Symmone Wilson is the Managing Director of African Ambassadors (SA). Symmone joined AIFS (SA) in April 1999 and started the Academic Year in America Program that has successfully sent over 50 students from South Africa to USA in the last 8 years. In 2001 she was appointed to additionally manage the Au Pair in America Program and was subsequently appointed Managing Director in 2005. She has created opportunities for previously disadvantaged South Africans who have been sponsored through AIFS, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the ATKV. During her tenure as Managing Director the company expanded its operations into neighbouring countries, in particular Namibia, from where over 100 Au Pairs were recruited onto the program in 2007/8. Symmone had previously been involved in the education, insurance and IT-related industries, and has wide experience in sales and marketing, and student development (she was also a self-sponsored exchange student in Italy). Symmone believes that all young female South Africans should have the opportunity to experience the life-enriching reward of spending time as an Au Pair. She enjoys recruiting from South Africa’s rich cultural background. In November 2008 Symmone was offered the opportunity to take over the company on an agency basis, which transaction was effective from January 2009. African Ambassadors is now the sole agent for Au Pair in America in Southern Africa.
Glenda Thomas is the Office and Finance Administrator for African Ambassadors (SA). On completion of her matric Gelnda was employed by a law firm as a legal secretary and within a short space of time was promoted to a para-legal poistion heading the conveyancing (property/bonds) department. This was where her passion for finance started. Nine years later Glenda became a mom and decided to stay at home to raise her children, but continued to do part time work for a small educational company interacting with young children. This eventually led to a full time position in administration and finance.
Glenda's children are now teenagers so having the opportunity of working for African Ambassadors has given her the best of both worlds - working with young people on a daily basis and working with finances. "Au Pair in America is an amazing program and an adventure of a life time for any young person - the opportunities and experience they will gain are endless."
Melissa Axford is the Au Pair in America Program Administrator. On completion of her matric, Melissa studied Human Life Science at the University of Stellenbosch before changing her field of study to a Social Science degree in Labour, Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management at the University of Cape Town of which she has a year to complete. Melissa joined the Au Pair in America team in February 2009 and although she has not had the opportunity to experience the Au Pair program herself, she believes that it is not only a fantastic opportunity for young South African women to broaden their horizons and gain knowledge of the world, but it is also a window to personal growth and self-discovery. Melissa has a passion for people and assisting them in achieving their goals, and believes that her role in this potentially life-changing company will be a mutually rewarding experience.
Natalie James is the Receptionist and Office Administrator for African Ambassadors (SA). She loves working with people and always tries to do her utmost best to bring a little joy to others lives. Her dream was always to travel and to explore the world. That is why she studied Travel and Tourism after her matric year. Natalie started work in the retail industry, because she loved working with people and being around them. She eventually became a Manager at a retail store. She is very pleased to be working for African Ambassadors, because she feels that she can play a positive part in making someone else's dream a reality. She believe that things happen for a reason, and that God has a plan with every one's life, and for her it would be an honour to help others in attaining their dream. She believes that everyday is a learning process and that with a little bit of help and encouragement, anything is possible.
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