Khayamandi USA

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.

“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.

Ken and his wife Cathy live in
Wilmington, NC. They have two grown children, a son and a daughter.

Ken is a forester and a financier. He spent most of his career at John
Hancock financing timber and forest products companies, where he met Kurt Malzer. Ken now works as a consultant and an educator at the intersection of the environment and finance, focused on sustainability and global economic development.

Ken’s first trip to Africa with the Khayamandi Foundation was in 2013.
Since then, he has returned to Africa several times. He is passionate about spreading the word of Christ, and the journey of personal recovery. He is committed to demonstrating Christ’s love through helping impoverished people get better educated and equipped to prosper on their own.

Ken works closely with our projects in Uganda.

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.

Tracy lives in Richmond, VA with her husband Kurt. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications.

Having worked in advertising and public relations over the years, Tracy’s final job before retirement was as Director of a preschool.

In 2014, Tracy and Kurt went on their first trip to South Africa to work on a mission project with Khayamandi Foundation. Tracy handled logistics, housing, meals, etc for the trip. While there, God tugged on her heart to find a way to help the girls in the township.

She was able to work alongside a local woman to create and help sustain a program for girls that teaches dignity, self esteem, and life skills. Since 2014, Tracy has returned to South Africa many times.

Tracy and Kurt have 4 grown children and 3 grandchildren.

Stan grew up in Portageville, Missouri. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1975. He began his own construction business in 1986. Stan has volunteered his time and expertise in the design and construction of many churches over the years, from renovation of buildings to new construction. He has been a deacon and Sunday School teacher for the past 25 years. Stan helped start the “May I Pray for You Ministries” in 2017. After setting up a prayer tent along the side of the road, with a sign reading “May I Pray for You”, hundreds of people have stopped at the tent, asking for prayer, many rededicating their lives to Christ, and many accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. Stan is currently involved in The Leadership Building and Empowerment Ministry (Zambia), DiscipleLink (worldwide), and his local church (Hillview Baptist Church).

Bob was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He holds Accounting and Finance degrees from the University of Akron and an MBA from Radford University in Virginia. Over the course of his 49-year career, primarily in the field of purchasing, Bob worked with seven different companies, eventually retiring from Rolls-Royce in 2023.

Bob was part of one of the first mission teams to visit Knysna, South Africa in 2012. He was so impressed with the dedication and commitment of those involved in the Knysna ministry that he, his wife Barbara and their son have made several trips to Knysna to volunteer. Bob has felt God’s hand in the work that is being done in Knysna. He believes the Khayamandi Foundation is using resources effectively and efficiently to provide young people with basic needs and with the opportunity to know Jesus Christ. Bob is passionate about this cause, and he believes his involvement is a way in which he can praise God by helping others.

Bob and Barbara live in Augusta, Georgia. And have two grown children,

Maria lives in Midlothian, VA with her husband Mike. She graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Psychology, a minor in Criminal Justice, and an emphasis in Religion.

Prior to working with the Khayamandi Foundation, Maria was the Coordinator for Church Revitalization and Leadership Development for United Methodist Congregations in the Richmond and Charlottesville areas. She helped churches develop leadership and simplified structures, as well as help them in areas of hospitality, discipleship, and service.

In 2014, Maria had the opportunity to work as the Imagine No Malaria Field Coordinator with the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Her work gave her the opportunity to travel to Mozambique to see how grants given out by the United Methodist Church were making an impact on local communities as they navigated the challenges around Malaria prevention and treatment. For Maria, it was a wonderful trip and grew in her heart a love for Africa!

She enjoys singing with her church Worship Team, and serving on various other teams. She loves being with her family and catching up on the latest Hallmark movie.

Maria and Mike have 2 young adults in college and special pup named Banditt.