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Talitha - team Roots Interns

Talitha van der Waerden
General Manager

Talitha has a hugely varied CV; she’s worked as a tour leader in the Middle East, as a communications consultant, and a project manager developing change management campaigns for big multinationals. In 2012, Talitha took a break from her career in the Netherlands to travel, explore new places, and use her skills for a good cause during a work placement with a nonprofit in Cape Town. Three months turned into six, and eventually into a job coordinating events and experiences. Talitha is now excited to manage Roots, and enable others to have fulfilling volunteer work placements around the world. Having been in your shoes, she knows how important it is to find the right match between individuals and organizations, and she goes out of her way to create the most rewarding experience for all involved.

Nakeshia

nakeshia tobias
Experience Coordinator

Nakeshia started her career in the world of theatre; she studied at Cape Town’s Theatre School and worked at the Rainbow Academy as a performer, hostess, and production administrator. After a few years, she shifted gears and worked in retail, in the nonprofit sector, and in tourism. She’s now an essential part of ensuring our interns have a smooth and enjoyable internship experience, from start to finish. Nakeshia is passionate about the impact our internship programs make, both on our interns, and on our grassroot partners around the world.

Ryan Tobias

RYAN TOBIAS
Placement manager

Ryan is a seasoned talent development and strategic recruitment specialist with over a decade of experience in aligning high-potential individuals with impactful global opportunities. As a former National Training Manager for leading multinational technology firms, he has honed a unique expertise in match making, designing and scaling programs that bridge talent with purpose driven roles across diverse cultural and organizational landscapes. Ryan is committed to being a catalyst for personal and professional transformation – one purposeful connection at a time.