Petrina Pakoe
Project Manager
Tel +27 21 674-5111
email petrina@hopeafrica.org.za

I started out as a volunteer for the Department of Social Development in 1999. I would every day after completing night shift come and assist in the offices of DSD. I have seen the organisation go through many changes over the years and watched it grow into a provincial structure. I became permanent staff in April 2004 and co-ordinated the Education and Development Programme till I was moved into the Direct Donor Mail Programme in May 2007. During my time with HOPE Africa I have been blessed to meet many wonderful people, especially clergy who work at grassroots level and are passionate about the upliftment of their communities and the alleviation of poverty, I passion that I share and which motivates me every day to come To work The organisation has granted me the opportunity to study further at The University of Cape Town where I completed my diploma in Social Reconstruction and Development Studies in 2002. I have also completed my diploma in Project Management at the Cape Town University of Technology in 2005.

My background is in the medical field. I specialised in midwifery, trauma and pathology. I had the opportunity to work and travel abroad during my nursing career. During my working career I have also been fortunate enough to work for Bishop Edward Mackenzie as his secretary for 6 months. I was the administrator for Church Based Community Organising for 2 years while they established themselves in the Western Cape. I was the national administrator and provincial co-ordinator for Joining Hands against Hunger, a Presbyterian Church Initiative who lobbied and advocated for the rights of the marginalised and poor.

I presently sit on the board of the Peninsula School Feeding Association; I am a member of the South African Women Enterprise Network.