IN CONVERSATION KEVIN CHAPLIN- MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE AMY FOUNDATION
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What if changing one young person’s life could change an entire family?
That is the philosophy behind Kevin Chaplin’s work with the South African Ubuntu Foundation and the Amy Foundation — organisations focused on youth skills, employment, entrepreneurship and social cohesion.
But his story starts somewhere unexpected: a successful career in banking that he chose to leave behind.
Kevin Chaplin had built a successful career in banking, including senior leadership, but eventually began asking himself what he could do on a bigger scale. That decision led him into social development and eventually to the South African Ubuntu Foundation, which focuses on bringing communities and business leaders together.
He later stepped in when the Amy Foundation — then known as the Amy Biehl Foundation — was facing closure because of funding challenges. Nearly two decades later, the organisation reaches around 2,000 young people annually through education, vocational training, mentorship and employment programmes. According to Chaplin, more than 2,551 young people have been placed into employment, while 306 youth-owned businesses have been created with the foundation’s support.
What makes the story particularly relevant to young South Africans is Chaplin’s argument that education alone isn’t necessarily enough. His programmes combine technical skills with workplace preparation — including timekeeping, business ethics, etiquette, life skills and retail readiness.
And then there’s the bigger idea behind his book, CAN DO: Making the Impossible Possible: don’t allow your circumstances, your past or somebody else’s opinion of you to determine what you believe you can become.
That sounds inspirational — but here’s where we can make this an interesting conversation for young listeners:
In a country where young people can have qualifications and still struggle to find work, is “believe in yourself” enough?
Or do we need to rethink how we’re preparing young people for the world of work?
And what happens when someone doesn’t have the networks, confidence or opportunities that can help turn potential into an actual career?
That is the philosophy behind Kevin Chaplin’s work with the South African Ubuntu Foundation and the Amy Foundation — organisations focused on youth skills, employment, entrepreneurship and social cohesion.
But his story starts somewhere unexpected: a successful career in banking that he chose to leave behind.
Kevin Chaplin had built a successful career in banking, including senior leadership, but eventually began asking himself what he could do on a bigger scale. That decision led him into social development and eventually to the South African Ubuntu Foundation, which focuses on bringing communities and business leaders together.
He later stepped in when the Amy Foundation — then known as the Amy Biehl Foundation — was facing closure because of funding challenges. Nearly two decades later, the organisation reaches around 2,000 young people annually through education, vocational training, mentorship and employment programmes. According to Chaplin, more than 2,551 young people have been placed into employment, while 306 youth-owned businesses have been created with the foundation’s support.
What makes the story particularly relevant to young South Africans is Chaplin’s argument that education alone isn’t necessarily enough. His programmes combine technical skills with workplace preparation — including timekeeping, business ethics, etiquette, life skills and retail readiness.
And then there’s the bigger idea behind his book, CAN DO: Making the Impossible Possible: don’t allow your circumstances, your past or somebody else’s opinion of you to determine what you believe you can become.
That sounds inspirational — but here’s where we can make this an interesting conversation for young listeners:
In a country where young people can have qualifications and still struggle to find work, is “believe in yourself” enough?
Or do we need to rethink how we’re preparing young people for the world of work?
And what happens when someone doesn’t have the networks, confidence or opportunities that can help turn potential into an actual career?
