To mark Youth Month and recognise the importance of tapping into the powerful insights of South Africa’s youth, Coronation Fund Managers invited 35 finance and business university students to its Cape Town offices for an interactive discussion session with CEO Anton Pillay.

Students from the University of the Western Cape and the University of Cape Town met with Anton and other Coronation team members under the theme #HaveYourSay. During the session, students discussed their experiences and aspirations as a young person studying towards a career in finance and business in South Africa and shared their views on what motivates them, how they see themselves contributing to society and what purpose and values drives their ambitions.

“We are committed to travelling alongside young people in their mission to change the world for the better. They are the future contributors to society and leaders of the country, and their voices are critically important to discussions about how we, as an industry, can support young people as they work towards their future and career. “And I know that it’s not easy for young people today.

The burden of unemployment is still concentrated among the youth, with those aged between 15 and 34 years accounting for 63.4% of the total number of unemployed persons in South Africa. This has to change, and we will continue to be a part of driving this change through our long-term, youth-focused programmes,” says Anton.

Addressing a 2019 Youth Day celebration on 16 June, President Cyril Ramaphosa called on the private sector to create pathways into work for young people who are prepared to learn, work hard and better themselves. Coronation is doing just that through our continued investment in long-term youth initiatives that support education and provide meaningful opportunities for the youth from cradle to career.

Several of the students in attendance at the Youth Month event were part of the Young Investor Programme (YIP) programme at the University of the Western Cape, while others were recipients of Coronation’s Bursary Programme.

The YIP programme aims to bridge the gap between the theoretical knowledge obtained at university and practical work requirements, preparing budding asset managers for the challenges and rewards of the finance and investment industry. In addition to our early childhood initiatives, the Coronation Bursary Programme and the South African Innovation Learning Intervention (SAILI) high school scholarship programme has given 223 university students and high school learners from underprivileged communities across South Africa the chance to achieve their dreams of a better future.

To ensure they are able to bridge the gap between their studies and the world of work, vacation roles and internships are also made available. In addition to education funding, they also receive mentoring and access to support services. Coronation is also a participant in the Youth Employment Services, or YES, initiative, which is a partnership between government, business, labour and civil society that aims to create employment for one million young South Africans over the course of the next three years.

Since its launch in March 2018, the initiative has placed over 18 000 young people in employment opportunities and is providing business infrastructure and support through its community hubs. “We truly believe in the power of our youth and the contribution that they can make to the financial services industry and our organisation. If they are given the right amount of support, they can go on to make real change and have a positive impact on society and our country” says Anton.

Durban, South Africa - Presto, a youth-owned business, has an app which provides access to study guides written by the top performing students in South Africa. To celebrate Youth Day, for two days only, Presto is giving away their study hacks guide for free (worth R100) to all learners in South Africa.

This book is packed with the best study strategies by the top performing students in South Africa, including a Rhodes Scholar and a learner who came first for Matric in 2012.

“We believe that this guide can improve the marks for all learners in SA”, says Shivad Singh, the 24-year-old founder and CEO of Presto, a youth-owned business. Youth day commemorates the role of the youth who fought against the Apartheid regime. Just like how the Soweto Uprising laid the grounds for the release of Nelson Mandela and the end of the Apartheid Era, we hope that by Presto giving their study hacks book to all South African learners for free, it will pave the way for an improvement in learners’ marks, leading to a rise in the standards of education across the country.

This campaign is one of the first steps in Presto’s mission to improve education in South Africa.

“Every child has the capacity to be a genius”, says Singh. “We want to unlock that potential in as many learners as possible in South Africa and then the rest of Africa.”

To access the study hacks books, simply download the Presto Books app by searching “Presto Books” in the app store. Once the app is downloaded, click on “Study Hacks” book to get your free guide for you or your child. About Presto Books (Pty) Ltd: Presto Books is a youth-owned company that gets the top performing students in South Africa to create educational material to benefit their peers.

