Sherlin Barends, Patron
Sherlin holds an Honours degree in Journalism from Stellenbosch University and is a radio host on KFM Breakfast. Through her lived experience she helps us to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, specifically in school communities. Both of Sherlin’s parents were educators at Community Keepers partner schools and she attended a primary and high school which now have CK offices. Sherlin speaks openly about her own mental health journey and is instrumental in designing innovations, destigmatising anxiety and mental health issues and improving socioemotional literacy.
Gerrit Laning, CEO
Gerrit holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Pastoral Care from the Stellenbosch University, he is a certified NLP Master Practitioner, a certified facilitator of the Organic Scorecard and has been involved in community development with children and youth from marginalised communities since 2000. He was a teacher at Kayamandi High School before joining Vision AfriKa in 2006. Gerrit joined Community Keepers as CEO in January 2018 and in 2023 he won the NSTF (National Science and Technology Forum) Innovation award (known as a Science Oscar). He was recognised for co-authoring one of the most-cited articles in 2023 by Child and Adolescent Mental Health, published on behalf of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
Amanda vdv Anderson, Educational Psychologist
Amanda heads up our Mental Health First Aid & Training. She has over 15 years of experience and a passion for preparing young people for the world of work. She joined Community Keepers in 2017 as a therapist and later pioneered the integration of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) into school-based mental health services, inspired by global task-shifting leaders. Following a successful 2022 pilot, MHFA was scaled nationally, in partnership with National Treasury’s Jobs Fund, now reaching 78 825 learners. Amanda also consults in a student support role at Stellenbosch University and continues to focus on career guidance and mental health initiatives through her private practice.
Executive Director and CEO: Gerrit Laning M. Th. (Clinical Pastoral Care)
- Training: Amanda van der Vyver-Anderson, M Educational Psychology
- Human Resources Practitioner: Allifer Plaatjies, Ndip Human Resources & HC Industrial & Organisational Psychology
- Marketing, Media and Fundraising Executive: Meriel Bartlett, B. Soc. Sci. (Industrial Sociology)
- Business Development Manager & Chief Storyteller: Amy Potgieter, B. Social Work, Psych. (Hon)
- Virtual Clinic Pilot: Morne Oosthuizen, B Psych
- M&E: outsourced to Carbon Data Solutions, on contract
Operating Officer: Reece Carstens, B. Psych.
- Shared Services:
- Logistics Manager: Jacquelene Yikwani-Jayiya, B. Com. (Business Management) Certificate in Project Management
- Financial Administration: we have two Interns completing their practical experience for National Certificate (Business Management)
- Alindile Mkwedini
- Sibulele Mancaza
- Programs
- Head of Support: Mieke van der Merwe, B. Social Work
- Head of Prevention: Chanel Thompson, B. Psych.
- Specialists:
- Mahleen van der Merwe, M Counselling Psychology
- Heidi Bezuidenhout, M Educational Psychology
- Area Managers:
- Callen McClinton (Cape Town)
- Janita Stander (Cape Town and Paarl)
- Joane Geldenhuys (Stellenbosch)
- Melony Namponya (Franschhoek)
- Suzette Willemse (Bonnievale)
- Waroeska Marais (Cape Town and Stellenbosch)
- Zenande Mbini (Khayelitsha and Kayamandi)
Our CK school-based teams operate in an evidence-based task-sharing model
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- Care Practitioners (social workers and registered counsellors)
- Care Facilitators (first responders recruited from the communities we serve, and trained in mental health first aid)
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Our school-based teams operate in 59 partner schools and our virtual clinic. The remote and hybrid nature of our work means that our Area Managers play a critical role in communications and a supportive culture. Through our Caring for the Carer program, for every four hours of counselling support given, our practitioners receive one hour of support.
Diversity adds richness to our work, we value professional qualifications and we lived experience. Over 84% of our team are under the age of 35, and 78% are women under the age of 35.
