We promote sustainable, locally-driven solutions to improve health and well-being in rural South Africa.
OUR MISSION
117
Malaria workshops led by trained community health workers
1,581
Community members completed malaria education program
25
Local staff and international volunteers trained as emerging global health leaders
176
Community members engaged in co-creation process for Women’s Health program
Our Team
Local Team
Tovhowani Kwinda
Local Lead, Limpopo
Tovhowani is a PhD student at Leipzig University and works as scientific research assistant supervising master and bachelor students in the field of chemistry. He is from a high-risk malaria region located in rural Limpopo (Guyuni, Ha Makuya). He has a strong interest in eradicating malaria in the community through awareness and providing preventative tools.
Marelyn Khubana
Local Lead, Limpopo
Marelyn has a computer diploma certificate, office admin diploma, certificate of attendance as a young civilian on patrol, and environmental monitor certificate.
Tinyiko Baloyi
Local Lead, Limpopo
Tinyiko earned his Fire and Rescue Operations from Umbuso Emergency Training College and completed his NQF Level 5 of Disaster Risk Management with Southern Business School. He is a guide translator at Tshulu Camp where he translates between Tshivenda and English for the local community and international students.
Innocent Thanyani
Local Lead, Limpopo
Reuban Tshitangano
Local Lead, Limpopo
Mahalia Mhlaba
Local Lead, Mpumalanga
Mahalia earned her Qualification at Africa School of Mission in Mpumalanga. She is an enrolled nursing assistant for Medi Clinic Welkom.
Nandi Khoza
Local Lead, Mpumalanga
Nandi completed her BA in Developmental Studies at Nelson Mandela University. She is pursuing a Bcom Honours degree in Economics at the University of South Africa.
Halalisani Ngomane
Local Lead, Mpumalanga
Halalisani earned his LLB from University of Limpopo in 2019, and his Bachelor of Chemical Sciences from the University of South Africa in 2015. He is serving his clerkship at Philip Meyer Attorneys.
Sipho Ubisi
Local Lead, Mpumalanga
Sipho obtained his Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management at the University of Venda. Getting life changing products into the hands of millions of people is his calling.
Leadership Team & Advisors
Sarah Cox, MSPH
Co-Founder & Board Member
Sarah is an epidemiologist, passionate about vaccine-preventable diseases and reducing health disparities. She has experience working in industry, government, & research, and is the co-founder of another international non-profit, Science Corps. Sarah earned her MSPH in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control at Johns Hopkins and is currently pursuing her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Washington.
Kathryn Guidera, MBA
Co-Founder & Board Member
Katie co-leads One Sun Health. She also works as an investor at the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation to identify and support innovative social entrepreneurs around the world. Katie earned her BA in Global Mental Health from Duke University and her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Molly Simon
Co-Founder & Board Member
Molly has spent most of her professional career working towards reducing barriers to care. In addition to co-leading One Sun Health, she works for Solv Health, focused on making everyday healthcare more accessible and convenient for consumers. Molly earned her BA in Anthropology, Public Health & Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies from Washington University in Saint Louis.
Temi Ifafore-Calfee, MPH PMP
Board Member
Temitayo (Temi) serves as a Health Science Specialist in the Office of HIV/AIDs at USAID. Her global health career spans 15 years, and she also founded Global South Solutions, a small, woman and minority-owned business that provides strategic positioning expertise to small and mid-sized health firms that want to grow their international portfolios. She received her MPH from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and BA from Yale University. She is also a certified Project Management Professional.
Laurence Kruger, PhD
Board Member
Laurence is the Co-Founder of the Nsasani Trust, and Director of Organization for The Organization of Tropical Studies. He was born into a family of biologists and humanitarians, and has followed his passion for both by running field based, experiential learning programs in and around South Africa. Laurence is passionate about dismantling obstacles within the education system, and helping to provide students with the science skills and experiences to overcome barriers to education.
George Ramasenya, MPH
Manager & 2016 MAP Coordinator
George is a school-based Physiotherapist at Tsakane Special School in Mpumalanga, South Africa. His involvement in One Sun Health gives him an opportunity to share his knowledge and experience in public health while making a positive impact on the lives of ordinary South Africans. George holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy from University of Limpopo, and an MPH in Field Epidemiology from University of Pretoria.
