FSA is an abbreviation for Friends of South Africa (Freundeskreis für Südafrika). The FSA Youth Exchange organizes the exchange of pupils between Germany and South Africa. 

Our Team:

The FSA Youth Exchange was founded by the director, Lodie de Jager in 1996. He co-ordinates the South North programme for South African students visiting Germany from the Head Office   in Naboomspruit situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa. 

Lodie was born in Ladybrand in the Free State.  He studied at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein (majors were German and Psychology) and taught German as Third Language.

Lodie was a teacher until 1990. He was stationed in Germany from 1991 to 1996, where he was responsible for the pupils' exchange programme. He has been involved in this exchange project between South Africa and Germany since 1984. 




 

 

 Suzanne Baker co-ordinates the North South programme and is responsible for the South African host families and the German guests.  Her office is in Boksburg, Gauteng close to the OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg).  South African host families apply with Suzanne Baker for the programme.

 

 I joined the FSA in 2007.  My professional training is in the fields of social work and psychology.  I worked as a therapist for many years and gained valuable experience in relationships and behaviour.  I am married and have three daughters who keep our lives interesting.  We are a health conscious family and we love music, singing, theatre, reading and camping.  We are keen motorcycle riders.  On the photo above I stand between our two younger daughters, Jennifer and Laura who are both students.  Jennifer also participated in the FSA programme in 2006.

I find people very interesting and my mission in life is to make a difference to the lives of others.  It is wonderful when people enjoy life and do things they are passionate about. 

 Nicole Ip joined the FSA at the end of 1999.  Nicole lives in Würzburg, and completed her studies in Theology 1999. She is responsible for the host families in half of the German provinces of Germany. Like Petra she looks after the South African pupils in Germany and selects and prepares the German pupils for their visit to South Africa.

Petra Jacobi joined the FSA at the beginning of 1998. She is married and lives in Bielefeld. Petra has 2 beautiful children, Max and Bella. She has her own Au Pair Agency.

Her duties include the search for and selection of the host families in half of the German Bundesländer provinces of Germany. She also looks after the South African pupils in Germany and selects and prepares the German pupils for the exchange programme in South Africa.