Claire Revell
Claire discovered her love for South Africa and its people during her first visit to Durban in 2008, and is known as "Aunty Claire" and "Mama Claire" to many of the children she has supported over the years.
Since meeting Lindan and Ntobeko in 2010 — the first two boys she sponsored — Claire has been committed to supporting the Inchanga community and surrounding areas. Whether she's sponsoring children through education or spearheading projects like building new classrooms, she's combined her love for business with her passion for making a difference.
Claire is business savvy, and with 20+ years' experience, she is responsible for the operations and financial oversight of the NPO. However, you won't often find her confined to a desk all day! Claire has a selfless nature, is great at empowering others to get the best out of them, and has a very "hands on" approach — out in the community helping wherever she can.
You can learn more about Claire, her professional background and her personal journey at www.clairerevell.com.
Read Our Full Journey →
Jay Revell
Jay first visited South Africa in 2017 with wife Claire, thinking it was just a month-long holiday! But it didn't take long for him to feel completely at home.
Jay is a natural protector, who will help anyone, anytime — nothing is ever too much trouble. With a knack for making people laugh (even with his worst dad jokes), he's all about creating a warm, inclusive community where everyone feels like extended family, and those who join the Opening Doors team feel truly part of the journey.
Jay spends a lot of time travelling back and forth to Durban Home Affairs, assisting those in need of getting their ID who have no transport of their own. His responsibilities also include managing the day-to-day running of all projects, social media, fundraising, and anything else that needs doing!
Jay, along with Aaron, is particularly excited to start a local football team — combining their love for the game with their passion for bringing people together.
Sonto Msomi
Sonto is a passionate educator at Siphesihle High School who brings energy and innovation to every lesson... even to the sleepiest students on a Monday morning!
As Community Liaison, she draws on her lifelong roots in Inchanga, Ximba and Hammarsdale to build strong school–family partnerships. Ambitious and driven, Sonto is always exploring new ways to inspire her students and grow professionally.
A proud mother of two lively boys, she thrives on spontaneous adventures, enjoys sport, and loves unwinding to good music.
Aaron Revell
At 6'8", Aaron is literally the big brother of the Opening Doors family! He first visited South Africa in January 2024, and just two weeks into the volunteering trip, he knew he wanted to stay.
Despite his towering height, Aaron is a kind, friendly giant with the biggest heart — and, as he'll tell you, he's funnier than his dad, Jay! Volunteering alongside his family, Aaron's role is all about lending a helping hand, whether it's with tools or offering support to the kids in the community.
At just 19, he sees this as an incredible opportunity to make a difference.
Mxolisi (aka Andrew)
Mxolisi grew up in the Inchanga community and now lives on Claire and Jay's property, which means he's always close at hand. At 25, he's our general worker, translator and sports coordinator, and in reality he does anything and everything that needs doing!
With excellent English, Mxolisi is a vital bridge between our team and the families we serve, translating, explaining and putting everyone at ease. On the sports field he's just as important, coordinating our sessions and bringing the kids together.
Family is everything to Mxolisi. He raised his two younger sisters and his younger brother, and that honest, kind and caring nature shines through in everything he does. He has a great sense of humour too, and he and Jay will never agree on who supports the best football team!
His Zulu name, Mxolisi, translates as "Sorry", and true to form he apologises far too much, though we promise he rarely has anything to be sorry for!
Tash
Tash is the newest member of the Opening Doors team, and she has already settled in beautifully! As PA to our Founder, Claire, she keeps the wheels turning, from fundraising and grant applications to office admin and everything in between.
No two days look the same. One moment Tash is at her desk in the office, the next she's out and about on our community outreach projects, meeting the families and children we support. Passionate about getting involved, she's never happier than when she's right in the middle of the action.
Tash lives locally, so she knows the community well. She's a fun, upbeat, outgoing person who brings a big smile and plenty of energy to the team.
Our Community Care Givers
Five dedicated Community Care Givers work and live in the communities we serve. They're often the first point of contact for a family in need — identifying children and young mothers who need support, and referring cases directly to us.
