Meet the Team
Board of Directors Ju/'hoansi Development Fund
Dr Allen Zimbler
Board President Ju/'hoansi Development Fund
Allen Zimbler is the former Executive Director and Chief Integration Officer, Investec Group (retired) and board member for the African Leadership Institute. A former professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, his interest in the Bushmen of the Kalahari has spanned over 40 years.
/Ui Kunta
Vice- President of Ju/'hoansi Development Fund
/Ui Kunta is co-founder of the Ju/'hoansi Development Fund. He is a qualified freelance tour guide. He has exceptional knowledge of flora and fauna of the Kalahari. He resides in Tsumkwe.
Sanet Steenkamp
Board member of Ju/'hoansi Development Fund
Ms Sanet Steenkamp is the Permanent Secretary of Education, Arts and Culture. She has a wealth of experience in leadership and management.
Bruce Parcher
Board member Ju/'hoansi Development Fund
Bruce Parcher is an education specialist, with nine years of experience working with the Ju/‘hoansi Bushmen. He works for The University Centre for Studies in Namibia (TUCSIN) in Tsumkwe.
Simon Steyn
Board member Ju/'hoansi Development Fund
Simon Steyn is a lawyer at BDO Namibia. Simon is passionate about the Ju/‘hoansi Bushmen and supports the Ju/’hoansi Development Fund in all legal matters.
Charl Celliers
Board member Ju/’hoansi Development Fund
Charl Celliers is a Namibian registered Chartered Accountant and Managing Partner of BDO Namibia. Charl is an avid African 'Bush Lover'.
Josephine Mutenda
Board member of Ju/'hoansi Development Fund
Ms Josephine Mutenda is the Director of the regional office of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture- for the Otjozondjupa Region. The Nyae Nyae Village Schools fall under her responsibilities.
Advisory Board Ju/'hoansi Development Fund
/Ui sa /Ui
Principal of Nyae Nyae Village Schools
/Ui sa /Ui is the Principal of Nyae Nyae Lower Primary Village Schools. He was the first San to qualify for a Basic Education Teachers Diploma in Namibia.
Nina Maritz
Architect for the Nyae Nyae Lower Primary Village Schools
Nina Maritz’s work incorporates a full spectrum of private, government and corporate design and construction work. She has a strong focus on environmental, sustainable and community-based projects.
Jennifer Hays
Anthropologist
Jennifer Hays is Associate Professor at the University of Tromsø, Norway. She has conducted fieldwork on education for indigenous communities, with a specific interest in the Nyae Nyae Village Schools. Jennifer is the author of Owners of Learning. The Nyae Nyae Village Schools Over Twenty-five Years.
Tsamkxao #Oma
Ju/‘hoansi Traditional Authority
Tsamkxao #Oma is the head of the Ju/‘hoansi Traditional Authorities, who’s authority is recognised by Namibian government. Affectionately known as ‘Chief Bobo’.
Nicolette van der Meer
Project Manager
Nicolette van der Meer has supported the Fund from 2008 till May 2021. She was vital in the set up of the Village School Project: helping to draft the project proposal, organising a crowd-funding initiative, and the initial roll-out of the local programs and the building project.
Jeunesse Park
Project Development Consultant
Jeunesse Park founded and ran Food & Trees for Africa for 25 years, introducing urban forestry, urban agriculture and Permaculture to South Africa. She is passionate about healthier people on a healthy planet and knows that the San have much to teach us.
Kaeqce N!ani
Adviser and Translator
Kaeqce N!ani works for the Ju/‘hoansi Traditional Authorities, and speaks three languages. He helped with translating schools books and is passionate about education.
David Bruce
Founder
David Bruce is co-founder of the Ju/'hoansi Development Fund. He studied photography at the University of Arts in London. The Ju/'hoansi call David 'Bagon/hui', loosely translated it means 'able to hear'. With a hearing below speech level David wears a bone anchor hearing aid.
Saskia den Adel - Sheehama
Anthropologist / Project Manager
Saskia has been involved in community development in Namibia for over 25 years, and has recently started working as the part-time Director of the Nyae Nyae Development Foundation, as well as a part-time Project Manager for the Village School Project.