Shifting the Odds
In South Africa, the trends are disheartening. When 80% of 10-year-olds cannot read for meaning in any language and youth unemployment sits at 57%, the “big picture” looks bleak. Statistically, for every one hundred children who start Grade 1, only two or three will become tertiary graduates who are employed.
Through my writing and the school-based programs I develop for corporate partners, I aim to shift these probabilities. I believe that even a small intervention can help a person imagine and realise their greater possible self. I see this impact when:
A 10-year-old discovers a love for reading and finally sees the patterns in numbers because a teacher in an after-school programme noticed her, empowering her as she enters the intermediate phase.
A Grade R child is inspired to become a reader by a loving teacher in an after-school literacy program, entering Grade 1 more confident and independent.
A deaf child—diagnosed late and isolated—finds the magic of language through a custom library and a committed tutor and the world starts to make sense for him for the very first time.
A disheartened teacher is rejuvenated through story and symbol, rediscovering her purpose and strengthening a generation of students.
A tired principal finds new energy in the story of the leader of a rural high school who led with “all heart,” transforming his students’ prospects.
While I never lose sight of the individual, I believe in the power of collaboration to bring these transformations to scale.
Please get in touch to explore how we might work towards this common purpose.
Kimon consults for companies that recognize that investing in education is an investment in the future. Under BBBEE guidelines, companies are required to commit 1% of NPAT to socio-economic development. While this percentage may seem small, when strategically invested in community projects, the impact is immense.
Kimon leads research teams and authors books and reports, specializing in the education and social development sectors. His work transforms complex data into compelling narratives that drive understanding and change.
Drawing on deep research into the transformative power of relationships, Kimon facilitates workshops that invite teachers to realign their mission and attitude. These sessions use Jungian principles and the research that has informed Kimon’s books to help educators explore their professional identity and practice through a new lens.
This child is more equipped to move into the next phase of schooling thanks to her teacher in a Grade 4 after-school programme.
