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We are proud of the skilled and committed people who volunteer to lead positively AFRICA.

Peggy Frank
peggy@positivelyafrica.org

PEGGY is the Co-Founder, Chairperson and currently volunteering as the Executive Director of positively AFRICA. She has worked and visited many communities in Africa, in Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

Peggy is an artist and an avid gardener. She is a focused and inspiring woman who projects loving-kindness. Peggy has dedicated her life to supporting those afflicted with HIV/AIDS in Africa, especially women and orphans. She has contributed countless hours to the evolution of positively AFRICA and continues as its driving force.

Peggy is also a practitioner and teacher of energetic healing — Therapeutic Touch and Capacitar, volunteers with various Canadian AIDS Service organizations.

Samuel Godfrey
samuel@positivelyafrica.org

SAMUEL joined positively AFRICA in June 2008 as our Coordinator. He is our only ‘staff’, and is on a part-time contract. We’ve cropped his picture to emphasize that positively AFRICA currently operates with just a fraction of one paid person.

Nevertheless we are impressed with how much he does for us in that short time, and very grateful to benefit from Samuel’s extensive experience in organizational and project management. His commitment to human rights and social justice makes him deeply motivated to further the work of positively AFRICA.

Samuel has an undergraduate degree in African Studies from the University of Toronto and a Law Degree from Osgoode Hall, York University. He has worked for numerous non-profits including the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression and Parkdale Community Legal Services. He has worked in Ghana, Kenya and Zambia.

Samuel also has a background in sustainable agriculture, having worked for many years as an organic farmer as well as being a past board member of the Canadian Organic Growers, past administrator of the Islands Organic Producers Association  and is currently a a Board member of Farmers Without Borders.

Samuel recently began working for Lana Popham, the MLA for Saanich South. Our loss is a politician's gain! Although we are sad that Samuel is no longer able to contribute many hours to positively AFRICA, we appreciate his ongoing contributions.

Maery Kaplan-Hallam
maery@positivelyafrica.org

MAERY is one of those rare breeds — she was actually born and raised in Victoria. At 20 years of age, she is the youngest member of positively AFRICA’s Board. With her youth, she brings an abundance of energy, which she will focus on the Nissi health care files amongst other things during her tenure.

Maery is currently finishing her third year at the University of Victoria, working on her geography major. At this time, she is contemplating possibly pursuing a career in resource management or working in management relating to emergency response with the provincial government when she graduates.

In October 2010, she was able to travel to Africa and spent about three weeks on the continent, including time in Kibera, Nairobi and other parts of Kenya. She visited Kibera Community Youth Project (KCYP) and the newly created women’s group — a group of HIV+ women who received nutritional support from KCYP — with financial assistance from positively AFRICA donors. She also travelled to Narok to meet the members of Nissi and Osopet. Her experiences during her travels make her a valuable asset to positively AFRICA.

Jessie Mantle
jessie@positivelyafrica.org

JESSIE brings a deeply compassionate perspective and a sharp intellect to her work on the Board of positively AFRICA. She is responsible for positively AFRICA’s engagement with our South African partners, and maintains the historical records for the organization. Jessie has traveled extensively, including time in South Africa in 2004.

Over a 40-year nursing career, Jessie championed high standards for nursing practice and education. At the core of her contributions as a staff nurse, head nurse, teacher, graduate chairman and clinical nurse specialist, is her consistent drive to be engaging, influencing, and mentoring. She has used her research, teaching, and leadership skills to foster the development of resident-centered policies and philosophies of care that have now been adopted throughout Canada. Among other awards, Jessie is a recipient of the 2008 Canadian Nurses Association's one-time Centennial Award which "celebrate one hundred exceptional registered nurses whose personal and professional contributions have made an outstanding and significant impact on the nursing profession."

Jessie is on a leave of absence from the Board for 2010.

Su Russell
su@positivelyafrica.org

SU joined the Board of positively AFRICA in 2008. She has traveled to Africa several times and contributed to positively AFRICA supported project in Lesotho and Rwanda. Su believes it isn't so much what we can do for the less fortunate, but how we can be present, and what support we can offer to encourage self determination, enthusiasm and creativity. positively AFRICA’s mandate fits with this perspective as it directly supporting grassroots organizations in their quest for self sufficiency.

Su background includes work as a lab technician, a medical office assistant and as an exhibiting artist — not to mention single parenting four children.

Su is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in private practice with a focus on supporting people as they explore life transitions, interpersonal relationships, personal growth and past and present life trauma. More information is available from her website: www.surussell.com. She has a B.A. from Concordia University and Masters of Education (Counselling) from the University of Victoria.

positively AFRICA is privileged to benefit from Su's equanimous and insightful nature.

Joan Schwartzenberger
joan@positivelyafrica.org

JOAN joined the Board of positively AFRICA in February, 2009. She brings an extraordinarily compassionate presence as well as valuable skills in trauma counseling, fundraising, project management and organizational governance. She is a creative problem-solver and a joy to be around.

Joan currently works as a mental health and addictions counselor for Vancouver Island Health Authority, and maintains a private practice as a therapist. Her past work experience includes two years as the Diversity Advisor for the Ministry of Children and Families, Vancouver Island Region. Joan's experience on Boards includes a term on the Victoria Coalition for Survivors of Torture.