Leonie committed her life to the Lord at age 13, and her passion and dream was to serve God in a full-time capacity, but she had lessons to learn first. 

Leonie always sided with the underdog. Although she started off in the corporate world for quite a few years, she knew that it was only preparation for her future. In 2008, she received a prophecy regarding God’s plan for her to serve him full-time. As a single parent, she could not see that happen and forgot about it completely, but in 2014 it came to fruition when she joined CBN Southern Africa. Initially she was responsible for all humanitarian projects; two years later she became an Orphan’s Promise project manager and subsequently Southern Africa regional manager.  

As a single mother herself, she understood the challenges, pain, and lonely road that come with having to care for one’s children with little to no resources. Leonie’s own journey and her passion for vulnerable and lonely underdog have found their purpose through her service to Orphan’s Promise, where at-risk children and families are supported in various ways to bring them to a point of thriving and sharing these life-changing testimonies in a dignified and motivational way that glorifies God. God took Leonie from vulnerable to thriving so that she can be a testimony to those she encounters daily, giving them hope and support, while sharing God’s love and heart for them.  

Leonie has a certificate in ministry and 30 years of experience in project management. She is an eager learner, and her fields of interest includes trauma-informed care, child protection, psychology, philosophy, music, photography, reading, and do-it-yourself projects. She has two adult children and an energetic dog.