Khayamandi South Africa

“Coop” lives with his wife, Tracy, in Richmond Virginia. His three boys and his daughter have all graduated from college and have left the nest. He and Tracy travel and serve together in South Africa and at home.

Coop is a retired mechanical and civil engineer practicing for over 30 years, primarily as a registered professional engineer in the areas of land development, municipal water and wastewater, and renewable energy development. While researching how he might give back and use his time in retirement, a close friend introduced him to the Khayamandi Foundation founder and current president Kurt Malzer. Coop accepted Kurt’s invitation to serve on a construction team to Knysna, South Africa in the role of project manager to plan and construct a Sunday school room at My Father’s House Baptist Church in the economically challenged “Township” area of Knysna.  God did awesome things on that trip that solidified amazing friendships within the team and with the people of Knysna. They were both hooked.

Since that trip in the fall of 2014 Coop has returned several times to Knysna for various mission opportunities. Several years in a row, he and Tracy stayed in Knysna for three months at a time. During that time Kurt tutored, mentored, built relationships in Town and in the Township, presented the gospel and taught carpentry at Hands and Heart (A Hope HQ skills center).

Kurt works closely with our projects in South Africa.

Roger is the retired Global Missions Pastor after 23 years at
Warren Baptist Church. During his ministry he developed and
led mission teams all over the world. He was also honored to
serve 8 years as a Trustee for the International Mission Board
of the Southern Baptist Convention and focused much of his
work in Sub Saharan Africa. Roger has also served on various
boards dealing with Homelessness, Poverty and Humanitarian
Aid.
Along with his friend Kurt Malzer, Roger helped found the
Khayamandi Foundation as a practical way to effect change in
the cycle of poverty found in much of Sub Saharan Africa.
Roger and his wife Margo live in the Augusta area and have two grown daughters and 7 grandchildren.

Kurt was born in South Africa and grew up in Cape Town, obtaining a degree in Chemical Engineering. He worked for both Sasol and Sappi, before being recruited by an Augusta, GA based company in 1994. Kurt worked for Fulghum Fibres for 21 years and helped grow the company in the USA and international markets, before retiring at the end of 2014. He has now started up a new biomass platform company that specializes in the production of “green” energy.

Kurt and Roger Henderson shared a passion for missions and founded the Khayamandi Foundation a few years back, as a means to collect and channel funding for the various projects that they had been involved in – particularly in South Africa’s Knysna and Cape Town areas. As others have caught the vision and come on board, the foundation has grown in vision and scope, allowing for expanded and targeted projects – including sponsoring promising students to gain an education in an increasingly difficult environment.

Philip was born in the Southern Cape of South Africa and grew up living all over the country.

After graduating from High School, Philip completed  his National Service in the South African Defence Force and then went to college and received BA and BCOM degrees in Industrial Psychology and Clinical Psychology

For many years Philip worked in the field of Human Resources until he felt called to go into full time ministry. It was then that he pioneered Youth For Christ in Knysna and worked as the Center Director for 23 years.

He now works as the Director of Hope HQ, helping give young people the hope and skills training needed to change their lives. Philip also serves as the Managing Director for Khayamandi South Africa.

Philip and his wife Elize live in Knysna and have 2 adult sons and 3 grandchildren.

Penny was born in Wankie, Zimbabwe, near Victoria Falls. After graduating high school, she trained and worked in IT and Graphic Design for years.

In 1982, Penny moved to Johannesburg, South Africa and then down to Knysna, South Africa in 1999. It was there that she met her friend Ella at church. Within a couple of years, Penny and Ella decided to go into business together. They both received their tourism badges and started Emzini Tours.

Penny and Ella now own Lukhanyiso Safe House, which has been home to many of the children orphaned in the Concordia township. Emzini Tours, Khayamandi Foundation and other private donations help to fund the needs of these children.

Penny has a passion to help make a better life for the children and youth in South Africa.