[JULY 2023] As an avid reader and writer, Kyle Jantjies has always been an advocate of reading for its developmental benefits for children. From growing comprehension skills and vocabulary, to improving focus and increasing general knowledge there are widely reported results that can be expected when children read. More recently, as a teacher for the past 4 years, Kyle says he has increasingly noticed shortcomings with his learners’ creative problem solving, emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills. “I’m a high school teacher on the Cape Flats so I work with kids on a daily basis, and more often that not, the ones that have learning and social challenges are generally not keen readers,” says Kyle. “There is quite a lot of research available that points to the benefits of reading – particularly fantasy – making it an absolute must for kids to set them up best for their futures,” adds Kyle. Fantasy stimulates mental resilience, helps to improve memory and aids brain development, as it requires your brain to interpret and analyse what is being read. To this end, Kyle is on a mission to get more fantasy reading, especially from local authors, adopted as prescribed reading for South African schools from grade 4 upwards. Kyle has launched a book club, where he has for years now been stimulating a love for fantasy literature by reading out loud to his learners some of his own writings as well as other authors’ content. He has started engaging with government representatives to formally drive the conversation, but strongly wants to encourage teachers to innovate with reading fantasy in the classroom and to add their voices to the cause via their own schools to drive the agenda for fantasy as prescribed reading. “Mandela Month is an annual reminder for us that it is in our hands to secure the futures of the generations that will follow us. We all want to know what we can do, but opening wide opportunities for young people when it comes to …
26-Year old author from Cape Town makes top 100 in three categories in online book store
Kyle Jantjies is a 26-year old, whose name you will not easily forget, when you get to know more about his passionate pursuit of literary success. He is a biologist, teacher, and published author of 13novels. Born and raised in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town, he holds an Honors degree in Molecular Biology and is currently completing his MSc degree. He is also a Math, Geography and Life Orientation teacher at a High School in Hanover Park. His novels include five stand-alone novels namely: The Tuloc Triangle - Dramatic Fantasy Blood Poetry - Dystopian Novel Why my past won't leave me alone - Christian Fiction, The G.L.O.A.T - The Search for Mokole-Mbembe (which was one of the ten finalists for the Author Elite Awards 2021 for Best General Fiction Book) Escapism – an adventure novel released in December 2021. He is also completed a heroic fantasy series called Journey of Soul, which comprises 7 books. Through his passion, determination and hard work, the entire series was written in 2021 alone. In his own words, Kyle describes himself as someone who enjoys writing. “I'm able to immerse myself in a world that I'd love to be in without making a complete fool of myself; not that being a fool is entirely a bad thing. It's subjective,” say Kyle. Of his studies and story inspiration he says: “I study biology for three main reasons: I love animals, I love adventure and I love science. I'm an adventurer at heart; I could spend days climbing mountains, trekking through untraveled paths and messing with things which I'm really not supposed to. Which is why most, if not all, of my stories include the main character travelling to some distant place.” Kyle continues: “And I LOVE fighting. Not aggressive, angry, emotional fights, just good sporty fights. That's why I practice martial arts and that's why I write action stories. It fascinates me.” Where he finds the time to excel academically, teach young minds, practice the discipline of martial …
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Economist Dawie Roodt To Share Post-COVID Economy Insights And Impacts On The Over-Indebted Consumer
While South Africa continues to navigate its way through the Covid-19 pandemic, and many businesses continue to try to find creative ways to re-invent themselves and stay afloat, the alarming figures of unemployment and over-indebtedness of the South African population paint a bleak picture of the economic health of the nation. Statistics show that 2.8 million people lost their jobs over the hard lockdown period, representing an 18% decline in employment between February and April 2020. Whilst statistics further show that 2.1 million people have returned to some form of employment since then, many are not be earning the full salaries they were privileged to in a pre-Covid economy. “There is much talk about economic recovery, but the challenges of the more than 9 million South Africans, representing 50% of the credit active consumers, that are over-indebted needs practical and coherent solutions,” says Danie Grobler CEO of IMB Financial Services. IMB is a Fintech company that leverages technology to provide financial products and solutions to accelerate financial inclusion for all. “The debt cycle of continual borrowing leading to increased debt, increasing costs and event default is a cycle that needs urgent intervention on the part of the indebted consumer and those that are transacting with them,” adds Grobler. The Fintech sector is known for competing with traditional methods and disrupting norms. To this effect, IMB is using their vantage point to introduce a series of webinars to encourage peer-to-peer engagement for insights and solutions aimed at making the pathway to economic recovery available to everyone. The Future Forward: Conversations that matter will be a series to challenge norms, stimulate innovation and accelerate solutions for inclusive growth. The first event in the series leverages the insights of nationally-renowned economist Dawie Roodt to share his perspective on ‘the modern economy and the over indebted …