Kai Daniel from Standerton keeps his eye on commerce and sport
He completed a B.Com at the University of Otago, added a B.Sc, and his childhood ambition of becoming a doctor changed tack in his gap year when his interest in psychology blossomed before deciding on commerce.
The versatile Mr Kai Daniel from Standerton admits to being a social entrepreneur, which is no misnomer.
Kai manages two main businesses, an ethical and sustainable fashion brand with some products and materials supplied locally and the other, an accounting practice, based in New Zealand.
Kai’s roots are firmly entrenched in town, with grandfather, the late Paul Daniel and grandmother Levy, uncle Peter and his wife Norma, who moved to Somerset-West, who all played major parts in contributing to the welfare of the community.
Kai is a product of Standerton Primary School, mentioning the combination of the school’s teaching, a friend’s influence and the principal, the late Ms Barbara Dunbar, that were decisive aspects of his life.
His family moved to New Zealand in 2005 which resulted in the 14-year old completing high school there.
He attended King’s High School in Dunedin and was elected head boy after joining in Grade 9.
After high school, he took a gap year en travelled to Bristol in the United Kingdom, where he used his sport abilities on the rugby field as flyhalf.
Townspeople are more used to see Kai batting or wicket-keeping at the Piet van den Berg Oval and he also occupies the portfolio of treasurer of the Standerton Cricket Club.
He completed a B.Com at the University of Otago, added a B.Sc, and his childhood ambition of becoming a doctor changed tack in his gap year, when his interest in psychology blossomed before he decided on commerce.
After an approach from a big New Zealand bank, he worked in corporate banking for just under five years.
Wanderlust had in the meantime got the better of him and South-East Asia was the destination when he took a year off.
During his travels, he began seeing Shani van Aswegen from Standerton, a childhood friend, and the knot was tied in January this year.
“It is quite ironic that I’m back in Standerton,” he added.
Family members, from his mother Rozanne in New Zealand to aunt Denise in Australia, are overseas.
“We have got the southern hemisphere covered,” Kai contributed.
Cricket, both playing and coaching, is a critical factor in his life and an ordinary morning involves juggling several balls in the air.
“I wake up at 4am to 5am in the morning to catch the end of the New Zealand day and afternoons are devoted to coaching cricket.”
Kai teaches local children, ranging from the U/9s to the U/19s, at Laerskool Standerton and Hoërskool Standerton, both privately as well as in conjunction with the schools’ extra-curricular activities.
He also does pro bono work once youngsters have been identified by the schools. “Social enterprise is my passion and cricket my hobby,” he concluded.