The content is available through their online website and Android and IOS app. Presto is a subsidiary of Head Start Education, a company which serves as the Gateway to Africa for the leading education technology companies in the world, in order to lead the advancement of education across the continent.

Job Search e-learning empowers South Africa’s unemployed. We all know that unemployment is one of the greatest problems faced by South Africans, this has been the case for some time and will remain so until concrete, wide reaching and actionable interventions are developed and set in motion.

With an overall unemployment rate of around 27% and a youth unemployment rate hovering around 50% these interventions are needed urgently and in all spheres of the economy. From the creation of new job opportunities to empowering job seekers to be able to actively and successfully secure appropriate jobs. Angelo Pereira Managing Director of GOAL2WORK Jobseekers Toolkit said; “There are many programmes and interventions directed at attempting to reduce the unprecedented unemployment rate in South Africa.

However with the large scale of our unemployment crisis, reaching all of those affected personally becomes logistically almost impossible.” “We have found that whilst we were touching over a thousand individuals annually via our face to face workshops; which are designed to provide a clearly defined course of action aimed at viable positioning in the market in the shortest possible time, this was only a drop in the very large ocean of those needing to learn the essential skill of searching for and securing meaningful employment.”

When considering various options for expanding the reach of the GOAL2WORK programme it soon became apparent that e-learning was the most viable route to follow.

“Most of our target audience, even those in remote areas and with limited financial resources, had access to at least one device with which they could access the internet, mainly via their cell phones.” said Pereira.

With this in mind GOAL2WORK set about developing an e-learning version of their powerful lecture led workshops which teaches the abilities required to develop and implement a successful job search plan whilst reinforcing self-esteem and addressing many other obstacles a jobseeker may face. “It took us over a year to develop a programme which would provide all of the required content in an engaging, fun and interactive way.

The programme is fully animated with voice over, gamification, and interactive exercises.” On the technical front the programme was developed in modules which download as they play and are small enough not to require extensive data. Should users choose they can complete the programme using data on their phones or view small snippets “on the go” and then cover more of the programme when Wi-Fi is available or on home pc’s and tablets.

The GOAL2WORK e-learning programme is now completed and the company is exceptionally excited to make it available to as many unemployed South Africans as possible. Pereira added, ”we have already made the programme available for individuals to purchase via our website, however we are now actively looking for corporate, government and educational institution partnerships to spread the programme as widely as possible to those unemployed South Africans who so desperately need assistance.”

Contact: Angelo at 011 949-9000, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.goal2work.co.za for further information.

How do we take what is being taught and learnt in schools, harness technology, and give the pupils a real world experience that prepares them to live and function in the age of technology, as opposed to carrying on teaching them as if we live in the age of industrialisation?

Teachers are increasingly being asked “how are you preparing your pupils for the 21st century”. What a pertinent question that begs others in order to fully comprehend an answer:

• What are children/school-leavers lacking when they leave the hallowed halls of our educational establishments?
• What skills are actually needed in this 21st century where we all find ourselves? 
• Is what we teach relevant? 
• How is it relevant? 
• How do we grow confidence, foster collaboration and develop communication skills – all which are vital to be part of the real working world today.

Industry innovators and creative disruptors Go Radio (www.goradio.co.za) have developed a complete radio package in a box that is aimed directly at schools to get setup and opening their own online radio station – within almost every schools budget, so long as the school has a stable internet connection.

Ingrid von Stein, Head of School Radio at Go Radio says “as radio experts, especially in the online arena it was a natural progression of our offering to market to create a specific and very cost effective package for schools. We had also experienced the disconnect of what kids were learning as part of the syllabus and how it was relevant to the world we currently live in and how they could actually implement what they were learning into a real world experience”.

It was more than just trying to create a complete radio package in a single box for Go Radio – they really wanted to connect to teachers and pupils on the ground and get their input on the product and project. Go Radio approached Cannons Creek Independent School (based in Cape Town) with the concept and principal Mike van Haght literally jumped up in his seat and said “yes, yes, yes……..this is a real way to work with teachers, pupils, the curriculum and bring it all to life in a real world scenario of online radio”.

