Our Founders
OUR FOUNDERS
Danie and Judy van den Heever
Focus on iThemba grew from humble beginnings. Our Founders, Danie and Judy van den Heever, had it placed on their hearts to facilitate meaningful change in the low-income community on their doorstep which was the Valley of 1000 Hills. The couple were, at the time, residents of Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal and saw an opportunity to uplift this community by reaching the hearts and minds of young children. Through faith and partnerships with trusted friends and donors, our Organisation was established in the August of 2003 and has been positively impacting the lives of children and families since then.
In 2019, Danie and Judy relocated to the picturesque town of Knysna in the Western Cape, where they carried the spirit and DNA of Focus on iThemba in their hearts. They, once again, took on the mantle of igniting change in a low income community called Bongani through the adoption of Bongani Pre-School.
We are fortunate to benefit from the leadership, wisdom and guidance of Danie and Judy who, with their own time, hands, and hearts, helped shape the growth of our Organisation. Right from its first few days of establishment, they believed that the name ‘Focus on iThemba’ would represent hope, meaning and positive change to all who we encounter. This belief has become an integral part of who we are today and influences how we serve the communities we support. Both Danie and Judy sit on the board, and as Chairman, Danie volunteers his business knowledge and acumen towards the successful operation and sustainability of our Organisation.
