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Born in Cologne in 1967, she has worked for many years in various positions and indications for international pharmaceutical companies.
In 2003 she visited South Africa for the first time with her husband and child. Since then, Elke has travelled to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Mozambique over 30 times. In 2014, she infected some of her friends and has since been travelling regularly not only with her family, but also with her friends through southern Africa. Elke writes about her experiences in the blog wild Africa.
Elke cares about the people and culture in South Africa deeply. That is why she and her family have been involved in the community of Botriver for several years. Through regular visits on site, Friends of Botriver is able to accompany the implementation of projects and the great work directly on site. Elke supports young women in South Africa on their professional path as part of the mentorship program.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role within Friends of Botriver.
I once came across a saying that said "Africa will change you" and that's exactly how it is for me. I have been in Southern Africa for over 20 years and have had a lot of adventures. Our decision to make South Africa our second home has led us to build a local network. Our goal is to give young people access to quality education and transformational experiences. Florian has taken our commitment to a new level. My role is to support FoB members, introduce new ideas, and be present on the ground.
What sets the Friends of Botriver apart from other NPOs?
FoB is personal - we know the people, we have their trust, and we know where to provide local support. We talk to each other quickly and effectively and quickly agree on what is important. Initial reticence has given way to open and constructive dialogue.
How can sustainable change be achieved within the Botriver community?
I believe that sustainable change can be achieved by using talents from within the community to inspire others. A perfect example of this is my first mentee, Taskeen. She graduated from university and is now working in a leadership position in Cape Town. Talents like her show others what is possible and help us find those talents. In doing so, they also have a positive impact on the future of the community.