Kristin Andrejko
Manager & 2016 MAP Coordinator
Kristin is a PhD student in Epidemiology at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Her research in infectious disease epidemiology currently evaluates how improvements in immunization coverage can decrease the burden of antimicrobial resistant infections. Kristin received her BS in Science-Business from the University of Notre Dame, completing internships with the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Danielle Fekete
Co-Founder
Danielle earned her BA in Cellular Biology & Neurosciences from Rutgers University in 2013. Since 2013, she has worked with emerging technologies such as Blockchain, IoT and most recently Artificial Intelligence. Danielle currently resides in NYC where she works for Cognizant, an IT services provider, and is responsible for content strategy, thought leadership, and service development.
Current Program & Project Coordinators
Amaka Nwafor
2021 OSH Coordinator
Education: BS, Cornell University 2022
Areas of Study: Psychology, Global and Public Health Sciences
Amaka has a background in both qualitative and quantitative data research in regards to health and wellness. She is interested in studying how medicine and international relations can help eradicate social determinants of health.
Areas of Study: Psychology, Global and Public Health Sciences
Amaka has a background in both qualitative and quantitative data research in regards to health and wellness. She is interested in studying how medicine and international relations can help eradicate social determinants of health.
Isabella Kong,
2021 OSH Coordinator
Education: BS, Cornell University 2022
Areas of Study: Environmental Science & Pre-health
Isabella is a Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar with a background in environmental health. She has research experience in the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on social assemblages due to specific determinants of health and plans to pursue a Master of Public Health degree before attending medical school.
Areas of Study: Environmental Science & Pre-health
Isabella is a Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar with a background in environmental health. She has research experience in the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on social assemblages due to specific determinants of health and plans to pursue a Master of Public Health degree before attending medical school.
Past Program & Project Coordinators
Alexandra-Sasha Giedd,
2020 MD/MPH Practicum Student,
2016 MAP Coordinator
Education: BA, Duke University 2014; MD, Wake Forest Medical School 2020; MPH, George Washington Milken School of Public Health 2020
Areas of Study: Biology, Global Health, Cultural Anthropology, Family Medicine
Alexandra-Sasha is a Family Medicine resident at Northwestern University, where she loves learning how to best care for the communities she serves. Alexandra has a strong interest in health equity and education, and hopes to work as a physician in global health in her future career.
Areas of Study: Biology, Global Health, Cultural Anthropology, Family Medicine
Alexandra-Sasha is a Family Medicine resident at Northwestern University, where she loves learning how to best care for the communities she serves. Alexandra has a strong interest in health equity and education, and hopes to work as a physician in global health in her future career.
Raynett Koekemoer
2019-2020 OSH Coordinator
Education: BSc, Potchefstroom 2018; MS, University of Sussex 2022
Area of Study: Environmental Management, Waste Management, Sustainable Development
Raynett is South African and has a strong interest in environmental management. She has worked as a volunteer for the UNDP under the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene program in Yemen and is currently pursuing her masters degree.
Area of Study: Environmental Management, Waste Management, Sustainable Development
Raynett is South African and has a strong interest in environmental management. She has worked as a volunteer for the UNDP under the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene program in Yemen and is currently pursuing her masters degree.
Hannah Greene
2020 OSH Coordinator
Education: BS, NYU Abu Dhabi 2022
Area of Study: Biology and Social Research & Public Policy
Hannah hopes to become a physician of emergency medicine, and loves working with One Sun Health because it allows her to bring her interests in sociology and health together in a meaningful way.
Area of Study: Biology and Social Research & Public Policy
Hannah hopes to become a physician of emergency medicine, and loves working with One Sun Health because it allows her to bring her interests in sociology and health together in a meaningful way.
Aashna Kumar
2020 OSH Coordinator
Education: BS, Cornell 2021
Area of Study: Neuroscience & Health Care Policy
Aashna is a project coordinator at One Sun Health and will be pursuing her Masters degree in Health Policy next fall. She aims to use policymaking to address health disparities in the United States.
Area of Study: Neuroscience & Health Care Policy
Aashna is a project coordinator at One Sun Health and will be pursuing her Masters degree in Health Policy next fall. She aims to use policymaking to address health disparities in the United States.
Kat Tiscornia
2019 OSH Project Coordinator
Education: BA, Duke University 2022
Area of Study: Sociology, Global Health, & Creative Writing
Kat has a background in fundraising, starting her own fund for bone cancer research: Kat’s Crew. She is interested in studying how population groups can be resilient in times of adversity.
Area of Study: Sociology, Global Health, & Creative Writing
Kat has a background in fundraising, starting her own fund for bone cancer research: Kat’s Crew. She is interested in studying how population groups can be resilient in times of adversity.
