Dan and Rachel Smither

Founder & Executive Director Co-Founder & Culture and Creative Arts Director
Email Dan | Dan on Facebook
Email Rachel | Rachel on Facebook

In 2007, after ministering to thousands of inner-city children for more than ten years with The Power Company Kids Club in Pontiac, Michigan, Dan and Rachel founded Key of Hope. Dan has a bachelor’s degree in theology from William Tyndale College, and Rachel studied music theory at Oakland University. They have been married since 1995, and have four beautiful daughters.

Nhlakanipho Goba

Program Manager
Email Nhlakanipho

Nhlakanipho has been managing our programs since 2018, making sure all our weekly programs point children to Christ, are fun and run smoothly. When he is not at Key of Hope, he spends his time volunteering in his church by leading through evangelism and helping in Sunday School. Nhlakanipho is married to his wife Sonto, and they have two beautiful daughters.

Bridget Shange

Finance Manager
Email Bridget

After several encounters with Key of Hope, Bridget came on staff and manages the finance department. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Zululand and also has her postgraduate certificate in accounting with the University of Johannesburg. Her work experience ranges from a small audit firm to one of South Africa's top banks.

Sinethemba Mhlamvu

Facilities & Fleet Manager
Email Sinethemba

First hearing about Key of Hope in 2017 through his local church, Sinethemba joined the Key of Hope staff a few years later. He is committed to keeping our grounds impeccable and our fleet running smoothly. He frequently speaks at conferences at his Home Church. Sinethemba is married to his wife Zenande, and they have one beautiful daughter.

Thalente Zwane

Hope Fund Manager Email Thalente

Thalente has been coming to Key of Hope since 2018. She came on staff in 2020, and she now holds the title of our youngest manager ever. Before Thalente was invited to on our serve full-time, she worked at a customer call center and volunteered at a local church. On top of being a manager at Key of Hope, Thalente is currently in college working towards her psychology degree.

Sthandiwe Chiliza

Staff Care Counselor
Email Sthandiwe

Sthandiwe joined the Key of Hope staff after taking an early retirement from the Department of Education. Beginning as a kindergarten teacher, she worked her way up through the ranks to serve as Head of Department and then Deputy Principal of Ifafa Primary School. She and her husband Thami have one son, and one grandchild.

Supervisors

The supervisors serve directly under our managers and are being strategically groomed in leadership development. While completing all their daily tasks, they are also given charge of the temps and interns who serve under them. They supervise and direct the staff at Key of Hope, and many of our staff refer to the supervisors for decision making and support.

From left to right - Sinethemba, Sandiso, Mhlengi, Asiphe, Liyanda & Zama

Key of Hope South Africa Staff

USA Staff

Pam Dubs

US Bookkeeper
Email Pam | Pam on Facebook

Pam has been with Key of Hope since 2016 as bookkeeper. She has been married to her husband Bill for 46 years and enjoys spending time with her two married sons and six grandchildren.