Dr taddy bleacher biography

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dr taddy bleacher biography

He co-founded the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship with Sir Richard Branson.

He is Chairperson of the national Advisory Council for Entrepreneurship and Employment in Schools for the national Department of Basic Education. “For us its about building people up so that they actually learn that they’re valuable.”

Taddy Blecher is the embodiment of Ubuntu.

A promise of freedom was given to all. “How people treat each other, how dignified they are… when people are educated and feel that they have more sense of self-worth and more value in terms of what’s inside them, they just naturally treat each other better.”

The power of education was instilled in him from childhood.

He has helped develop the new national Entrepreneurship Development Institute (ECDI) with the Department of Small Business and the Services SETA, a R1.5 billion entrepreneurship development set of initiatives and has led the development on the concept of a National Virtual Incubator, an online eco-system to support all small businesses in South Africa.

He served on the British Government Task Team for the reinvention of higher education and skills development, as well as the Italian Government – South African Government business partnership board.

He has raised over R500 million in cash, property and equity to support free access to education for historically disadvantaged South African youth.

“This street kid’s as bright as anybody who built Microsoft and if we really want to build South Africa and take our people forward we have to develop that potential. Taddy Blecher is the CEO of the Community and Individual Development Association and the Maharishi Institute, which facilitates university education for unemployed youth from 11 countries in Africa.

In 2007, Blecher started the Maharishi Institute – another free educational body – which has assisted over 14, 000 graduates now earning a collective salary of over R700 Million.

Today, he serves as director of the Maharishi Institute and continues to work toward creating equal education opportunities for all. “I got very emotional and I was just thinking, ‘I’m such a coward, we’re all running away from these problems we’ve created.’” By morning, he knew that if he left he would never be able to forgive himself.
It’s hard to reconcile the warm and animated Blecher of today with the cynicism of that hardened capitalist.

Pioneer of the free tertiary education movement in South Africa, he began his career as an actuary, gaining numerous degrees and honorary doctorates. But because of the upbringing I had, I knew we wouldn’t have real economic freedom unless everybody had access to quality education. The son of a Latvian immigrant, Blecher’s father worked odd jobs as a teenager and saved to put himself and his siblings through university.

Dr. “But real freedom comes when that individual is allowed to come into their full greatness of why they were born, what they can do in this country, and the value they can add to society.”

In April 1994, South Africa held its first democratic election. As a direct result of his work, over nearly 20,000 South Africans have been educated post-secondary school, found employment, and moved out of poverty into a more successful life.

Pioneer of the free tertiary education movement in South Africa, he began his career as an actuary, gaining numerou

PRESENTATIONS by Taddy Blecher

A.) Talk Title: FREE EDUCATION CAN FREE OUR NATION [or From Free to Freedom]/Innovation in Education: Making a Better World

Description: an innovative model for accessible tertiary education which can replicate world-wide and bring large numbers out of poverty sustainably, supported by businesses that resource and funds their own non-profit foundations
**Track: Education/ Economic Development/Corporate Philanthropy


B.) Talk Title: THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSCIOUSNESS: the missing link

Description: a fascinating insight into what our thoughts as well as all matter is made of, and the remarkable benefits that have been scientifically demonstrated over a 40-year period into this frontier of human development in the field of education and social development.
How incorporating meditation into schools transforms the outcomes in a way that is nothing short of astounding.

“We’re a mind, body and soul. The poverty-achievement gap is a global phenomenon, overcoming it is a real possibility but not necessarily how we previously thought would be the way.
Case study will be on CBE Schools South Africa and Community and Individual Development Association which has reached 30 000 youth with this approach and tracked the results, as well as on schools in South America, India, USA, and Thailand.

The infinite potential of South Africa’s youth that he has seen unleashed time and again keeps him working toward his goal of a truly equal South Africa. He advocates a holistic approach to education: by focusing on developing every aspect of a human being – their spirituality, their physicality and their intellect – he believes there is no problem society can’t solve.

After deciding to remain in the country, Blecher spent the next four years working with high school students in the township of Alexandra.

He believes the standard education practice of focusing solely upon the intellect useless. “It’s actually linked with almost any indicator of positive societal progress,” Blecher says.

After overcoming a fear of public speaking he was described by The Star "as one of the top 100 people" in the news headlines and "An inspirational speaker whose incredible story made every major publication in South Africa."[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.7"Taddy Blecher believes in dreams". Joburg: Official website of the City of Johannesburg. 7 June 2005. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140703055759/http://joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=812&Itemid=52. Retrieved 5 July 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.02.1Lindow, Megan (6 January 2004). "Stepping into Africa's future". The Christian Science Monitor. https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0106/p14s01-legn.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.03.13.23.33.4"The transcendental crusader". The Economist. 1 September 2007. https://www.economist.com/business/2007/08/30/the-transcendental-crusader. 
  4. ↑Jones, Gillian (9 May 2013). "Lesson in Business Admin". Financial Mail. http://www.fm.co.za/business/fox/2013/05/09/lesson-in-business-admin. Retrieved 5 June 2013. 
  5. ↑Pohil, Otto (31 December 2003). "A New University, Filling Apartheid's Gaps". https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/31/nyregion/a-new-university-filling-apartheid-s-gaps.html. 
  6. ↑"Big business keeps the dream alive for Cida kids". The Star. 28 January 2008. 
  7. ↑Nevin, Tom (1 January 2003). "A free university for Africa's disadvantaged". African Business. 
  8. ↑Unknown author, Track Record CIDA official web page, accessed 30 December 2012
  9. ↑Jones, Gillian (16 May 2013). "Unlocking Potential". Financial Mail. http://www.fm.co.za/business/fox/2013/05/16/unlocking-potential. Retrieved 5 June 2013. 
  10. ↑ 10.010.1"Blecher's latest venture offers hope; Revolutionary new call centre and educational academy in downtown Johannesburg to enrich lives of South African youth.". The Star. 11 June 2009. 
  11. ↑Bryson, Donna (19 January 2012). "Google launches project for S.

    African businesses". Associated Press. 

  12. ↑Serrao, Angelique (8 March 2007). "South Africans have the ability to innovate and be pioneers". The Star. 
  13. ↑"Insight-rich guide to running a profitable business; 'Old systems often hinder rather than enhance staff aptitude". The Star. 8 February 2010. 
  14. ↑Ruddick, Graham (25 July 2009). "Sir Richard Branson teaches African entrepreneurs Dragons' Den-style". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/supportservices/5906838/Sir-Richard-Branson-teaches-African-entrepreneurs-Dragons-Den-style.html. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 

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Taddy Blecher

Dr Taddy Blecher

Dr Taddy Blecher is CEO and co-founder of the Maharishi Institute, Imvula Empowerment Fund, and the Invincible Group.

This didn’t go unnoticed by his youngest son.

Before devoting his life to education reform Blecher was, by his own accord a “hardened capitalist.” In 1995, he was ready to leave South Africa.