Who We Are | Support Soweto Junior School

The Teachers

Support Soweto Junior School is an entirely volunteer-run nonprofit organization. All funds raised go directly toward the purchase of food to promote the well-being of the young students at Soweto Junior Education Centre in Kibera, Kenya.
The relationship with the school was originally established in 2006 through the work of positively AFRICA, a nonprofit society that supported the school's meal program. Since the folding of positively AFRICA in 2017, the school has struggled to feed the youngsters. The school's dire need for support with food costs has resulted in the launching of Support Soweto Junior School.

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Our Team

Sabine Laubental

Retired social worker with a diverse background in child protection, supporting abused women, and working as an employment counselor. After retiring in 2000, she dedicated her time to volunteering with organizations like VIDEA (Victoria International Development and Education Agency) and positively AFRICA. In 2020, she founded Support Soweto Junior School and is our current President.

Board of Directors

Susan Gallagher

Joined our volunteer team as our Treasurer. She has been an ongoing supporter of the school’s meal program. As a retired bookkeeper and massage therapist, Susan has served on BC Ferries, BC Transit and the City of Victoria Accessibility Committees. She brings years of experience to maintaining our financial records and has become a valued team member

Laura Thomson

Our dedicated Vice President. She previously served as a Board Member with Positively AFRICA. She was born and raised in Africa (Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe), and has a keen interest in promoting and supporting the students of Soweto Junior Education Centre.

Linda Brennan

Joined our team in the vital role of Secretary. She is a lifelong entrepreneur who has built a solid foundation in several industries, including hospitality, fitness, and construction. Linda's rich and diverse career and her deep-rooted commitment to community service make her an invaluable addition to our team.

Alyssa Jackson

Joined our board and volunteers as the Social Media and Communications Coordinator. A recent graduate of the University of Victoria with a degree in Political Science, Alyssa works at the Legislative Assembly, conducting research and communications for the government caucus. She believes that community initiatives are a profoundly impactful way to shape positive change in the world, and she is grateful to volunteer with Support Soweto Junior School, making a tangible difference in the lives of the children in Kibera, Kenya through food security.

Malcolm Crocker

Malcolm Crocker is a Philosophy Major and Art Education minor at the University of Victoria. Malcolm recently completed an internship at Environmental Legal Clinic in Chiang Mai University, Thailand. He has recently joined the board of directors, and helps with social media and organising fundraising opportunities. Malcolm strongly believes in the power that community has to organize and create a better tomorrow and is grateful to be a part of the Support Soweto Junior School team.

Valued Volunteers

Mike & Susan Lawrance

Are dedicated to making a difference. They play a vital role in our fundraising efforts, collecting and sorting returnables for cash. Their summers are spent in the Shuswap, where they volunteer with Gleaners, an organization that provides dried soup mix for countries in need. Africa has always been close to their hearts. They have visited the Serengeti plain in Tanzania and, more recently, visited their daughter and son-in-law who work in Chad. Their experiences fuel their commitment to making a global impact.

Anastasia Crook

Is a new volunteer, majoring in Political Science at the University of Victoria. She has prior experience in community outreach within education, organizing school-led fundraisers and donation drives for non-profit organizations in the Okanagan. She believes in the power of collective action for positive change and takes pride in supporting Support Soweto Junior School's mission.

val

Sharp

As a steadfast supporter of our organization since its very beginning, she brings a wealth of experience from her years in the corporate world, where she spent the last decade of her career passionately mentoring aspiring women entrepreneurs in launching their own successful interior redesign and staging businesses. Now happily retired, she continues to channel her creativity and artistic talents into designing our posters, thank you cards, newsletters, and various promotional materials.

Lucas Buchanan

As a dedicated third-year Software Engineering student at the University of Victoria, he enthusiastically volunteers as our Webmaster, passionately supporting our meaningful cause with technical expertise and commitment. He skillfully manages, designs, and regularly updates the website, ensuring we maintain a strong, accessible, user-friendly, and engaging online presence for everyone involved and beyond.

OUR PARTNERS

African Partners
Soweto Junior Education Centre is an elementary school located in Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya. 300 children ages 4-12 years attend classes from Kindergarten to Grade 5.

OUR DONORS

Our donors are the lifeblood of Support Soweto Junior School.

Your generous contributions assist the school in supporting the healthy growth of the students. Your support makes a significant difference in their lives—thank you!