Meet the Team | ABCD Africa Association

Meet the team
behind the ABCD Africa Association.

Meet the team
behind the ABCD Africa Association.

Janine Ward

FOUNDING MEMBER, CHAIR

Janine qualified as a Social Worker and has worked since 1986 in asset-based citizen-led development (ABCD), participatory capacity building, enterprise development and income generation, HIV/AIDS competence, project management and fundraising. Her ‘hands-on’ experience is derived largely from working independently for 12 years in rural Swaziland, establishing an NGO and developing sustainable community capacity-building programmes.

She is a registered Trainer in Asset-Based Citizen-led Development (ABCD), the Micro MBA (financial literacy tool), CABSA’s Channels of Hope HIV Competence Facilitation, the Greenlight Movement tool and SEED Business Development Support BDS+ UNDP programme.

Janine works independently and has relocated to the beautiful Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her consulting business is called S.P.A.C.E and its vision is to Spark Personal And Community Essence.

Janine Ward

FOUNDING MEMBER, CHAIR

Janine qualified as a Social Worker and has worked since 1986 in asset-based citizen-led development (ABCD), participatory capacity building, enterprise development and income generation, HIV/AIDS competence, project management and fundraising. Her ‘hands-on’ experience is derived largely from working independently for 12 years in rural Swaziland, establishing an NGO and developing sustainable community capacity-building programmes.

She is a registered Trainer in Asset-Based Citizen-led Development (ABCD), the Micro MBA (financial literacy tool), CABSA’s Channels of Hope HIV Competence Facilitation, the Greenlight Movement tool and SEED Business Development Support BDS+ UNDP programme.

Janine works independently and has relocated to the beautiful Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her consulting business is called S.P.A.C.E and its vision is to Spark Personal And Community Essence.

Bernie Dolley

FOUNDING MEMBER, SECRETARY

The founding director of Ikhala Trust, a community grant maker supporting existing community-led development initiated in 2002, she has more than 30 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, holding various positions. She has participated in many leadership courses over the years and, in 1995, was invited to participate in a leadership programme at the New School for Social Research in New York.

Twenty years later, in 2015, she returned to New York as a participant in the Senior Fellows Programme for Philanthropy at the Graduate Centre at CUNY University. She has travelled extensively internationally, sharing her practice and experience, and is a passionate advocate of asset-based community-driven development (ABCD). She believes that if this approach were adopted across all spheres of government, civil society, corporate, and communities at large, we would witness authentic, sustainable development practices.

Bernie Dolley

FOUNDING MEMBER, SECRETARY

The founding director of Ikhala Trust, a community grant maker supporting existing community-led development initiated in 2002, she has more than 30 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, holding various positions. She has participated in many leadership courses over the years and, in 1995, was invited to participate in a leadership programme at the New School for Social Research in New York.

Twenty years later, in 2015, she returned to New York as a participant in the Senior Fellows Programme for Philanthropy at the Graduate Centre at CUNY University. She has travelled extensively internationally, sharing her practice and experience, and is a passionate advocate of asset-based community-driven development (ABCD). She believes that if this approach were adopted across all spheres of government, civil society, corporate, and communities at large, we would witness authentic, sustainable development practices.

Hanna Nel

FOUNDING MEMBER & CO-TREASURER

Hanna Nel, a professor in the Department of Social Work and Community Development at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), is a passionate researcher and educator.

The focus of her research the last 15 years is primarily on community development, and specifically asset-based citizen-led development (ABCD) in South Africa. She has a publication list of 64 articles and chapters in accredited journals and books. She was a co-author with two colleagues of a book on community development of which the second edition was published in 2021. Hanna has guided 59 post-graduate students on master’s and doctoral levels in graduating.

Hanna Nel

FOUNDING MEMBER & CO-TREASURER

Hanna Nel, a professor in the Department of Social Work and Community Development at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), is a passionate researcher and educator.

The focus of her research the last 15 years is primarily on community development, and specifically asset-based citizen-led development (ABCD) in South Africa. She has a publication list of 64 articles and chapters in accredited journals and books. She was a co-author with two colleagues of a book on community development of which the second edition was published in 2021. Hanna has guided 59 post-graduate students on master’s and doctoral levels in graduating.

Artwell Chivhinge

FOUNDING MEMBER

Artwell brings 26 years development experience gained from working in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia with youth, NGOs and communities. He also facilitated ABCD in all those countries except Tanzania.

