1. Ros Koch
C: +27 84 716 8328
Ph: +27 21 882 9027
E: rcjkoch@gmail.com
SUMMARY
Ros is an energetic and enthusiastic individual, with a passion
for creativity, and for motivating and empowering young
people to fulfill their potential. She likes to work both for and
with children directly, enjoying the privilege of collaborating
within the settings of schools, churches and home, as well as
within more disadvantaged communities, such as with young
people living in rural poverty, informal settlements, and even
in prisons. Through her studies, work and role as an active
parent, she has become a passionate defender of children’s
rights, especially that of education. She sees this as a key, not
only to unlocking each child’s individual potential, but also to
a way of investing in a better future for us all.
EDUCATION
1999-2001 LLM at the University of Cape Town (UCT), RSA
1994-1997 LLB at Worcester College, Oxford University, UK
WORK EXPERIENCE
2008- Legal Consultant
Researching, writing and contributing towards a variety of work, both published and
unpublished, in the field of children’s rights. (See attached list of publications). Work has
focused on programme design, implementation, and the monitoring and evaluation thereof, for
programmes and strategies stemming from various policies on children’s rights. It has also been
adapted into various formats, such as training manuals and factsheets, for various children’s
sector organisations, not only facilitating effective widespread dissemination of information but
also providing useful tools for advocacy efforts in the sector.
2001-2002 Researcher, Youth Justice, Institute of Criminology, UCT
Duties included the design, execution and production of research report on children in the
criminal justice system; supervision of field workers; event management for the launch of
publications; provision of practical advice and support on youth justice issues
VOLUNTARY WORK
2012- Art Director, Vuya Endaweni Environmental Education Centre, Kayamandi
Developed and deliver an innovative curriculum through which young people, with extremely
limited resources, learn about the environment through the medium of art. Additional voluntary
work includes design and management of the Centre’s social media strategy, publicising events
and work done by the Centre, marketing and essential fundraising.
2009-2010 Pebbles Project, Stables Art Studio, Klapmuts
Assisted an art project for children with special educational needs, particularly those whose
lives are affected by Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Part of a range of after-school projects which
aim to enhance early childhood education and to better equip these children for later life.
2001-2002 Vuka Moya, Khayelitsha
Co-founded an NGO for young adults post-release from prison. Aimed to assist with their re-
integration back into communities through informal opportunities to gather and support each
other; teaching and sharing of life skills; facilitating events in which these young adults could
themselves reach out to youth at risk.

2. PUBLICATIONS
Department of Women, Children & People with Disabilities (2012) South Africa’s Period Country
Report on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Reporting period January 1998 – April
2013 Pretoria: DWCPD
Giese S and Koch R (2011) Children’s Sector Advocacy Briefs for National Strategic Plan 2012-2016
input Cape Town: Yezingane Network.
Giese S and Koch R (2010) Beyond NSP 2007-2011 for Children: Drawing on the Mid Term Review to
inform planning and advocacy Cape Town: Yezingane Network.
Giese S, Zide H, Koch R, Hall K (2009) A study on the implementation and impact of the No-Fee and
Exemption policies. Cape Town: Alliance for Children’s Entitlement to Social Security.
Giese S and Koch R (2008) A rapid review of education policy to address the active and passive
exclusion of learners affected by HIV and AIDS from attending or participating in schooling
Cape Town: Alliance for Children’s Entitlement to Social Security
Giese S and Koch R (2008) Realising the rights of South African children: A review of Government
obligations to children Cape Town: Alliance for Children’s Entitlement to Social Security, The
Children’s Institute, UCT
Koch R and Wood C (2002) Case studies of children with experience of the criminal justice system
in South Africa: An exploratory study (2002) Institute of Criminology, University of Cape Town, in
association with the Child Justice Alliance
Koch R and Wood C (2001) A New Child Justice System: Research Gap Analysis Institute of
Criminology, University of Cape Town, in association with the Child Justice Alliance
Koch R and Wood C (2001) A New Child Justice System: Two decades of research. An annotated
bibliography collating documents used to inform the process of child justice reform in South Africa
(2001) Institute of Criminology, University of Cape Town, in association with the Child Justice
Alliance
Koch R (2001) Diversion: the right solution for juvenile justice in South Africa? Unpublished LLM
Masters Thesis. University of Cape Town.
I have also contributed to various unpublished documents that have been used to inform the
development both of policy and of manuals for the training of practitioners in the fields of child
justice, child protection and children’s rights in general.
REFEREES
Sonja Giese
Innovation Edge
C: +27 82 870 7345
Ph: +27 21 670 9854
E: sonja@innovationedge.org.za
Cathy Milner
Stables Art Studio
C: +27 73 1959082
Ph: +27 21 8755884
E: cathymilner@vodamail.co.za