Bongani Ndubata

Coordinator, Hope Scholars Programme

Bongani Ndubata was born in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. He graduated from high school in Khayelitsha township and studied for a year on full scholarship at the Tertiary School in Business Administration. Following his schooling, Bongani spent two years working in Public Relations at the University of South Africa and then worked at Ikamva Youth, an education non-profit in Khayelitsha, where he served as a tutor and mentor. During this time Bongani was also a trustee of the Lucca Leadership Trust. Today, he coordinates SAEP's Hope Scholars Outreach Programmes. Outside of work, Bongani is active as a youth leader at his church.

Send Bongani an email -- bongani@SAEP.org

Shep Willis

Manager, High School and Bridging Year Programmes

Shep Willis comes from Durham, North Carolina. He worked as a journalist and editor in North Carolina and Washington, DC before joining SAEP in June 2007.

Shep originally planned to volunteer for a few months, but he soon fell in love with Cape Town and the work SAEP was doing. He has decided to stick around. He is currently the manager of the High School and Gap Year Programmes and will be with SAEP through the end of the year. He also tutors English to Grade 12 learners at Zisukhanyo Senior Secondary School. He enjoys movies, hiking, University of North Carolina sports, and talking to his dog.

Send Shep an email -- Shep@SAEP.org

Phillip Luyanda Mcelu

Science Coordinator & Maths Tutor

Phillip Luyanda Mcelu is the Science Coordinator for SAEP's HopeScholars Programme and a Math Tutor for the Bridging Year Programme. He is passionate about education has been tutoring in township high schools for four years for Ikamva Youth and Education without Borders, two non profit organizations in Cape Town. Phillip is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Maths and Economics at the University of Cape Town. He really enjoys working with SAEP and is pleased to be able to combine his love of math and science with tutoring and mentoring deserving students.

Andile Nqoko

Assistant Hope Scholars Coordinator

Andile began working at SAEP in February 2010 as the SAEP Matric Success Programme Coordinator. He is originally from Knsyna and moved to Cape Town in 1996 with his family. After graduating from Zisukhanyo High School he entered the Bridging Year Programme and successfully completed his internship in 2005. With the support he received from SAEP and the Bridging Year Programme, he successfully applied to the University of the Western Cape; where he is currently studying towards his Bachelor of Education specialising in Maths and Physics. He extremely enjoys working at SAEP, meeting international volunteers from all over the world, and tutoring his favorite subjects - math and science. Andile feels extremely lucky to be able to give back to his community by helping students from township high schools prepare for their matric exams and contribute positively to their academic and personal development.

Lizzy Jose

Academic Coordinator

Lizzy Jose joined the SAEP staff as the Acadamic Coordinator at the start of the 2011 school year. With a Master’s degree in Chemistry and a Higher Education Diploma, Lizzy began teaching in Kenya in 1975. Since then she has taught in Nigeria, Lesotho, and here in South African since 1987. Lizzy has also been a chief examiner, an internal moderator and has won an Excellence in Teaching award. Her students always excel in the sciences. She is working with the Hope Scholars as well as the Bridging Year Programme.