About Taddy Blecher

Dr Taddy Blecher is the founder of the Maharishi Institute in Johannesburg, is CEO of the Community and Individual Development Association, and a pioneer of the ‘free tertiary education movement’ in South Africa. He co-founded the Branson School of Entrepreneurship with Sir Richard Branson and has raised over R400 million in cash, property and equity to support free access to post-secondary school education and has been supported in his works by Sir Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Oppenheimer Family, Bill Gates, Michael Dell and many other individuals, institutions and corporations.

As a result of the above, over 4,500 unemployed South Africans have been educated, found employment and moved from poverty to the middle-class. These formerly unemployed youth now have combined salaries in excess of R230 million p.a. and expected life-time earnings of R9.2 billion. 500 000 young South Africans in schools have been reached with one-week education and life-skills training courses.

Dr Blecher was a 2002 World Economic Forum "Global Leader of Tomorrow" award recipient, a 2005 World Economic Forum "Young Global Leader of the World", has been honoured with two honorary doctorates and was in 2009 named by author Tom Peters as one of his top 5 most influential entrepreneurs in the world over the last 30 years.

Having received the above (and many, many other awards) has had no impact on Dr Blecher's drive or motivation to continue to on his mission to uplift the underprivileged. He continues to be involved in the development and operation of many initiatives, including the Ezemvelo Eco-campus, 21st Century Learning Labs, the $10 Africa College Fund and the creation of the Elders, with Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

Nothing is off limits when contacting Taddy