The Communiversity of South Africa Team
The following people support our daily programme, our growth and success with amazing dedication. By generously and lovingly contributing their expertise, energy, vision and commitment, they help fulfill the hopes, dreams and goals of our students, their families and their communities while fulfilling their own dreams and goals.
Current Managing Team and Faculty
Marcia Abrahams
Dr. Melanie Brown
Brigid Comrie
Simon Conradie
Fatiema Cornelius
Priscilla David
Wade January
Bradley Koen
Daniel Meyer
Debra Poneman
Chakane Ramafiking
Debby Silver
Bhongolwethu Sonti
Jodine Swart
Wilco Van Eeden
Barry Welsh
Liz Welsh
Lisa Wimmers
David Yutar
The Communiversity Team
Listed alphabetically
- Marcia Abrahams Co-Founder, Director, Development and Training
- Dr. Melanie Brown Co-Founder, Executive Director, Board of Directors
- Brigid Comrie TM Facilitator
- Simon Conradie TM Facilitator
- Fatiema Cornelius Senior Administrator & Researcher
- Priscilla David Managing Director, Board of Directors
- Wade January Computer Facilitator
- Bradley Koen Placement Officer Senior Administrator & Researcher
- Daniel Meyer Engineering Science Facilitator
- Debra Poneman "Yes to Success" Facilitator
- Chakane Ramafikeng Administrator & Finance Facilitator
- Debby Silver Board of Directors
- Bhongolwethu Sonti Board of Directors
- Jodine Swart Chief Placement Officer
- Wilco Van Eeden Head Student Development; Maths, Career Guidance & Finance Facilitator
- Barry Welsh TM Facilitator
- Liz Welsh TM Facilitator
- Lisa Wimmers Finance Director
- David Yutar English Lit and Debating Facilitator
Khayelitsha Campus
- Helen Lieberman Founder and Board Member
- Barbara Stemmert Head of Programs
- Mejury Mushanguri Programme Manager: Youth
- Ndileka Jovile Head Monitor
- Tamia Paulse Monitor
Lansdowne (Hanover Park) Campus
- Rev Colin Goeiman Reverend
- Juanita Frans Head Monitor
- Sandra Johnstone Monitor
- Rochelle Jacobs Monitor
- Jenny Keyster Monitor
Beacon Valley Campus (Mitchells Plain)
- Rev Colin Goeiman Reverend
- Juanita Frans Head Monitor
- Sandra Johnstone Monitor
- Rochelle Jacobs Monitor
- Jenny Keyster Monitor
Masiphumelele Campus
- Vince van der Bijl
- Marvin Williams
The Board of the Communiversity Foundation in the US:
- Dr. Veronica Butler
- Dr. Rashi Glazer
- Leonard Goldman
- Dr. Steve Guich
- Debra Poneman
- Fred Sapirstein
- Dr. Melanie Brown
Our Teaching Partners
- The Transcendental Meditation (TM) Centre of Cape Town (cognitive and self-development)
- Junior Achievement South Africa (JASA) and worldwide (entrepreneurship)
- Worth Wealthy Me Finance Program (sponsored by Bank of America/Merrill Lynch)
- Debra Poneman’s “Yes to Success” (goal-setting and self-development)
- Cape Leopard Trust and the Two Worlds Aquarium (environmental science)
Recent Professional Contributors
- Liticha Van Neel Maths
- Bridget Conrad Database
- Zach Nichols Graphic Design And Website
- Michael Cacioppo Tech Assistance
- Etienne Mentor Tech Assistance
- Mark Dawson BDV Platinum Auditors
- Diana Keam Filmmaker, Silverbullet Films
- Peter Ross Activpro, B-Bbee Consultant
- Ricardo Wyngaard Non-Profit Lawyer
The Original 2012 Co-Founding Team and Students
The following people helped to grow the Communiversity, generously supporting the creation of this cooperative enterprise with their time and dedication. We honour their commitment, their compassion, and their unifying vision for a future of possibility, turning into the reality of success for our students and their communities.
Original Management, Staff and Faculty
Listed Alphabetically by Last Name
- Marcia Abrahams Co-Founder, Director of Development
- Lynette Brink Virtuosity Academy, Healthcare facilitator
- Dr. Melanie Brown Co-Founder, Exec. Director, Board of Directors
- Brigid Comrie TM facilitator
- Simon Conradie TM faciltator
- Priscilla David English facilitator
- Gill Connellan Managing Director, Board of Directors
- Fatiema Cornelius Senior Administrator
- Pat Featherstone
- Dr. Colin Firer Board of Directors
- Pearl Firer Cooking facilitator
- Jeanne Karth Self-development facilitator
- Chantel Klinck Program Director, Board of Directors
- Edwina Luck Fielding Program Administrator
- Jo Monson Social development facilitator
- Mike Mwamba Computer Skills facilitator
- Len Nyenes Building facilitator
- Gary Newton Speelman Tech Administrator, Board of Directors
- Jodine Swart Administrative Assistant
- Barry Welsh TM facilitator
- Liz Welsh TM facilitator
- Lisa Wimmers Finance Director
- Wendy Wise Maths facilitator
Past Partners
Listed alphabetically
- 9 Miles Project
- ABSA Bank (Ready to Work Program)
- Alexander Forbes
- AVA Action Volunteers Africa
- Bread Rev
- Builders Warehouse
- Butterfly Arts Project
- Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET)
- Cape Town Science Institute
- Cinnabon South Africa
- Computers4Kids/Russell Pengelly, CEO
- Creda Communications
- Entrepreneurial Hub (False Bay TVET College)
- Expanded Public Works Programme, Cape Town
- FunDza Literary Trust
- GapYear SA
- Golding Foundation (Peter Golding)
- HOSA (Hope Southern Africa)
- ICDL/Jennifer Van Niekerk
- K2S (Knowledge to Share) Foundation, The Netherlands
- The Learning Trust
- National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
- Omnicor (Colleen Rudnick)
- On The Ball College (computer specialists)
- Peace Jam/Peace Jam South Africa (Brian Kelly & Nobel Laureate Lehmah Gbowee)
- Peak Performance Tutors
- Pick n Pay Cooking School
- Projects Abroad
- Seawinds Sports Grounds
- Snowlene Catering (Gloria Baartman)
- South African Institute for Entrepreneurship (SAIE)
- Surf Emporium (Roxy and Will Davis)
- TETA-Transport Education and Training Authority
- Tore’s Foundation (Debating)
- Tsogo Sun Hotel Cape Town, Jeff Rosenberg
- University of Western Cape Dental Faculty
- Virgin Active Gym, Westlake Branch
- Vrygrond Community Centre Trust
- Vrygrond Taxi Association
- WBHO Construction
- Westlake Community Centre
- Woolworths
- YMCA Achievers Camp/Ricardo De Reuck, Strandfontein
Media Group Past and Present
Listed Alphabetically by First Name
- Brian Smith
- Catherine Aalto
- Diana Keam
- Etienne Mentor
- Eva Gilliam
- Jim Freeman
- Michelle Blumenau
- Nick Johnson, Jr.
- Peter Voigt
- Tim Wege
- Zach Nichols