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positively AFRICA is fueled by volunteers. Without question it is their talents, gifts and energy which have enabled positively AFRICA to achieve such impressive results in our short history.

There are many, many people to add to this page — it is a work in progress.

Frances Backhouse

IN 1987, Frances went to Malawi to teach geography and biology as a World University Service of Canada cooperant. She spent two years at Dzenza Secondary School and travelled through eight countries in east Africa during school breaks and on her way back to Canada. The people she met and the experiences she had made this an incredibly rich time of learning for her and changed her world view.

Upon returning to Canada, Frances settled in Victoria and began working as a contract biologist and freelance writer. She now makes her living as a full-time writer of books and magazine articles.

Esther Hart

ESTHER HART has an eclectic array of interests which, to name just a few, currently include being an author, speaker, freedom coach, editor, administrator, computer teacher, friend and mentor. She has three daughters and five grandchildren. She is on the board at the Church of Truth — Community of Conscious Living.

It was at the church that she was introduced to positively AFRICA when Peggy Frank was the guest speaker. Esther immediately felt compelled to offer her services to take some of the administrative load off of Peggy so that she could do her other important work.

Esther has taken on designing and sending donation cards as well as designing thank you cards for volunteers. She also created the certificates for Peggy’s students of Therapeutic Touch in South Africa. When she can fit it in her schedule, she helps package jewellery and work at the positively AFRICA booth.

www.authorssolutions.com

Sabine Laubental

SABINE LAUBENTAL has been our volunteer coordinator since March 2009. Now retired, she worked for many years as a social worker and employment counsellor. Her interest in Africa began while singing with a community choir, which performs an annual benefit concert for the village in Mozambique. Because of her own loss of vision (she is legally blind), Sabine worked to develop an eye care program for the village, with very positive results. The program has been taken on by an international organization.

Sabine has also worked with an international development organization to establish a fund for a microcredit project in Zambia.

It was this interest in microcredit that brought her to positively AFRICA where she initially sat on a committee exploring the viability of microfinance for one of positively AFRICA's partners. Once her wonderful organizational skills and thoughtful and creative approach to problems became apparent to us, she was invited to become the volunteer coordinator. We are very fortunate to have her enthusiasm and skills to assist pA in its work.

In her spare time, Sabene loves reading, gardening, good films, music, and walking.

Laura Thompson

LAURA is an invaluable and dedicated volunteer for positively AFRICA. For many years Laura handled all the book-keeping duties, and took on many of the jobs usually done by a Treasurer. Starting in 2009, she has focused on donor management and continues to make an excellent and much appreciated contribution to the organization.

By profession, Laura is a training consultant, designing and developing training programmes. Her company, Knowledge Solutions was founded in 2003 with her business partner Julie Birlew. They continue to be extremely busy for a range of businesses from BC Ferries to the Ministry of Forests and Range.

Laura's other full-time job is raising three teenage children, Alix, Anthony and Emma. Laura has a deep connection to Africa. She was raised in Africa, living in Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Honour Roll: Past Volunteers

Peter Bardon

PETER was the Co-Founder of positively AFRICA and made an invaluable contribution to the organization for many years. Peter remains an ardent supporter of positively AFRICA. He now lives in Vancouver where he continues to pursue projects in support of development in Africa.

Peter's relationship with Africa began in 2005 when he was able to live his long-delayed desire to contribute to the welfare of children in need. He loves exchanges with youth, especially teenagers — with whom he can engage in frank discussions of often-taboo subjects. His desire is to see children grow up with self-confidence and with opportunities to reach their potential.

Peter is an inspiring fund-raiser. You can't say no to Peter when greeted by his enthusiasm, charm and kindness. His helping hands are behind many of the past successes of positively AFRICA.