Ellen Pil
2018 MAP Coordinator
Education: BA, University of Notre Dame, 2021
Area of Study: Political Science, Pre-Health
Ellen is an EMT and conducts research on the relationship between state legislation and the opioid epidemic. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.
Area of Study: Political Science, Pre-Health
Ellen is an EMT and conducts research on the relationship between state legislation and the opioid epidemic. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.
Thea Dennis
2018 MAP Coordinator
Education: B.A., Smith College 2015; MD, Tulane University 2021
Area of Study: Ecology & Conservation, Biology, Emergency Medicine
Thea plans to pursue a career with Doctors Without Borders and other global health initiatives. She has published research in breast cancer during her Fulbright Scholarship in Belgium and given a TEDx talk to empower young students to pursue their dreams.
Area of Study: Ecology & Conservation, Biology, Emergency Medicine
Thea plans to pursue a career with Doctors Without Borders and other global health initiatives. She has published research in breast cancer during her Fulbright Scholarship in Belgium and given a TEDx talk to empower young students to pursue their dreams.
Temitope Adebayo
2015 MAP Coordinator
Education: BSc, University of the Free State 2015; Honours & MScPH, University of Pretoria 2018; PhD Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Basel 2019
Area of Study: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, GIS and Big Data
Temitope studies epidemiology and public health with a research focus on air pollution and health in Cape Town, South Africa, particularly the association between multiple air pollutants and cardio-respiratory disease with a goal of developing a city air quality health index. She also works as a statistical consultant and is passionate about climate change, air pollution and health.
Area of Study: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, GIS and Big Data
Temitope studies epidemiology and public health with a research focus on air pollution and health in Cape Town, South Africa, particularly the association between multiple air pollutants and cardio-respiratory disease with a goal of developing a city air quality health index. She also works as a statistical consultant and is passionate about climate change, air pollution and health.
Kayla McAvoy
2015 MAP Coordinator
Education: BS, Davidson College 2016; MPH, Brown University School of Public Health 2019
Areas of Study: Biology, Medical Humanities, Public Health
Kayla is the Manager of Leadership Development Programs at The Health Management Academy where she prepares physicians and health care professionals for C-suite executive roles. Kayla is grateful for her experience with One Sun Health and enjoyed working alongside her MAP Team.
Areas of Study: Biology, Medical Humanities, Public Health
Kayla is the Manager of Leadership Development Programs at The Health Management Academy where she prepares physicians and health care professionals for C-suite executive roles. Kayla is grateful for her experience with One Sun Health and enjoyed working alongside her MAP Team.
Juliette Fry
2015 MAP Coordinator
Education: BA, Wellesley College 2016; MPH, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health 2019
Areas of Study: Biology, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Population and Family Health
Juliette is a women's health advocate at a biotechnology company, where she loves working closely with the community to improve health. Juliette has a strong focus on education and access to care and hopes to continue her career in advocacy and policy.
Areas of Study: Biology, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Population and Family Health
Juliette is a women's health advocate at a biotechnology company, where she loves working closely with the community to improve health. Juliette has a strong focus on education and access to care and hopes to continue her career in advocacy and policy.
Jacqueline Treiger
2014 MAP Coordinator
Allie Huttler
2014 OSH Project Coordinator
Education: BS, Duke University 2015; MD, University of Rochester School of Medicine 2019
Areas of Study: Biology, Bioethics, Global Health, Human Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Allie is an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at Pennsylvania Hospital, where she loves caring for the diverse population of women and advocating for reproductive justice. She is pursuing a career in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and plans to incorporate global maternal health into her future career.
Areas of Study: Biology, Bioethics, Global Health, Human Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Allie is an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at Pennsylvania Hospital, where she loves caring for the diverse population of women and advocating for reproductive justice. She is pursuing a career in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and plans to incorporate global maternal health into her future career.
Sruti Pisharody
2014 MAP Coordinator
Education: BS, Duke University 2015; MD, Duke University School of Medicine 2020
Areas of Study: Evolutionary Anthropology, Biology, Pediatrics
Sruti is a pediatrics resident at Seattle Children's Hospital. She is passionate about bringing an ecologist's perspective to human health and hopes to have a career in global health.
Areas of Study: Evolutionary Anthropology, Biology, Pediatrics
Sruti is a pediatrics resident at Seattle Children's Hospital. She is passionate about bringing an ecologist's perspective to human health and hopes to have a career in global health.
