Dorothy Dyer is a former English teacher who taught at a range of South African high schools. Her passion for getting her students to read was the impetus for the establishment of Cover2Cover Books and ultimately the idea behind this fabulous FunDza Literacy Trust mobi site! Dorothy is also the author of teen novels and textbooks, and has run numerous workshops to test materials and to develop students’ writing. She has a Masters from in Applied Language and Literacy Studies, and also a Masters in Creative Writing, both through UCT.

In her own words…

“I was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1966, and grew up there in the white apartheid South Africa. My mother was a political activist and I learned from her what an unequal and unjust world I lived in, and I wanted to be part of changing that. Teaching was one way. I went to UCT and studied English, and then trained there to become a high school teacher. I have taught at a range of different South African high schools.

I have always been passionate about reading – it has in so many ways formed who I am. And so wanted to try my hand at writing too. I have completed a Masters in Creative Writing at UCT, and am very committed to developing young adults’ and children’s literature in South Africa.

So I love working at FunDza Literacy Trust where we are developing young South African readers and writers. It is exciting work and I love it!

I have two grown-up sons, and I live in Cape Town near the sea. After reading, my best thing is walking on the beach.”