Siyanda Xaba

Gender: Female

Race: African

Nationality: South African

COVID-19 Vaccination: Fully vaccinated

Languages: English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, Afrikaans, French (Beginner)

I’m a purpose-driven Programme Manager with over a decade of experience designing and delivering impactful initiatives that uplift communities, empower youth, and drive sustainable social change.

Rooted in a strong academic foundation in sociology and international relations, social behaviour change & communication and additional post graduate qualifications; I’ve built a career around solving complex challenges in education, youth development, and socio-economic inclusion. Currently at the Trevor Noah Foundation, I lead cross-sector programmes that span digital skills training, psychosocial support, leadership development, school infrastructure and educational equity—creating pathways for young people to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Throughout my journey, I’ve held transformative roles that reflect my commitment to community-led solutions. At Beulah Africa Foundation, I spearheaded economic empowerment programmes that reached over 800 young women, equipping them with tools to build independent futures. At Vula Vula Research Services, I championed inclusive, community-informed research that shaped more responsive development strategies.

My core strengths lie in:
- Programme design & implementation that is both strategic and deeply human-centered
- Stakeholder engagement across NGOs, government, and grassroots communities
- Youth opportunity creation through education, mentorship, and skills development
- Multilingual communication, with fluency in six languages and working knowledge of French

Beyond my professional roles, I serve as a Non-Executive Trustee of The Butterfly Foundation, and previously contributed as an ambassador for the Angel Box Project—continuing my commitment to social upliftment outside of the workplace.

• Mrs Khuselwa Mxatule, Assistant Director of Learning and Impact, 067 404 6045, Trevor Noah Foundation
• Hlengiwe, Molefe, Project Manager, 076 090 9140, The Impact Catalyst
• Stian, Veldman, Executive Director, 083 842 0395, Beulah Africa Foundation
• Tony, Malgas, CEO & Founder, 072 330 7712, Vula Vula Research Services

• Core competencies
• 7 Years experience in project coordination, management, monitoring and reporting, both on and off site.
• 4 years experience in market research, socio-economic research, field research and report writing, proposal drafting.
• 3 years experience in office management, minute taking, meeting set up, client engagement, data storage using clouds and hard copies, diary management and good telephonic skills.

I bring warmth, insight, and a collaborative spirit to every project I lead. Whether I’m building partnerships, facilitating community dialogues, or mentoring young leaders, my goal is always the same: to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to shape their own futures.

Additionally, I enjoy reading, travel (locally and internationally), singing, cooking & baking.