Sonja Botha
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Transforming lives through literacy education for over 35 years
"Every child is a national asset and every child must be able to read with meaning."- Sonja Botha, CEO & Founder
Professional Journey
Education Alive Era (1990-2010)
Led international literacy operations for 20 years, developing expertise in foundation-phase education and establishing the pedagogical foundation that would later transform South African communities.
LTL Foundation (2010-2012)
Strategic transition to focus exclusively on South African literacy challenges, founding Living Through Learning as an independent NPO/PBO dedicated to Western Cape communities.
Leadership Achievements
- •35+ Years Educational Excellence: Comprehensive expertise spanning international and local literacy intervention
- •Program Expansion Leadership: Grew CRAR initiative from 4 schools in 2010 to 30+ schools across Western Cape
- •Strategic Partnership Development: Secured long-term partnerships with Coronation Fund Managers, ACSA, and GrandWest
- •Methodology Pioneer: Champion of Caleb Gattegno's Words in Colour phonics system achieving 80% improvement rates
- •Organizational Impact: Led transformation reaching 150,000+ learners and training 700+ educators
Educational Philosophy
Sonja's approach combines rigorous academic methodology with passionate community engagement. Her leadership philosophy centers on empowering educators as the key to sustainable literacy transformation, ensuring that every intervention builds local capacity and creates lasting change.
Through her guidance, Living Through Learning has established itself as a trusted partner to corporate sponsors, government departments, and community organizations, consistently delivering measurable results while maintaining the highest standards of educational excellence.
Impact Under Sonja's Leadership
Recognition & Strategic Partnerships
Government Collaboration
Active partnership with Western Cape Education Department (WCED), providing curriculum guidance and educational validation for LTL programs.
Academic Validation
University of Cape Town research backing and methodology validation, ensuring evidence-based approach to literacy intervention.
Corporate Trust
Long-term partnerships with major South African corporations including Coronation Fund Managers, ACSA, and GrandWest Casino.
Foundation Support
Trusted by leading philanthropic organizations including Ackerman Family Trust, Nussbaum Foundation, and Nedgroup Trust.
Join Sonja's Vision
Support our mission to ensure every child in the Western Cape can read with meaning and confidence.