Van Haght went on to say; “we are so proud to be the first school radio station in South Africa and as the school’s radio slogan says………the playground today of tomorrow’s creative problem solvers, we have launched Cannons Creek Radio (www.cannonscreekradio.co.za). Together with Go Radio we are changing the way in which pupils and teachers teach and learn, and the journey is going to be one of growth and development. We look forward to sharing what we have learnt/will learn with other schools. Someone has to be first and we gladly have taking the first step into the future”.

Contact – Ingrid von Stein / 063 002 5148 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Go Radio - www.goradio.co.za
• Cannons Creek Radio - www.cannonscreekradio.co.za 
• Cannons Creek Independent School – www.cannonscreek.co.za

Cape Town edtech startup Angaza has today released its mobile maths educational service in South Africa. Delivered via an Android app, MindZu (www.mindzu.com) is an exquisitely crafted learning experience, whose gorgeous graphics and slick interface just make you want to explore. And it is currently available for free.

According to Godfrey Parkin, a co-founder of Angaza, “Maths education in South Africa is in need of a real game changer. Classroom learning is failing learners, leaving them among the worst in the world in maths competencies. Most attempts at digital learning simply replicate those classrooms, using dull teacher-videos or online textbooks. There’s no learning management system, and they often require school-issued hardware. So they are impractical, expensive and uninspiring. MindZu is infinitely scalable because it runs offline on the learner’s own smartphone. It delivers a captivating gamified learning experience which covers the entire Grade 11 curriculum. And, for those who register early, it’s free, saving R240.”

In MindZu, learning is mission-based – you must rescue your friends from Castle Meh, using maths as your super-power. The pedagogy is powerful and effective, using cycles of learn-practice-play to embed competencies. Lessons are animated, using colour, characters, fantasy and fun. Every second of the one-year curriculum is stimulating and motivating. Learners are in control of what they learn, and how fast they learn it. Performance systems let them know what they missed, where they need to focus, and where they are brilliant. Gamified challenges and rewards are woven into personalised learning journeys. And learners are not alone – they can connect with others in their class or around the world. MindZu runs on basic Android smartphones, online or offline. And, even if you don’t register fast enough to get it free, its normal fee is a fraction of the cost of conventional e-learning.

Angaza’s goal is to disrupt high school education by making superb learning experiences affordable and universally accessible. The company wants to make MindZu available free to every Grade 11 learner this year to have an impact on Matric 2020.

To achieve this they are talking to potential sponsors in the CSI and brand marketing space. “For a contribution per learner as low as R5, MindZu can be free for learners,” says Parkin. “For a small investment you achieve a huge, immediate impact for the nation.”  

MindZu is currently available in 43 countries. It is the culmination of years of work by a global team of educational writers, game developers, instructional designers, animators and user experience experts. Angaza’s founders are deeply experienced in education and technology. Khalaf Rashid was the resident partner and CEO of Macmillan Publishers in Tanzania. Karen Parkin is a UX expert with a history of computer games production and award winning digital projects in major European and US corporations. Kwang Lee is an artist, animator and creative director. Godfrey Parkin is a digital strategist, and was one of the original pioneers of e-learning in the US.

You can find out more about MindZu at www.mindzu.com.

Contact: Godfrey Parkin, CEO, at +27 21 794 7838 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cape Town Edtech startup Angaza Ltd has launched a disruptive smartphone app which helps high-school learners be brilliant at maths. MindZu (www.mindzu.com) is an exquisitely crafted learning experience, whose gorgeous graphics and slick interface just make you want to explore. 

Godfrey Parkin and Karen Parkin, of Cape Town’s digital strategy firm Britefire, are two of Angaza’s founders. According to Godfrey, “MindZu raises the bar for STEAM e-learning. Clichéd teacher videos are replaced with animated fantasy and fun, while comprehensively covering the full year’s curriculum. Learning is mission-based – you have to rescue your friends from the clutches of the Army of Meh, using maths as your super-power. Every second is colourful, stimulating and motivating. Learners are in control of what they learn, and how fast they learn it. Performance systems let them know what they missed, where they need to focus, and where they are brilliant. Gamified challenges and rewards are woven into personalised learning journeys. And learners are not alone – they can connect with others in their class or around the world. MindZu runs on basic Android smartphones, online or offline. And it’s all available for a fraction of the cost of conventional e-learning.”

