Meet the Team.
Maxwell V Madzikanga-Director
Maxwell Madzikanga joined the Faith in People in October 2011 having worked with the Red Cross as a Health Advisor for Africa within the Partnership Development Department. Prior to joining the Red Cross in 2009, Maxwell worked for NHS West Kent Primary Care Trust, United Kingdom as a Senior Public Health Promotion Practitioner. From June 2007-August 2008 Maxwell was a Senior Research Officer to Professor Paul Hunt, the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health (2002-2008).In his capacity as a Senior Researcher, Maxwell provided health, HIV and AIDS and human rights technical support to Professor Paul Hunt.
Previously he held positions with the American Friends Service Committee (Africa region Women and Youth HIV/AIDS Programme Officer), Africa University HIV and AIDS Programme Coordinator, Youth Alive Zimbabwe National Programme Director, Zimbabwe National AIDS Council National HIV and AIDS Social Support and Community Mobilisation Programme Coordinator, and Family AIDS Caring Trust-Zimbabwe HIV and AIDS Programme Coordinator. From mid 1995 to February 2000 Maxwell was a volunteer with the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society. For four consecutive years he was also a volunteer District Secretary for the Zimbabwe Red Cross, Mvuma District. In 2004, Maxwell co-organised a UNICEF/Youth Alive World AIDS Day national youth festival. The event was broadcast live on national television.
Maxwell is an independent technical reviewer for the Netherlands based European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and a reviewer for the prestigious World Health Organisation Bulletin. The director has expertise in grant management, programme management and planning, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes, understanding of primary health care programming, public health, human rights, quantitative and qualitative research, grant/project proposal development, financial management, exceptional writing skills, and refined communication competencies.
Maxwell holds the following qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Politics and Administration Honours; Bachelor of Science Special Honours Degree in Psychology; Master of Science in Disease Control (Public Health, Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS), Erasmus Mundus European Master of Bioethics (magna cum laude) and a Diploma in Adult Education. In addition, Maxwell holds certificates in Systemic HIV and AIDS Counselling (Regional AIDS Training Network), NGO Governance (FAHAMU and University of Oxford), Access to Information (FAHAMU and Article 19), Leadership Development Training (British Council Interaction Programme). He is also a former participant of the prestigious United States of America Department of State International Exchange Visitors Programme (2001) and 2005 visiting fellow of St Jude Children Research Hospital in Memphis, USA.
Michelle Overton: Women & Families Support Worker
Michelle was born in Leicestershire. She joined the team of "Faith in People with HIV" in September 2008 having had a longstanding interest in HIV work. Michelle has extensive experience of working in the voluntary sector and has recently completed a Diploma in person-centred counselling.
Having worked previously for Women's Aid Leicestershire Ltd as a Domestic Violence Outreach Worker, Michelle has experience of working with diverse needs such as mental ill health, substance misuse, learning difficulties and low self-esteem. She was co-author of a confidence and self-esteem building programme and has also delivered workshops to young people on healthy and unhealthy relationships.
In her current role as Women and Families Support Worker, Michelle offers support to woman, children and families infected with and affected by HIV through one to one work, running family day trips. women's groups and other specialised areas of support.
Administrator: Julie White
Julie White, our Administrator has been with Faith in People since 2003. Previously she worked for 15 years with a charity that supplied medicines to Africa and recognised that HIV was becoming a major global concern.
Providing secretarial support to the Director, organising events associated with the Inter-Faith Chaplain and Family Support Worker enables Julie to inter-act with service users and ensure continuity between the separate roles.
Julie is also responsible for the financial management of the charity. In the current economic climate it is becoming more important to ensure that resources are directed appropriately to sustain the services needed.
Being part of an organisation which can impact on important real life issues and giving practical help to individuals makes the role interesting and rewarding.
More importantly, the people she first met 8 years ago are still here.
Interfaith Community Chaplain-under construction
Other team members:
Under construction
Volunteer Assistant Chaplains:
Revd Pam Bolas
Faith in People with HIV is registered in England and Wales as a Charity (No: 1102534) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (No: 3318773)