Who We Are
WHO WE ARE
Empowering Growth
The Healing Africa Foundation (HAF) is a Non-Profit Company (NPC) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) registered in 2013 committed to empowering communities through development projects that deliver long-term social and economic impact. We manage projects with full transparency and accountability while ensuring measurable impact. HAF also custom-designs projects to meet real community needs while fulfilling donor goals, creating shared value and sustainable change.
Through its partnerships and harnessing networks and resources, the Healing Africa Foundation serves as a bridge between corporates, donors and communities, to manage and support projects that build thriving township economies and create circular systems of shared wealth within the township. In so doing, we also safeguard the integrity of how money is spent while ensuring measurable, sustainable change for the communities we serve.
Vision
To be a trusted force for change that restores dignity and empowers communities to thrive.
Mission
Our mission is to undo the social and economic injustice of apartheid by fostering inclusive growth in township communities.
the changemakers
Core Governance Team
Lisa Viola
CEO
The visionary leader and strategic driver of HAF. Lisa oversees the Foundation’s direction, partnerships and governance, ensuring all initiatives align with the mission to undo the legacy of apartheid and empower communities through sustainable development.
Lesedi Mokale
Project Director
Responsible for identifying needs, developing programmes and managing community-driven initiatives. Lesedi ensures that every project is designed with measurable outcomes and implemented in line with donor priorities and governance requirements.
Marc Ries
Events & Operations Manager
Leads the planning and execution of HAF’s events, activations and on-the-ground operations. Marc ensures that outreach initiatives, donor events and community engagements run seamlessly, reinforcing both HAF’s visibility and its operational excellence.
Blessing Raseroka
Operations Director
Oversees the day-to-day running of the Foundation, including compliance, logistics and operational efficiency. Blessing ensures that resources are optimised and projects are delivered on time, within scope and with full accountability.
Twaambo Chirwa
Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Leads donor relations, corporate partnerships and community stakeholder engagement. Twaambo’s role is to strengthen relationships across public and private sectors, mobilise resources and ensure alignment between HAF’s impact goals and partner expectations.
Advocate Richard Botha
Legal & Governance Advisor
Provides legal oversight and ensures the Foundation operates with transparency, due diligence and compliance. Advocate Botha safeguards governance processes, funding allocation and contractual obligations to protect both donors and beneficiaries.
Trevor Carty
Networking & Operations
Trevor is a man of the land, a botanist and educational scientist who read at the university of Witswaterand – and he understands the principles of heal the land, heal the people.
Kerry Knowles
Head of Green Sustainable Development
Kerry brings over 30 years experience in hospitality, tourism, events and PR, working with leading organisations on landmark projects such as the Nelson Mandela Bridge Launch, Global Citizen Festival and Anglo American Presidential Land handover. With a deep passion for the green economy, ESG and carbon reduction, Kerry has turned her focus to community upliftment through technology, innovation and sustainable solutions.
Our Partners
Working in Association with