Currently he is Manager at Mount Carmel Youth Training and Conference Centre in Aliwal North, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where they train out of school youth on life skills, vocational skills training, entrepreneurship and facilitate work attachment.

He is also a development consultant on Asset-Based Citizen-led Development, permaculture, external evaluations and NGO Sustainability. He is qualified in youth development, social and community development, accredited facilitation, monitoring and evaluation and project management. Artwell was introduced to ABCD through Ikhala Trust’s Bernie Dolley and was trained by Ninette Eliasov and Brianne Peters at Ikhala Trust in 2011. Since the training Artwell spread ABCD in South African communities, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda. He integrates ABCD in all his development efforts.

Artwell Chivhinge

FOUNDING MEMBER

Artwell brings 26 years development experience gained from working in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia with youth, NGOs and communities. He also facilitated ABCD in all those countries except Tanzania.

Currently he is Manager at Mount Carmel Youth Training and Conference Centre in Aliwal North, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where they train out of school youth on life skills, vocational skills training, entrepreneurship and facilitate work attachment.

He is also a development consultant on Asset-Based Citizen-led Development, permaculture, external evaluations and NGO Sustainability. He is qualified in youth development, social and community development, accredited facilitation, monitoring and evaluation and project management. Artwell was introduced to ABCD through Ikhala Trust’s Bernie Dolley and was trained by Ninette Eliasov and Brianne Peters at Ikhala Trust in 2011. Since the training Artwell spread ABCD in South African communities, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda. He integrates ABCD in all his development efforts.

Judith Mtsewu

FOUNDING MEMBER & CO-TREASURER

Judith Mtsewu is the Founder and Director of Hluma Sonke Consultancy, where she leads with a deep commitment to people-centered and human-rights-based approaches to community development. Her work focuses on amplifying community voices through meaningful public participation and fostering authentic partnerships that drive sustainable impact.

Judith’s passion lies in strengthening organisations and building integrated, resilient ecosystems that support long-term social change. With a strong belief in collaboration as a catalyst for development, her research and practice explore how partnerships can be leveraged to empower communities and enhance institutional effectiveness.

Judith Mtsewu

FOUNDING MEMBER & CO-TREASURER

Judith Mtsewu is the Founder and Director of Hluma Sonke Consultancy, where she leads with a deep commitment to people-centered and human-rights-based approaches to community development. Her work focuses on amplifying community voices through meaningful public participation and fostering authentic partnerships that drive sustainable impact.

Judith’s passion lies in strengthening organisations and building integrated, resilient ecosystems that support long-term social change. With a strong belief in collaboration as a catalyst for development, her research and practice explore how partnerships can be leveraged to empower communities and enhance institutional effectiveness.

Amelia Visagie

FOUNDING MEMBER

Amelia Visagie is the Expertise Lead for Community Development and Stakeholder Engagement at Zutari and was recently promoted to Associate Design Director within the Sustainability Business Unit. With over 35 years of experience across government and the private sector, she is recognised as a thought leader in sustainable community development and stakeholder engagement.

Since joining Zutari in 2011, Amelia has played a key role in designing transformative processes and implementing impactful, sustainable projects across South Africa and other developing countries, including Nigeria, Namibia, and the DRC. Her open, transparent approach has earned her the trust of clients and communities alike.

Amelia’s expertise spans enterprise and skills development, training, facilitation, change management, and social investment initiatives. She is an accredited assessor, facilitator, professional coach, and design thinker, as well as an Asset-Based Citizen-led Development (ABCD) programme manager. She serves on the African Board of the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2SA) and is a member of the International Association for Community Development (IACD).

Amelia Visagie

FOUNDING MEMBER

Amelia Visagie is the Expertise Lead for Community Development and Stakeholder Engagement at Zutari and was recently promoted to Associate Design Director within the Sustainability Business Unit. With over 35 years of experience across government and the private sector, she is recognised as a thought leader in sustainable community development and stakeholder engagement.

Since joining Zutari in 2011, Amelia has played a key role in designing transformative processes and implementing impactful, sustainable projects across South Africa and other developing countries, including Nigeria, Namibia, and the DRC. Her open, transparent approach has earned her the trust of clients and communities alike.

Amelia’s expertise spans enterprise and skills development, training, facilitation, change management, and social investment initiatives. She is an accredited assessor, facilitator, professional coach, and design thinker, as well as an Asset-Based Citizen-led Development (ABCD) programme manager. She serves on the African Board of the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2SA) and is a member of the International Association for Community Development (IACD).