Who we are

5 Star early learning can lift entire communities out of poverty.

Quality ECD (Early Childhood Development) is globally recognised as the most impactful investment in human capital that a country can make. Research shows return on investment of between 7% and 13% when investing in early learning.

Poor quality early learning is a life sentence to poverty and inequality.

In developing countries, low-quality early learning can be a life sentence that perpetuates poverty and inequality. Children who don’t have access to high quality early learning are being left behind. Nationally in South Africa, only 29% of children under 6 are on track to meet their developmental milestones. Children from low-income households are at the greatest risk due to lack of access to quality early learning opportunities.

Professional educare like you’ve never seen before

The truth is that many ECD (Early Childhood Development) Centres in disadvantaged South African communities are simply not sufficiently equipped, well-trained, adequately resourced, professionally managed or supported to ensure that the children in their care are ready for school and life.

Managing an ECD centre is a complex business, which is why we have developed a complete recipe for success that ensures quality learning outcomes for children, as well as develops and supports women to run their ECD centre professionally and sustainably.

We believe that:

1. excellent preschool education should be accessible and affordable in every neighbourhood.
2. qualified teachers and centre owners should be paid fairly.
3. ECD owners need more than just donations. They need strong, capable partners to guide and support them on their journey towards running a 5 Star ECD centre.

One teacher can grow a generation of learners

Empower women to run excellent educare centres

We empower qualified, passionate women to own and run successful high quality ECD centres in low-income communities through our proven social franchise model.

Our recipe for ECD success

Like you, we care deeply about ensuring that children from developing communities receive 5 Star education in their most crucial years. We also understand that the only way quality can be maintained is if centres are financially sustainable and teachers are paid what they’re worth. That’s why our recipe for success includes 21 Education and Business Sustainability components.

 

5 Steps to 5-Star journey

Our unique model is built on the principles of social-franchising, specifically designed to help ECD Centres in low-income communities replicate success and deliver proven exceptional education.

We understand that getting to 5 stars is a journey. We’ve developed a 5-step programme to help ECD centres become a GROW franchisee at their own pace and capacity while also expanding our programme to reach more centres (we call it 5 Steps to 5-Star).

Empower educare centres Leave a legacy when you make a donation, adopt an ECD, volunteer your time and more.

Quick Facts:

43
Centres Running
89
Classrooms
1599
Children enrolled, capacity for 2066
217
Jobs supported
69
Teacher Interns

We empower qualified, passionate women to own and run successful high quality ECD centres in low-income communities through our proven social franchise model.

Testimonials:

Funder

“As a foundation with a mandate to support social enterprises that build sustainable businesses and job creation and where possible, solve a social need, we  often struggle to source black-owned businesses that meet this mandate. GROW Educare  gave us the opportunity to help women to be self-employed and provide quality ECD centres where the children no longer have to travel outside of their communities for their education. The educare centres also create employment for people living in those communities. If you’re looking at supporting an initiative that offers quality ECD education and ongoing support to early learning centres, consider GROW Educare Centres!”

Simangele Lekhuleni - Funder
Old Mutual Foundation

ECD Centre Owner

“GROW delivered on exactly what they had promised – and more. My centre was revamped, high quality and relevant learning equipment and the materials were delivered. I was filled with hope! The GROW team did not stop there. They assisted me and my teachers with training workshops, business and education mentoring, school visits and coaching, financial guidance, a great day-by-day education programme and so much more. They made sure that my centre as a whole was of exceptional quality.”

Jennifer Crossley - ECD Centre Owner
Generations Educare ECD Centre, Maitland

Parent

“I’m happy that we have a very good school close to us and my child is well looked after, receiving the best education, without us travelling very far. “

Blessings Kwangware-Lunga - Parent
Happy Feet Educare Centre, Cosmo City

Franchisee and ECD Owner

“I’ve always had a big dream: to nurture the young children from my community to get them ready for school and for life. I also want employ teachers and be financially independent. Thanks to GROW my story has a happy ending. I can do all of that and more!”

Maria Tabana - Franchisee and ECD Owner
Happy Feet Educare Centre, Cosmo City

With your help

We’re helping over 1599 children across 89 classrooms grow and learn every day, while supporting 217 jobs within education.

We empower qualified, passionate women to own and run successful high quality ECD centres in low-income communities through our proven social franchise model.

Partners & FundersWe empower qualified, passionate women to own and run successful high quality ECD centres in low-income communities through our proven social franchise model.