Society,’ whilst starting her architectural degree at the University. The society grows year on year and now has over a hundred members and singlehandedly funds the education and care of two of SOS Africa’s children.
In the summer of last year, Claudia assisted with the charity’s 2010 World Cup Football Distribution Project. As the project’s photographer, Claudia took a series of photos which successfully captured the mood and overall impact of the project. Thanks to her efforts, the charity’s followers were able to view a photo dairy which tracked the progress of the project on the SOS Africa website. Most recently, Claudia has become more involved in the design aspect of the charity. Her design skills have proven invaluable when promoting the charities most recent projects.
We are very grateful to Claudia for her selfless contributions and owe much of our recent success to her exploits.
Fundraising Manager: Mandy Mckenna
Mandy can be found in SOS Africa's newly opened UK office, in Shepton Mallet. As well as assisting with the day-to-day running of the UK office, Mandy also organises and supervises all of the charity's UK fundraising intiatives. She is currently working on SOS Africa's December Abseil Fundraiser.
We are indebted to Mandy for the time and support shes provides the charity on a daily basis.
Marketing: Stephen Patterson
Having met Matt at Swansea University in 2004, Stephen quickly became involved with SOS Africa, competing in its first Cardiff Half Marathon fundraising event. Although his initial role primarily involved fundraising (he has helped recruit a consistently higher number of students to run the Cardiff Half Marathon each year), he has now moved back to the South of England and into a marketing role. He works to create partnerships with other websites to increase the profile and awareness of the charity. He is always looking for new ways to promote SOS Africa and is also involved in maintaining the website.
SOS Africa's South Africa Office
South African President: Henry Matthews
As SOS Africa’s South African President, Henry was jointly responsible for the setting up of the charity in January 2003. Since that day Henry has been incharge of the charity's South African branch. It is not hard to see why Henry is a father of three because of the love and care he gives each child the charity sponsors. For the past six years, not only has he supervised the administration at the South African end, but he has also supervised the day to day running of the charity, helping out with transport, tutoring, marketing etc. Henry provides an invaluable service to SOS Africa, which would not have come to be if it had not been for his determination to help the underprivileged children of Mafikeng:
"It's not just about giving money, it's about sharing the experience and the journey which each child goes through at such an important stage in each of their lives."
As well as his role with SOS Africa, Henry is also Head of Sport at the International School of South Africa, and has recently been appointed President of Mafikeng Rotary Club.
South African Operations Manager: Jenny Matthews
Jenny Matthews, Henry’s wife was appointed as SOS Africa's South African secretary in January 2005. She has adjusted well to her new position, and continues to sucessfully handle an increasing workload as the charity expands. Her main tasks involve taking care of admistrative issues, supporting and caring for the charity's children, marketing and public relations in South Africa and reporting back on the charity's progress to the UK office. Without her support, the continual expansion of SOS Africa's South African office would not have been possible.
Jenny also works at the International School of South Africa as the Primary School secretary, the marketing secretary, and manages the school shop. Each of these skills have provided her with excellent experience when fulfilling her role as the secretary of our South African office.
Child Mentor: Johanna Pienaar
Johanna has volunteered for SOS Africa as a mentor to its Preprimary School children, since its inauguration in 2003. She carries out probably the most important role of all of SOS Africa's volunteers: caring for the children we support. As a teacher at Mafikeng Preparatory School, the school where the majority of our children begin their educations, Johanna is in the best position to see that they settle into to their new lifestyles. Thanks to her expert supervision, we are kept updated with the progress of our new children. This is essential as the transition from township life to a preparatory school education is a significant one, and children often require extra support to help them through this process. The children of SOS Africa owe much to Johanna, whose love and support helps them through the difficult times:
"Education of the whole child is my passion. It is a privilege to be involved with learners from the previously disadvantaged community and to make a difference in their lives through SOS Africa."
As previously mentioned, Johanna is Head of Department at the Mafikeng Preparatory School. She is also a part-time music school teacher.