Helping@Home

Connecting people in need with people who want to give, in a transparent and reputable manner

Image by Freepik

The problem

South African professionals abroad follow developments at home and wonder how they can help alleviate persistent problems with development experienced in the young democracy that is South Africa.  There are formal initiatives, including government, business and development agency plans to address known problem areas. But inevitably in different parts of the country certain weaknesses remain and implementation failures persist. How can South African professionals based abroad help in a simple and enlightened manner? Where do they start?  

The solution

An online platform that connects  donors abroad with local institutions most in need. Building on the emotional connection that South Africans have with where they come from, the platform presents a map South African locations and listed local institutions that need help.

The platform will identify credible initiatives and provide them the option of posting pressing resource needs. Vetting of institutions can be provided by support from local partners.

What we’re all about

A non-profit association registered in Switzerland, Helping@Home is developing a network and online platform for fundraising in support of local level initiatives in South Africa, projects that contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in poor communities. Helping@Home aims to establish its mission based on three pillars, namely…

  • 1 South Africans that work abroad and are eager to support development back home in an innovative manner,
  • 2 local partners that secure a broader network of support, and
  • 3 an online resource that profiles local initiatives in South Africa that need material support for long-term development.

Organisation

Helping@Home was registered as charitable association in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2021 by three friends who have a passion for business innovation in support of development needs and strategic philanthropy goals. All three of them parents of young children, they also share an admiration for South Africa and an eagerness to help its citizens overcome the birth pains of a young democracy.

The three founders served as initial members of the Executive Committee of Helping@Home. They have since been joined by two members based in Perth and London.

Cornelis T. van der Lugt

Cornelis T. van der Lugt

President
Cornelis T. van der Lugt is Senior Lecturer Extraordinaire with Stellenbosch University Business School in Cape Town, South Africa, and Senior Manager ESG Research with S&P Global in Zurich, Switzerland. He has over 30 years' international experience in sustainability, and has worked in government, the United Nations, academia and the private sector. He initiated H@H in 2021.

Oliver Rosenbauer

Secretary
Oliver Rosenbauer is External Relations Manager at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Having started his career in marketing in Germany, the United States and United Kingdom, he entered the UN system and has worked over 15 years in the humanitarian field. He is also President of the Polio Survivors Fund.

Erika Joubert

Member Australasia
Erika Joubert is an independent consultant based in Perth, Australia. She has over 30 years’ experience working in the Southern African community development sector, including community-based research, gender and HIV/Aids mainstreaming and co-ordinating an NQF-accredited National Certificate for a youth network. She is a Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD International) Fellow for Southern and Eastern Africa.

Eugene Kinghorn

Treasurer
Eugene Kinghorn is the CFO of the Sustainable Development Capital group, a UK headquartered developer, investor and fund manager focused on energy efficiency and decarbonisation. Led from London, the group and its investment vehicles also operate from offices in New York, Greenwich, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He has over 20 years’ experience in financial management and investing. Raised in South Africa, Eugene has a passion for innovative ways to support its development.

Core Principles

  • Explicitly non-political, taking care not to be associated with any political party affiliation
  • Purposefully enlightened in approach, aware of the sensitivities of South African history and challenges world-wide around the themes of discrimination, extreme inequality and human rights
  • Support innovative approaches to development, including latest research on impact investment and mindful of the benefits/pitfalls of philanthropic donations in developing communities
  • Address pain points associated with local infrastructure weaknesses, turning risks into opportunities