Kanya Mdaka

Coordinator, Bridging Year Programme

Kanya Mdaka was born in Engcobo, in the (former) Transkei region of the Eastern Cape. He completed high school at St. Andrew's College in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. After matriculating, Kanya joined UCT (University of Cape Town) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science degree, majoring in Economics and Philosophy. Thereafter, he completed a postgraduate diploma in sport management, also at UCT. He is currently completing his Honours studies in African Philosophy, through UNISA (University of South Africa). During his studies, he coached a number of sporting codes at various schools around Cape Town including Rondebosch Prep, SACS, Herzlia and Monte Vista Primary. This was his introduction to the development of youth and volunteering at SAEP was the next step. This has led to his current post as the coordinator of the Bridging Year Programme at SAEP.

Send Kanya an email -- kanya.mdaka@gmail.com

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

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.

Kathrin Herms

Volunteer

Kathrin completed her graduation in 2006 (general qualification for university entrance). After that she has made a training as a wholsesale and foreign trade clerk, which she finished in 2008. Then she started to work as an e-commerce coordinator till January 2011.
Now she decided to leave Germany for one year and to work as a volunteer at SAEP.
One of her tasks will be to give computer trainings for the principles in the crèches and for the interns of the bridging year.

Phillip Luyanda Mcelu

Maths Tutor & Science Coordinator

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.