Angaza’s goal is to make a superb learning experience universally affordable.

Over the coming months MindZu will roll out the maths and sciences curricula for the last two years of high school. According to Godfrey Parkin, the year before matric is the tipping point for most learners. “This is where maths gets hard, and where many learners start to hate it. This is the point where potential future doctors, engineers and scientists choose an alternate career path. It is where learners with an interest in the arts turn away from an opportunity to add new dimensions to their creative mind. This is the point where Angaza decided to make a difference.” For now, it's available only in India.

He explained that the bootstrapped startup has to quickly achieve operational profitability. “Why are we launching in India and not South Africa? To keep MindZu amazingly affordable, our margins are razor thin. So we need to launch in a market with real volume potential. India gives us a vast market already highly receptive to mobile education. But we will bring MindZu to Africa later this year, probably through a sponsor or business partner.”

MindZu is the culmination of years of work by a global team of educational writers, game developers, instructional designers, animators and user experience experts. Angaza’s founders are deeply experienced in education and technology. Khalaf Rashid was the resident partner and CEO of Macmillan Publishers in Tanzania. Karen Parkin is a UX expert with a history of computer games production and award winning digital projects in major European and US corporations. Kwang Lee is an artist, animator and creative director. Godfrey Parkin is a digital strategist, and was one of the original pioneers of e-learning in the US.

You can find out more about MindZu at www.mindzu.com.

Contact: Godfrey Parkin, CEO, at +27 21 794 7838 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Salesian Institute Youth Projects of South Africa is calling on South Africans to make a difference, to give at-risk youth a second chance at life with an appeal campaign asking people to make even the smallest donation, which will help fund programmes such as the Learn to Live School of Skills, so that the youth can maximize their future potential.  

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP) have been providing education, opportunities and emotional support for youth at risk for centuries, offering youth programmes, meals, clothing, life-skills and technical training for youth through education, vocational training, social skills and job placement assistance. The Salesian Institute Youth Projects says that nearly 44% of South African youth either drop out, or do not attend school even though they have a right to basic education. It is these youths who slide into a life of gangsterism, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, poverty and cycle of hopelessness that continues to repeat itself without sustainable unemployment.

The unemployed percentage of youth who do not finish school has reached a critical stage. The Salesian Institute Youth Programmes reduce poverty by making a difference through education and by promoting employment amongst unemployed youth in South Africa. The Institute rely heavily on donations and funding to keep programmes such as the Learn to Live School of Skills alive and operational, although some funding is received from the Western Cape Department of Education and Skills Development it isn’t nearly enough to increase the impact which they hope will affect many lives by the end of 2019.

 For more information or to donate go to: https://salesianyouth.org/donate-today/donate/ Or visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SalesianInstituteYouthProjects/

Contact: Frieda Pehlivan, Communications Manager Tel: 012-4521450

It’s been a magical year of note for young township junior magician Sesona Gagana - not only has he recently returned from representing South Africa’s magical youth on a whirlwind educational tour of Las Vegas and New York, but he was also awarded the much-coveted Siegfried and Roy Foundation Scholarship at the College of Magic’s annual graduation on Saturday 17 November 2018.

The 15-year-old teen illusionist from Khayelitsha is an ardent student of the magical arts who voraciously absorbs everything he can learn about close-up magic, stage magic, juggling and mime and clowning during his weekly lessons at the College of Magic, the only magical arts organisation of its kind in the world, in Claremont.

Each year, the College of Magic, now in its 38th year of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults, honours its exemplary students at two graduation ceremonies, one for the junior and one for the senior students.

