Meet the Team

Nozipho Thorne, Director of Operations

Nozipho Sasha Thorne started as Director of Operations of boMake Rural Projects in January 2018. She also serves on the boMake Rural Projects Board as an ex-officio member. With an academic background in law and communication science, as well as work in rural community development through Fair Trade and as an independent concepts and project development consultant,  Make Thorne, as she is affectionately known to artisans, brings a creative edge and a wealth of experience to boMake.

Our Board of Directors

Sazikazi Hlophe 

Board Chairperson Sazikazi Hlophe is a media management specialist with experience in mass media, marketing communications and public relations. She has worked for several organisations in Eswatini’s private, civil society and corporate sectors and brings to boMake a unique passion and capacity for managing stakeholders, hosting large events and mobilising sponsorship. She volunteers part-time in driving social marketing activities at boMake.

Shelley Belohrad

Shelley joined boMake Rural Projects in 2010 as Programme Coordinator and was Programme Director from 2013 to 2016. Her continued involvement as an ex-officio board member is invaluable as she has a deep knowledge of boMake and its development over the years. 

Signhild Thorne

Signhild is the Managing Director of Gone Rural Swaziland, boMake Rural Projects’ sister company, and an ex-officio member of the Board. Signhild has been part of the handcraft industry in Eswatini for 9 years. She provides business-related input on sustainability and financial strategy, as well as facilitating the donor support relationship between Gone Rural and boMake Rural Projects.

Armand Perry

Board Secretary Armand joined the boMake Rural Projects Board in 2015. He is a U.S. attorney, affiliated locally with T.R. Maseko Attorneys, Eswatini’s preeminent human rights law firm. Armand has lived in Eswatini since 2011.

Mike Drew

Originally from Wales, UK, Mike moved to Eswatini in 2018. He lectured part time in business management and innovation for two local colleges and wrote a weekly column for the Eswatini Observer. Mike joined boMake Rural Projects in April 2022 and is the Resource Mobilisation Officer. Mike has the necessary skill set to ensure a robust financial oversight in his role as Board Treasurer.

Sibongile Zwane

Sibongile is the Board’s Artisan Representative. As a weaver from Mahlanya Community, she has worked with Gone Rural for 15 years and is an artisan group leader. She is proud to be working with the women of her community and to be the breadwinner for her family of four children.

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