Meet the READ to RISE Team
Co-Founder & Chairman
Athol Williams
Athol is a strategist, social entrepreneur and philosopher poet who was raised and educated in Mitchells Plain in Cape Town. 'To keep dreaming, and in humility, by my words and actions, to inspire and enable others to thrive.' Athol is the author of the Oaky series. Read more
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Taryn Lock
Taryn is a third generation South African Chinese who strives to make an difference in the world. She has worked as a Management Consultant, is an Illustrator who has a passion for education and literacy. She is also the the illustrator of the Oaky series. In 2014, Taryn was named one of M&G's Top 200 Young South Africans and is a member of the 2018 Obama Foundation Africa Leaders Programme.
Programme Manager (Mitchells Plain)
Roscoe Williams
Roscoe is from Westridge, Mitchells Plain and was the Business Development Manager at Taurus School Solutions, who conducted whole school evaluations at schools in Cape Town including Mitchells Plain. At READ to RISE, Roscoe is responsible for the school visits in Mitchells Plain. He was named LeadSA's WC Hero for September 2015.
Programme Manager (Soweto)
Steve Tsakiris
Steve joined READ to RISE in 2015. He is a public speaker, writer and workshop facilitator who teaches various modalities, including Sound Therapy, as tools for Personal Development. He lives in Johannesburg and passionately believes that children’s education is the key to a brighter future.
Business Operations Manager
Madeneya Bardien
Madeneya joined READ to RISE in 2015. She is a mother of three who is passionate about children, literacy and education. She is responsible for assisting with business operations as well as book covering sessions. She also assists the programme managers with their school visits.
Programme Facilitator (Soweto)
Nontokozo Mncube
Nontokozo is a mother of four children. She is a naturally gifted teacher whose vision is to develop future leaders by helping young children to learn to love reading. She believes knowledge is the key to self empowerment.
Programme Facilitator (Soweto)
Siphamandla Mncube
Siphamandla is passionate about children. He wants to inspire them to read in order to develop themselves. He believes that teaching children while they are still very young is the key to their future prosperity.
Programme Facilitator (Mitchells Plain)
Rhonda Carelse
Rhonda is from Mitchells Plain. She attended Mitchells Plain Primary and Mondale High School. Reading has been one of her biggest passions. She enjoys helping helping others. Rhonda is currently studying to become a teacher.
Programme Facilitator (Mitchells Plain)
Kercia Peterson
Kecia Petersen is from Rocklands, Mitchells Plain. She has always had a passion for children and a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. 'Working at Read to Rise is truly an honour as well as a blessing for me, very motivating to say the least. It is truly bringing me closer and encouraging me to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher in the process changing the youth in creating future leaders.'
Programme Facilitator (Mitchells Plain)
Kercia Peterson
Programme Facilitator (Mitchells Plain)
Kercia Peterson
Programme Facilitator (Mitchells Plain)
Mogammat Nur Oliver
Mogammat Nur is from Mitchells Plain. He completed a one year Higher Certificate in Islamic Studies at IPSA- International Peace College of South Africa and also attended the University of the Western Cape. He is passionate about promoting youth literacy amongst the youth as they are our future leaders.
