WHO WE ARE
About Us
The Migration Project is an initiative of the European Union, facilitated the Democracy Development Program, an NGO based in Durban that works to help deepen the practice of democracy in the country.
Lily Hlophe – Project Manager
Lily is an accomplished academic scholar who is currently a PhD candidate in Sociology, at the University of KwaZulu Natal. Her achievements include a Master’s degree in Sociology and two Honours degrees, in General Psychology and Psychological Counselling, to name just a few.
Having been trained by the University of Wits, the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the University of Los Angeles (UCLA), she is a skilled researcher, with over 7 years’ experience in research in the social sciences. Moreover, she is passionate about skills development and rural and township-based research with the aim of developing custom-made interventions, for the betterment of the lives of the residents of these areas.
Lily is a member of the South African Sociological Association (SASA) and she is also an ETDP-SETA-accredited Skills Development Facilitator and Assessor.
Noxolo Sithole – Project Coordinator
Noxolo holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Law, as well as a Bachelor of Social Science Honours degree in Policy and Development Studies, both obtained at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She developed her passion for Monitoring and Evaluation during her undergraduate degree, when she discovered the growing importance of prioritizing M&E as a platform for learning and accountability, this importance being caused by the growing voice of civil society’s scrutiny on good governance and demand for efficient public administration.
Thobile Khumalo – Project Admin Assistant
Thobile holds a diploma in Community Extension from Mangosuthu University of Technology. She has a wealth of experience in admin and community projects as a Community Extension Officer and Consultant for various organisations.
Thobile works very well with people and excels in any environement she is in. She is also a trained councillor and facilitator.
Thando Lamula – Project Communications Officer
Thando is a seasoned communications practitioner, having earned her stripes working for agencies for the first part of her career. With more than 7 years’ experience under her belt, she has worked in and for different organisations across various industries such as the arts, textiles, agriculture and non-profit, to name a few.
Her specialties include media and stakeholder relations, crisis communications, PR strategy and social media management.
She boasts a Media and Communications degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and continues to work towards improving her craft and reinventing herself through various short courses.
Tawanda Matema – Programme Manager (KAS)
Tawanda is a former Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) scholar 2020 and currently a PhD candidate in International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand. His achievements include a Masters Degree and an Honours Degree in Development Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Political Science from the University of Zimbabwe.
Tawanda’s areas of research are in conflict resolution, peace and security, Southern African development – particularly in the areas of migration, social cohesion and agricultural development where he has published on.
Hlengiwe Sibiya – Project Assistant/Accountant (KAS)
Hlengiwe has expertise in Accounting and Financial administration built over a career spanning more than 10 years in various organizations. She has experience working with various Embassies, including British High Commission, New Zealand High Commission and The Royal Netherlands Embassy.
She is a skilled Accountant, holding a National Diploma in Financial Accounting from the University of Johannesburg, a Diploma in Business Financial Management obtained at Birnaam Business College, and currently completing her Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Taxation at the University of South Africa.
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