Melissa Manus
2013 MAP Coordinator
Education: BS, Tulane University 2013; MSc, Duke University 2016; PhD, Northwestern University 2023
Areas of Study: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Global Health; Biological Anthropology
Melissa researches the influence of the social environment on the infant skin microbiome. Her research sits at the intersection of microbial ecology, human evolution, and global health, with applications for understanding how microbial exposures underscore health inequities.
Areas of Study: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Global Health; Biological Anthropology
Melissa researches the influence of the social environment on the infant skin microbiome. Her research sits at the intersection of microbial ecology, human evolution, and global health, with applications for understanding how microbial exposures underscore health inequities.
Tory Skinner
2013 MAP Coordinator
Education: BS, Tulane University 2013; BSN, Rutgers University 2016; DNP, Louisiana State University, 2022
Areas of Study: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Psychology, Nursing
Victoria (Tory) is a hematology/oncology nurse in New Orleans, where she loves working with a complex, chronically ill patient population. She is also pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at LSU and hopes to continue working with this population as a nurse practitioner.
Areas of Study: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Psychology, Nursing
Victoria (Tory) is a hematology/oncology nurse in New Orleans, where she loves working with a complex, chronically ill patient population. She is also pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at LSU and hopes to continue working with this population as a nurse practitioner.
Our Partners
The organizations that we choose to partner with have deep, long-standing relationships with communities in which we work and demonstrated success in a community-centered approach to local implementation.
Nsasani Trust
Nsasani Trust is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of South Africans through holistic education and training programs based in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Limpopo Department of Health
Malaria Control
The Limpopo Department of Health provides quality health care services that are accessible, comprehensive, integrated, sustainable and affordable. The Malaria Control division works to ensure vector control in the region through surveying homes, indoor residual spraying, incidence tracking, and other activities.
Tshulu Trust
Tshulu Trust is a community-run organization in HaMakuya, a rural chieftancy in Northern Limpopo, which benefits marginalised groups. They aim to facilitate the community's ability to sustainably use and conserve HaMakuya's natural and cultural resources through job creation, micro enterprise development, tourism education, research and sustainability.
Resolution Project
The Resolution Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering youth leadership development around the world through corporate social entrepreneurship. Resolution develops and empowers young leaders so they can pursue socially responsible solutions to issues affecting communities around the world.
Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS)
OTS is a consortium of 50 universities, colleges, and research institutions from seven countries on four continents. OTS provides leadership in education, research, and responsible use of natural resources.
AggyShadow
AggyShadow is a private catering and transportation company based in Justicia, Mpumalanga Province. AggyShadow has worked extensively with the Organization for Tropical Studies, Nsasani Trust, and Tshulu Trust providing catering and transportation for students and volunteers throughout South Africa.
South African National Parks (SANParks)
SANParks is the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks. SANParks develops, protects, expands, manages and promotes a system of sustainable national parks that represents natural and cultural heritage assets, through innovation, excellence, responsible tourism and just socio- economic benefit for current and future generations.
Skukuza Science Leadership Initiative (SSLI)
SSLI is an initiative between Nsasani Trust, SANParks and OTS that focuses on developing science leadership and capacity for South Africa. The initiative includes holistic education and training courses designed to better prepare individuals to handle complex environmental and social problems.
The Makuya Inter-Sectoral Committee (ISC)
The Makuya ISC is made up of stakeholders from local government, non-profit, health care, tribal, and other community organizations to ensure fluidity in decision-making in HaMakuya, Limpopo Province.
Kiwinet
Kiwinet is a female-founded and lead mosquito net manufacturing and distributing company located in the Western Cape.
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria (UP) is a public research university based in Pretoria, South Africa. The UP Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control is a research center that focuses on innovative, safe, and sustainable malaria control methods.
Cornell University
Cornell University is a private research university based in Ithaca, New York. Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers undergraduate students experiential learning opportunities with global partners like One Sun Health through its Global Fellows Program.
Radical Engineers
Radical Engineers matches volunteer technologists with organizations targeting long-term systemic change. They aim to propel positive change to social, political, economic and health challenges by introducing organizations who best understand the problems to the technological support they need to solve them.
Our History
In 2011, the co-founders of One Sun Health met on the Organization for Tropical Studies’ Global Health Issues study abroad program in South Africa. During this program, they conducted community based participatory health research on various issues that plague rural South Africa, including malaria. Their experience and interactions with communities in the region of HaMakuya, Limpopo Province sparked a passion to return the area to work with the local stakeholders to develop a sustainable solution to a lack of malaria education. It is with these experiences that we continue to drive the growth of One Sun Health’s programs.
Timeline
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