Ridwan Samodien
Mr Samodien is an experienced Life Coach and Facilitator, who has served socio-economically challenged schools for 40 years - 19 as Principal of Kannemeyer Primary School - a beacon of possibility in the Grassy Park Community. He is the co-founder of internationally-acclaimed Partners for Possibility, the flagship programme of SymphoniaSA; partnering business leaders with principals. By joining teachers and learners on their leadership journeys, he ignites improved social and academic outcomes for his school community, and the education sector at large.
As a community leader, he has shown courage and vision in his response to the pandemic. His experiences are relayed in the Partners for Possibility’s latest publication. He also contributed to Professor Jonathan Jansen’s soon to be published book, “Teaching under Lockdown” and participated in a national webinar highlighting schools’ potential inability to pay School Governing Body salaries due to the pandemic’s economic fallout. Mr Samodien’s passion is building lasting relationships, fostering reconciliation and developing holistic human beings who embrace the African philosophy of Ubuntu.