Our team

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.

Amanda Drobek
PARTNERSHIP & University Relations

Amanda is one of Roots’ very own alumni coming full circle to be a part of the team. After graduating from Indiana University with degrees in Marketing and International Business, she headed to Malawi to complete the Community Development Internship at Butterfly Space. This developed into a longer term role within the nonprofit, and a year later she joined Roots to help facilitate experiences just like the one she had. Knowing first-hand what it’s like to be a Roots intern, Amanda combines her personal and professional experiences with her passion for purpose-driven work to share opportunities with interns around the world.

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.

Juwairiah ishaq

SEO CONTENT WRITING Intern

Juwairiah is a first-year English student at Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women. With a strong interest in reading and writing, she is constantly searching for new opportunities to learn and gain experience in different fields. She is eager to expand her knowledge of SEO and blogging and looks forward to a productive internship. She wants to support Roots in helping other interns get opportunities that benefit them professionally and make a positive impact at a grassroots level.