Firelight welcomes new Board Chair and new Board Member

Firelight is pleased to announce that Sibongile (Bongi) Mkhabela, a Firelight Board Member since early 2021, has been elected new Chair of the Board. She brings exceptional executive experience to the task, including as CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, which she initiated and worked at for more than two decades. There she managed the building of an endowment which stood at $100 million when she left, ensuring the Fund’s sustainability.

For her anti-apartheid work and her contribution to the well-being of South Africa’s children, Bongi was awarded the prestigious National Order of Luthuli (Silver, 2018). She is also the recipient of  a Knight of the National Order of Merit (Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite) from France and an honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from Nelson Mandela University (2019).

“African children and youth are our continent’s greatest hope and potential,” said Bongi. “As board chair, I look forward to working closely with Firelight and our community partners to unlock this potential – and realize their priorities for nurturing this next generation.”

Bongi succeeds Gloria Johnson-Cusack who chaired the Board for eight years, expertly steering the foundation through key transitions, including developing a strategic plan, bringing on African board members and hiring an African executive director – moves that strengthened our ability to provide effective support for African children and youth. Gloria first joined Firelight’s Board in 2014, and we wish to extend to her our deepest appreciation for the wise counsel she brought to us for more than a decade.

Finally, we warmly welcome Christopher Ifeanyi-Nwanze as a new Member of Firelight’s  Board of Directors. Christopher is the Director of Communications & Research at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development.

He previously headed the Communications Unit at the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) where he implemented a social media strategy that positioned the Foundation as a source for governance-related content in the subregion, oversaw a successful rebranding of the Foundation, and  co-created and co-managed a women’s rights campaign.

“I share Firelight’s  belief that powerful work is happening at the community level, improving the lives of families, youth and children,” said Christopher. “I look forward to championing Firelight’s efforts in sharing these stories to build greater support for this vital work.”

We at Firelight appreciate the Christopher’s wide expertise and perspective and look forward to working with him in the coming months and years.