Kevin Chaplin, who is most well-known for establishing the South African Ubuntu Foundation and for rescuing the Amy Foundation (previously the Amy Biehl Foundation) from bankruptcy published his long-awaited book, CAN DO! Making the Impossible Possible, at the end of February.
The book, which has been seven years in the making, is described by Kevin as “a memoir based on my challenges and highlights of my personal and corporate life, different experiences, wisdom gained that I want to share, that I want to impart, whether you’re young or old, whether you’re 21 or you’re 70. It’s about lessons and insights and stories gained throughout my entire life, and especially the influence of the Jewish people and religion on me and sharing some of their stories.”
Years before Kevin had undertaken to write the book, he was continuously approached at conferences and corporate events at which he gave and continues to give motivational talks: had he published a book? It was in 2013 however, when Kevin connected with niche memoir writer Toby Shenker at an Ubuntu breakfast event, that writing a book became a real possibility for him. He recounts, “I knew I couldn’t write a book on my own. I believe that everything in life is about surrounding yourself with the right people. That’s one of the lessons in the book… so it was just a blessing, and I said to Toby, ‘Let’s do it.’ I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Kevin enjoyed a highly successful career in banking for 26 years before deciding to leave the industry to found the SA Ubuntu Foundation, a decision which he credits, among other factors, to Cape Town’s Jewish community and to the connections he had made with its members: “I had met so many amazing people from the moment I moved down here… They had such a huge impact on my life. That was one of the big factors and I realised I wanted to stay in the Cape.”
The book centres around stories of achieving one’s goals and emerging triumphant when the odds are stacked against one. Indeed, it provides lessons for success and motivation in the face of naysayers insisting that “it’s impossible, you can’t do it, you’ll never do it.” Kevin explains, “It’s written in such a way that every page or second page with a story, there’s a lesson to it, there’s messages throughout the book about how to deal with different situations.”
Kevin talks about his two mentors, Raymond Ackerman and Philip Krawitz and the lessons he has learnt from them over the years. He also discusses the work he has done with Marlene Silbert and the interfaith initiative that she started. Numerous connections with the Jewish religion, such as the practice of Shabbat, are delved into, and there is also a chapter entirely about combatting antisemitism and racism. Kevin imparts lessons he has learnt from a host of figures in the community such as Helen Lieberman, Aviva Pelham, Adele Searll and Myra Osrin to name a few.
Another part of the book is dedicated to Kevin’s international travels, among which are his trips to Auschwitz and Dachau. Included in this section is his meeting with Holocaust-survivor Eva Schloss, where he shares her own inspirational story. There is also the amusing tale of Kevin’s visit to Georgia in the US where, on account of his surname, the media were convinced that he was a descendent of Charlie Chaplin (he is not!), to the extent that he unveiled a statue and appeared on national television.
Kevin says that the book “is really meant to show people that nothing is impossible and that when you meet people, you learn from them, so it’s about what you can learn from others… There’s something in it for every reader… Whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, whether you’re black or white, whatever your views are, there’s something in it for you.”
CAN DO! is available at Exclusive Books and retails for R349.00 or it can be ordered directly from Kevin for R320.00 via www.saubuntu.co.za or kchaplin@saubuntu.co.za. There are also special prices for bulk orders: ten copies or more will cost R300 each, and orders of 50 or more will cost R280.00 each; this makes for a perfect gift for business owners to buy for their staff, management and executives.
By Jaime Uranovsky
To read or download the full May issue PDF of the Chronicle, click here
To keep up to date on COVID-19 related community news, click here
Portal to the Jewish Community: to see a list of all the Jewish organisations in Cape Town with links to their websites, click here
To receive the Chronicle each month in your inbox instead of your postbox please email editor@ctjc.co.za and we will make it happen.
Follow the Chronicle: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
