Our Story

In 2012 Neil Holzapfel and Lesego Serolong founded Raise the Children (RTC). Lesego, being an orphan herself, has always had a deep desire to give back to the community that raised her, and so has Neil, who wanted to effectively and sustainably give back to the country. The couple, together with the RTC community, strive to empower the many orphans in South Africa that share Lesego's story.

Why Our Work is Needed

South Africa is one of the most challenging places to grow up in the world.
It's even more difficult if you are orphaned and live in a rural community.

global inequality 

1st

(0,63 GINI co-efficient) in terms of wealth distribution and income 2022. South Africa is the most unequal society in the world. 
2022 WORLD POPULATION REVIEW

UNEMPLOYED YOUTH

67%

Youth unemployment rate (Ages 15-24). South Africa also has the highest recorded unemployment rate in the world at 34%. 
SEPT 2021 TRADING ECONOMICS

rural child poverty

74%

74% of rural South African children are deprived of  health, housing, nutrition, protection, education, information, water and sanitation.
2020 STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA

missing parents 

40%

14% of South African children have lost at least one parent. Another  26% of rural South African children have never know their fathers.
2020 STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA

Founders

Lesego serolong

co-founder

Non-executive Director
South Africa

Neil holzapfel

co-founder

Non-executive Director
South Africa, UK, USA

Our Board

Raise the Children is a registered charity in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and South Africa.  The boards and trustees from the three different countries meet collectively under the guidance of one board chair.

PHILIP GIANNECCHINI

board chair

South Africa, UK, USA

Yolanda Miya

director

South Africa

Ipek de vilder

trustee

United Kingdom

dunstan kamana

trustee

United Kingdom

bob lovejoy

DIRECTOR

United States of America

chris petzy

DIRECTOR

United States of America

lisa thompson

DIRECTOR

United States of America

Programme Team

PAUL HORN

CEO

South Africa

keitumela 'smiley' gabonewe

scholars

Scholar Programme Manager
South Africa

thandolwethu thwala

Support

Communications, Fundraising
and Research
South Africa