The Jabulani Rural Health Foundation Team
People can either be a great asset or a great liability to an organisation. We’re in the privileged position of having approximately 50 employees who we believe are great assets to the work of the Foundation and can be greater still once their potential has been joined with the potential of others within the team and/or our partners. Much of the work of the Foundation is about changing the lives of those in Zithulele and the surrounding communities, but we cannot do that unless we have a great team. And we do!
Our Patrons, Desmond & Leah Tutu
We are very proud and humbled to have Desmond and Leah Tutu as the patrons of Jabulani Rural Health Foundation. Former Archbishop Tutu, well known as a Nobel laureate, is also a vocal campaigner for health and human rights. He has worked a lot to support controlling TB and HIV. Tutu himself suffered from TB as a child. Today, he knows better than anyone how crucial it is to assist those affected with such scourges and we are thankful to receive their support!
Jabulani Directors
BENJAMIN GAUNT
Ben has worked as a doctor at Zithulele Hospital since 2005 with his wife Taryn, and is also the Chief Medical Officer at the hospital. His vision is to bring high quality medical care to the community, despite the rural location. A formidable all-rounder, he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of many topics, from birds and spiders to the latest TB guidelines!
Ben has worked as a doctor at Zithulele Hospital since 2005 with his wife Taryn, and is also the Chief Medical Officer at the hospital. His vision is to bring high quality medical care to the community, despite the rural location. A formidable all-rounder, he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of many topics, from birds and spiders to the latest TB guidelines!
KARL LE ROUX
Karl works as a doctor at Zithulele Hospital, as well as being responsible for the peripheral clinics in the area. Married to Sally, together they are kept busy by their children, Emma, Johan and David. Somehow, Karl finds time to indulge in his other loves - coffee, ultimate frisbee and swimming in the sea. His enthusiasm and patience knows no bounds.
Karl works as a doctor at Zithulele Hospital, as well as being responsible for the peripheral clinics in the area. Married to Sally, together they are kept busy by their children, Emma, Johan and David. Somehow, Karl finds time to indulge in his other loves - coffee, ultimate frisbee and swimming in the sea. His enthusiasm and patience knows no bounds.
JOSEPH NTLATYWA
Joseph, or 'Mfundisi', as he is affectionately known, is the pastor of the Uniting Reformed Church that founded Zithulele Hospital back in the 1950s. Well known and respected throughout the area for his warmth, wisdom and humour, he can always be relied upon for the latest community news and a friendly smile.
Joseph, or 'Mfundisi', as he is affectionately known, is the pastor of the Uniting Reformed Church that founded Zithulele Hospital back in the 1950s. Well known and respected throughout the area for his warmth, wisdom and humour, he can always be relied upon for the latest community news and a friendly smile.
Jabulani Board Members
SALLY LE ROUX
Sally is a doctor at Zithulele Hospital, and also leads the treatment and care of patients living with HIV/AIDS. Since she arrived in 2007, the hospital's ARV (Anti-Retroviral) drug programme has gone from strenth to strength, recently expanding to provide an outreach service at nearby clinics. Wife of Karl and mother to Emma, Johan and David, Sally juggles family and work with aplomb - provided she has a regular supply of strawberry milk!
Sally is a doctor at Zithulele Hospital, and also leads the treatment and care of patients living with HIV/AIDS. Since she arrived in 2007, the hospital's ARV (Anti-Retroviral) drug programme has gone from strenth to strength, recently expanding to provide an outreach service at nearby clinics. Wife of Karl and mother to Emma, Johan and David, Sally juggles family and work with aplomb - provided she has a regular supply of strawberry milk!
TARYN GAUNT
In charge of child health services at the hospital and mom to Joshua, Grace and Elijah, Taryn is dedicated to tackling the issues of malnutrition and education in our area. As well as working as doctor, home-schooling and looking after a menagerie of animals; she is the pioneering force behind Zithulele preschool and coordinates the Masikhule Garden & Nutrition project.
In charge of child health services at the hospital and mom to Joshua, Grace and Elijah, Taryn is dedicated to tackling the issues of malnutrition and education in our area. As well as working as doctor, home-schooling and looking after a menagerie of animals; she is the pioneering force behind Zithulele preschool and coordinates the Masikhule Garden & Nutrition project.
NELISWA BANJWA
Always with a smile on her face and a cheery greeting, Neli has worked her way up through Jabulani from where she started as a translator in 2011, to being the Foundation's indispensable administrator, dealing largely with financial administration. Neli’s favourite food is pap and in her spare time she likes to watch soapies, read magazines, listen to R&B and, of course, spend time with her daughter.
Always with a smile on her face and a cheery greeting, Neli has worked her way up through Jabulani from where she started as a translator in 2011, to being the Foundation's indispensable administrator, dealing largely with financial administration. Neli’s favourite food is pap and in her spare time she likes to watch soapies, read magazines, listen to R&B and, of course, spend time with her daughter.
DAVID BISHOP
Dave currently works as an anaesthetist in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. He and his wife Leesa helped out at Zithulele Hospital during the staffing crisis of 2006, cutting short their travels abroad. Another coffee addict, Dave won the 'fastest exam writer' award at university and has a wonderfully dry sense of humour.
Dave currently works as an anaesthetist in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. He and his wife Leesa helped out at Zithulele Hospital during the staffing crisis of 2006, cutting short their travels abroad. Another coffee addict, Dave won the 'fastest exam writer' award at university and has a wonderfully dry sense of humour.
LEESA BISHOP
Leesa is a doctor working part-time in HIV medicine and research in Pietermaritzburg, having worked at Zithulele in 2006. Though she is mostly currently focused on raising her three children, she remains passionate about supporting various initiatives that promote the well being of people in under-resourced settings. Leesa is also an avid vegetable gardener and spends most of her (non-existent) free time thinking of ways to save the planet.
Leesa is a doctor working part-time in HIV medicine and research in Pietermaritzburg, having worked at Zithulele in 2006. Though she is mostly currently focused on raising her three children, she remains passionate about supporting various initiatives that promote the well being of people in under-resourced settings. Leesa is also an avid vegetable gardener and spends most of her (non-existent) free time thinking of ways to save the planet.
Jabulani Volunteers
Volunteers enjoying a day at nearby Hole in the Wall
Jabulani welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds. In the past we have had volunteers from all corners of the globe, pursuing interests ranging from anthropology to early education, encompassing an age group from 12 to mid 40s, and staying anywhere from 3 to 18 months! Potential Jabulani volunteers should be hard working and passionate individuals who want to contribute to the community of Zithulele, while also being challenged to grow and learn.
What a volunteer is able to do during their stay may depend on a number of factors such as the length of stay and what is most needed at the moment; however, if a volunteer has an interest in a specific area of the foundation (education, healthcare, environment, community development) we try to place them in a way to make sure they get to learn more and help out with those projects.
If you are interested in volunteering with Jabulani, please contact the Operations Manager, Catherine Young, at info@jabulanifoundation.org. Please include in your email your motivation for volunteering, the approximate dates you are interested in, and any special interests or skills you can contribute to the community.
What a volunteer is able to do during their stay may depend on a number of factors such as the length of stay and what is most needed at the moment; however, if a volunteer has an interest in a specific area of the foundation (education, healthcare, environment, community development) we try to place them in a way to make sure they get to learn more and help out with those projects.
If you are interested in volunteering with Jabulani, please contact the Operations Manager, Catherine Young, at info@jabulanifoundation.org. Please include in your email your motivation for volunteering, the approximate dates you are interested in, and any special interests or skills you can contribute to the community.