Matt was just a young 18-year-old on a gap year placement at the International School in Mafikeng when he and schoolteacher Henry Matthews shared an idea over a bowl of jelly and ice cream. Little did they know that this idea would flourish into a successful organisation empowering hundreds of children through education. On his return to the UK, Matt began his studies at Swansea University and dedicated every spare moment to raising money for the SOS Africa cause together with his friends and family.
BA History and Politics, MA International Relations, PhD Cultural Studies. Impact Maker. Education Provider. Caregiver.
"Much of the charity's current success is down to the incredible support and generosity of Swansea Uni Staff and Students during the early years of the charity's development."
"When I started my degree at Swansea University in 2003 SOS Africa supported one child. By the time I completed my PhD in 2012, SOS Africa had grown into a thriving organisation empowering the lives of many children through education. Much of the charity's current success is down to the incredible support and generosity of Swansea Uni Staff and Students during the early years of the charity's development."
In 2010 SOS Africa had a breakthrough when Hyundai partnered the charity during the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa. This inspired Matt to pursue a full-time career in SOS Africa. Now the CEO of the charity, Matt has set the fundraising bar higher and higher with a variety of daring and creative fundraising challenges. He has personally corresponded with each and every one of their 200+ child sponsors around the World and continued to evolve SOS Africa's Education Programmes and support throughout South Africa. Without realising it, at 18 years old Matt embarked on a lifetime dedicated to transforming children's lives, and their communities, through the empowerment of education.