Maggie Amweelo
- Regional Grants Manager
Maggie Amweelo is the Regional Grants Manager at ARASA, a role she resumed in May 2024. She joined ARASA in 2008 as an Executive Assistant to the Director, served as ARASA Office Coordinator from 2009 and became the organisation M and E Officer from 2011 until 2024 before moving into her current position. Maggie has 13 years of work experience with local NGOs (Catholic AIDS Action and the Legal Assistance Centre) in Namibia as well as the education sector (Polytechnic of Namibia).
Maggie holds a B-Tech Degree in Business Administration with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a Diploma in Business Administration from the Polytechnic of Namibia (2004). Maggie also has a Pitman Diploma in Secretarial and Administration from the Valombola Vocational Training centre (2000).
Bruce Tushabe
- Regional Training and Capacity Strengthening Lead
Bruce Tushabe is the Regional Training and Capacity Strengthening Officer at ARASA. He joined the ARASA team in April 2016 from Malawi Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV (MANERELA+) where he served as the Executive Director. Bruce has a 15 years of work experience with local and international organisations. He has worked in Asia as well as Southern and East African region serving in various positions.
Hertha Nekwaya
- Regional Finance And Administration Officer
Hertha Nekwaya joined ARASA in April 2017 as the Finance and Administration Officer. She holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from the Polytechnic of Namibia. Hertha worked as a Financial Assistant at Namibia Wildlife Resorts, Senior Bookkeeper at Kayec Trust, and as an Accounts Supervisor at O & L Leisure. She is currently studying towards her Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Thuthukile Mbatha
- Regional Advocacy Lead
Thuthukile is a sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) activist with a particular interest in HIV prevention. She has a demonstrated history of working in a public interest law firm, SECTION27, as a researcher for over 7 years. She is a friend and an organizer for a global political movement called She Decides, which advocates for her right to decide what she wants to do with her body, her life and her future without question.
Thuthukile holds a Bachelor of Social science Degree on Anthropology and Psychology from the University of KwaZulu Natal. She is currently finishing her Masters in Population Studies.
Takaitei Bote
- Regional Communications and Documentation Officer
Takaitei Bote is the Regional Communications and Documentation Officer for ARASA, and she joined the organisation in April 2023. She is a passionate human rights and humanitarian communications, media expert and gender activist with over 20 years practice in the non-governmental sector and 6 years in the mainstream print media with exposure in Africa and Europe.
A strategist in development communications, organisation profile and capacity builder, Takaitei holds a Master of Arts Degree in Development Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies, Diploma in Mass Communications/print Journalism, Group Diploma in Marketing (London Chamber of Commerce) and a Marketing Diploma under IMM Graduate School of Marketing.
Phathisani Sibanda
- Regional Key Populations Officer
Phathisani Sibanda, ARASA Regional Key Populations Officer is a SRHR research ,programming and advocacy enthusiast with a keen interest in working with sexual and gender minorities. With over five years of experience in Key Populations -oriented organizations, Phathisani has held various roles, including research assistant, peer educator, programs officer, and Demand generation officer among others.
In addition Phathisani has also undertaken some work with global organizations serving key populations like Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) and has also severed in the Youth Advisory Panel for the regional SRHR fund in East and Southern Africa. Academically, Phathisani holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights, Peace and Development from Africa University and one in Sexual Reproductive Health Policy and Programming from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine(LSHTM).
Magadalena David
- Regional Finance, Administration and Logistics Officer
Magdalena David joined ARASA in June 2017 as the Finance and Administration Assistant, and now holds the position of Finance, Admin and Logistics Officer. She completed her Bachelors’ degree in Business Administration and a Postgraduate diploma in Management from the Namibian University of Science and Technology.
Prior to joining ARASA she worked as the Assistant to the Programme Development Coordinator and later a National Youth development coordinator at the SOS Children’s Villages Namibia. She has also served as project officer for the SOS Children’s Villages Namibia and The Foschini Group project.
Hilya Emosho
- finance and Admin officer
Hilya Emosho joined ARASA in March 2023 as finance and Admin officer. She holds an Honours degree in finance Management. She is registered with the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants and currently doing a master’s degree in strategic management.
Hilya has more than five years experience in the NGO sector. She has worked for the Namibia Statistic Agency as accountant and Intraheath International as a Finance and Human Resources Officer, prior to joining ARASA.
