Meet Our Team
Mancoba Hlatshwako
Mancoba, a dedicated citizen of the Kingdom of Eswatini and an esteemed permaculture specialist, weaves a rich tapestry of sustainable agriculture deeply rooted in his early experiences at his family homestead in Bhunya. His formative years, spent learning permaculture techniques alongside his father Sani, ignited a lifelong passion for sustainable agriculture and propelled him to earn a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Mancosa College, South Africa, and secure permaculturist certification through Australia's Permaculture Visions. In 2017, driven by his robust agricultural background and an earnest desire to provide vocational opportunities to his compatriots in eastern eSwatini, Mancoba founded Sani Farms, a heartfelt tribute to his late father. The enterprise aspires to be a beacon in promoting sustainable lifestyles far beyond the African continent, embarking on a global journey towards ecological stability. Mancoba, a proud husband to Akirah and devoted father to Olaifa, navigates through his endeavors with a profound hope of inspiring a broader movement toward global sustainability.
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Akirah Hlatshwako
Akirah is the wife of Mancoba Hlatshwako and the mother of their son Olaifa. She has a bachelor's in psychology from Virginia State University, and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Akirah has extensive experience in cross-cultural collaboration and community organizing. She taught English in Malaysia through the US Fulbright Program, and is also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Eswatini from 2016-2018, during which time she met Mancoba. Akirah worked as a school social worker in Newark and currently works as a community doula, student herbalist, and breastfeeding advocate. She is passionate about bridging the gaps across the African diaspora through sustainable agriculture, traditional African child rearing practices, and Black maternal health.
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Mike WongOriginally from Seattle, Mike has been living in Berlin, Germany since 2018. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology, and has a background in social services and mental health. One of Mike’s passions is international travel; it was on one of his trips that he became friends with Mancoba. Mancoba convinced Mike to help him with starting Sani Farms, which was a perfect intersection for some of Mike’s longstanding personal interests in sustainability and southern Africa. Since 2017, Mike has actively supported Mancoba and the Sani Farms team at all levels as it grows in impact.
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Akoth AmbugoAkoth, a dedicated gardener and beautifier of spaces, has spent over a decade passionately creating and nurturing gardens, establishing over 20 kitchen gardens with 13 still actively maintained. Alongside her gardening, she has provided compassionate care to the sick and elderly for 15 years. Now, returning to her homeland in Kenya, Akoth is focusing on her dream project, Dala Maler, a two-acre food forest aimed at reconnecting her community with the natural world. This project marks a significant shift in her life, allowing her to fully dedicate herself to Earth care, embodying both the roles of student and teacher in her journey to become a steward and advocate for the environment and her community's health.
Leckiah HlatshwakoLeckiah is the wife of the late Sani Hlatshwako. She was born and raised in the village of Bhunya, on the land that Sani Farms is now located on. She is the make (mother) of seven beautiful children, and the gogo (grandmother) to fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She and her husband raised their seven children with the values of ubuntu, which emphasizes nhlonipho: respecting others, your elders, and the environment. Leckiah moved back to Sani Farms in 2018, where she has been integral in helping manage the farm’s chicken production, gardening, and mobilizing women in the community.
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