As part of their annual SARMOTI Grant to the College of Magic, Siegfried and Roy present a bursary in the form of a full year’s tuition to a most deserving senior student. The Siegfried and Roy Scholarship is awarded this year to Gagana as the most deserving Course 5 student for his excellent achievements. This magical allrounder goes into his final year of training at the College of Magic in 2019.

Having met Siegfried, one half of the world-renowned illusionist duo on his recent visit to Las Vegas, Gagana is absolutely thrilled with his scholarship:

“Magic has transformed my life so much this year. Travelling overseas for the first time and meeting my magical heroes was a dream come true and now I’ve been awarded this scholarship! Thank you so much to Siegfried and Roy and to the College - I promise to make you all so proud of me!”, says the excited teen magician.

The College of Magic,a non-profit organisation, is equally pleased with this honour:

“We are committed to helping our young students realise their dreams through the art of magic. To have two of magic’s most iconic performers support this initiative and assist us in helping Sesona achieve the impossible is an absolute privilege and honour“, says Yolandi van Jaarsveldt, CEO of the College of Magic.

As the top senior juggler at the College of Magic, Gagana was also awarded the Senior Juggling Shield - another award to be proud of and to encourage him to strive for excellence in his Course 6 year in 2019.

Experience the impossible with the College of Magic in 2019:

An enchanting new learning adventure awaits aspiring Harry Potters who would like to follow in Sesona’s footsteps as the College of Magic welcomes new wizardry recruits to its beginners' programme, Course One, from Saturday 26 January 2019!

Course One will see the magicians-in-training explore the world of magic through a 15 week exciting and intensive diploma course which includes rope magic, card tricks and coin effects as well as an introduction to the allied arts, namely  juggling, mime, clowning and puppetry.This entry level course is suitable for learners aged 10 to 13 years old.

Course One will run at the College of Magic, 215 Imam Haron Road (previously Lansdowne Road) in Claremont each Saturday for six months from Saturday 26 January 2019 with classes at 09h00 and at 12h00. Fees are R 2950 and include all course equipment and notes, as well as participation in any or all of the allied arts on offer.

Registration for the College of Magic’s 2019 Course One is now open. Call +27 (0) 21 683 5480 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to secure your booking.

For more information about the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com.

The College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, honoured its top students at two charming graduation ceremonies held at the Rondebosch Boys High School on Saturday 17 November 2018.

More than 160 aspiring magicians were awarded their various course diplomas,signifying their successful mastering of different levels of training in magic and its allied arts, including juggling, puppetry and drama, mime and clowning.

Now in its 38th year, the College of Magic is the only organisation of its kind in the world and offers a six year on campus diploma that covers all aspects of the magic theatrical performing arts.Each year, the College of Magic, based in Claremont, honours its exemplary students at two graduation ceremonies, one for the junior and one for the senior students. The Student of the Year trophy is awarded to the best all-round junior and senior students with a record of excellent performance and participation in College life and events.

In 2018, Jessica Williamson and Duncan Shelver were awarded Junior and Senior Student of the Years awards respectively.

Williamson (13), from Plumstead, is a dedicated student of the magical arts, having competed in and placed 2nd  in the Junior Clowning Contest, 3rd in the Junior Puppetry Contest, 2nd in the Junior Stage Magic Contest and 3rd in the Puppet Idols Finals contests. This young lady of magic is thrilled with her Junior Student of the Year trophy:

“I am so happy that I’ve won this incredible award! I love magic because it helps me to express myself. Studying the art of magic is unlike anything else and I cannot wait to further my studies!”

Shelver, who also won the 2018 Children’s Entertainment Trophy, has recently returned from a whirlwind magical and educational tour to Las Vegas and New York in the United States in early October.The 16-year-old Bellville resident was one of six students chosen to represent South Africa’s budding magical talent at a series of workshops, demonstrations and meet and greets with some of magic’s greatest entertainers including David Copperfield and Penn and Teller.

