SAMBT Is a Non Profit Organisation Established in 1998 As a Trust

SAMBT is a non profit organisation established in 1998 as a trust.

The Board

We are governed by a board of trustees – seven in all. Each of them is dedicated to what we do and each brings to the table relevant experience and qualifications.

Sam Boshielo - Chairman

Sam was for many years head of department at the Sibonile School for the Blind in Gauteng. He is also a qualified orientation and mobility practitioner. Recently he set up and now runs theKaenguru Home for Disabled Chiildrenin Kliprivier which provides specialised care for severely disabled children.

Chairman’s Report

Avril Halstead - Treasurer

Avril works for the National Treasury as Chief Director–Sectoral Oversight. Her qualifications include: MBAcum laude(University of Cape Town); MA in Advanced Organisational Consulting (City University London); B.Com Honours cum laude in mathematics (University of Stellenbosch). She was selected in 2011 by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. She also has prior experience in the NGO sector.

Ian Hutton – Managing Trustee

Ian founded our organisation in 1998 and is blind himself. He has over 30 years of experience in the NGO sector. He oversees the day-to-day running of the organisation and is responsible for fundraising and advocacy work.

Managing trustee report

Rhulani Baloyi - Trustee

Rhulani is blind and is a media journalist. She has a BA from Wits University and works in radio and television for the SABC.

Isabella Holden - Trustee

Isabella is partially sighted. Her qualifications are B.Com LLB and she also has an Honours degree in psychology. She is currently clinical manager atLifeline Johannesburg.

Thabisile Levin - Trustee

Thabisile is a development consultant. She has qualifications in psychology, speech and hearing therapy and in remedial education. She also has a deal of experience in the establishment of outreach programmes, in early childhood development and inclusive education.

Zakeria Yacoob - Trustee

Zak is a retired Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. He too is blind.

Staff

Our key staff are our five orientation and mobility trainers.They areheroesin their commitment and perseverance in the work of running our programmes at places both local and off the beaten track. They are all graduates of the College of Orientation and Mobility. It is their skill, dedication, and bravery even, that has helped to change the lives of almost 3000 blind people in villages and townships across the country.

Wendy Sadieis our manager of finance and logistics in Johannesburg. She has over 25 years experience in the education, sales and NGO sectors.

Allison Williamsis our programme coordinator. She has the overall responsibility for setting up, monitoring and supervising our independence training programmes. She is herself a qualified O&M Practitioner and also trained several of our practitioners when they were at the College of Orientation and Mobility. She is based in Nelspruit, and has also worked as a teacher.

Bobby Rodwell is our communications, advocacy and research coordinator. She works in our Johannesburg office. Bobby has over 25 years experience in the NGO, theatre, film and media sectors.

The latter three staff and the managing trustee all work part time in order to keep the organisation cost effective andfocused.