The teenage magical allrounder,who graduated from his final year at the College of Magic in 2018,  is ecstatic about his multiple awards:

“Wow, what an incredible honour to be recognised for my achievements with these awards! What I loved most about studying at the College of Magic is the sense of belonging to a magical family and the atmosphere and I am going to miss it. I’d encourage anyone who is thinking of studying magic, to join the College! ”

Each year, the College of Magic also honours staff, students and graduates for long service, community service and excellence in magic theatrical performance and its allied arts. The 2018 honourees include: Ann Pawley and Dion Wabanie, Seniors: Alfred Baba, Sesona Gagana, Anela Gazi, Liam Hewitson, Emma Hutchison, Dale McManus, Lukhanyo Mpondo, Luvo Mrolota, Jonah Poole, Thando Rala, Sahil Samlal, Jenna Shorkend, Zeta Wanamaker, and Juniors: Gabriella Mans, Ruby Park and Anja Steyn.

Experience the impossible with the College of Magic in 2019:

An enchanting new learning adventure awaits aspiring Harry Potters as the College of Magic welcomes new wizardry recruits to its beginners' programme, Course One, from Saturday 26 January 2019!

Course One will see the magicians-in-training explore the world of magic through a 15 week exciting and intensive diploma course which includes rope magic, card tricks and coin effects as well as an introduction to the allied arts, namely  juggling, mime, clowning and puppetry.

This entry level course is suitable for learners aged 10 to 13 years old. Course One will run at the College of Magic, 215 Imam Haron Road (previously Lansdowne Road) in Claremont each Saturday for six months from Saturday 26 January 2019 with classes at 09h00 and at 12h00. Fees are R 2950 and include all course equipment and notes, as well as participation in any or all of the allied arts on offer.

Registration for the College of Magic’s 2019 Course One is now open.

Call +27 (0) 21 683 5480 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to secure your booking.

For more information about the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com.

Although there are career workshops and, universities and colleges open days aimed at exposing career choices to prospective learner, choosing a career can still be overwhelming to some matric learners in South Africa. This is mostly the case when learners are not well clued up in terms of what is the gap in the market versus what career learners wish to pursue.

Learners' career choices are mostly influenced by their existing social networks or social circles. In these networks, parents play a big role in influencing the ultimate career choice due to them being the primary funders for children's education. Parents are also mostly the role models to their kids. Nevertheless, child's personal career choice can still deviate from the parents wishes.

Due to the social dynamics of being in matric in South Africa, a learner can be living in a family where both biological parents are not even educated and (apart from Teaching and Medical Doctor famous careers) know nothing about what to study for. A learner can also be living in a single parent household where poverty is predominant. In this case, social networks can also be highly uneducated or jobless, therefore becoming irrelevant in terms of offering valuable career insights to a learner. 

In the process of choosing a career choice, the following are mostly critical for a learner:

• knowing a learner's strong inborn talents and physical abilities;
• having some knowledge of what skills are and will be in demand after completing studies;
• what career choices are there within the category of learner's career preferences;
• where to actually enroll for a qualification a student likes;
• how much is the course;

In the digital age we live in, information on the above critical items can easily be found on the internet by a learner or parent. But what if a learner doesn't even have reasonable internet connection (because of: high cost of data, no smart phone, no computer, and no sound knowledge of searching for information online) ?  These are the issues which need to be addressed holistically in the high school levels.

Even though a matric learner might have sound internet access and a rich social network which is well informed in terms of career choices, a learner may still be faced with a challenge of identifying a perfect course to study for. It is rather overwhelming to go through so many Institutions' websites to identify which specific course is ideal. Many Universities and Colleges course content is not neatly and easily presented online. Students find themselves going through Pdf brochures to Word Documents in search of courses to enroll for. Some of the universities don't even bother to delete previous outdated brochures. 

In terms of addressing some of these challenges, there is a website: mycourses.co.za which help student to find what courses they can apply to. The website neatly organises courses from various universities and colleges in relevant career categories (from Property Agent to flight Attendant Careers). The website  also let prospective learners to submit their courses preferences through an online form. Based on what the learner wishes to study, relevant institutions will therefore respond with relevant course information.

Check Courses offered at iQ Academy