Grow ECD Success Story | Happyness Maloi | Bright Future Preschool and Nursery | Gauteng
Running a successful Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre can be a challenging journey, especially when access to affordable finance is limited. Many ECD centres struggle to invest in their facilities due to a lack of funding, which can affect the quality of education provided to young children. This is where Grow ECD’s low-cost loans come in – offering a lifeline to preschools like Bright Future Preschool and Nursery in Soweto.
Starting Small, Dreaming Big
When Happyness first opened Bright Future, she had a clear goal: to create a safe, affordable space for children who would otherwise be left unattended while their parents worked.
“I wanted to solve the problem of children playing unsupervised in the streets,” she shares. “But running an ECD centre without proper knowledge and resources was tough, and we didn’t know how to make it work.”
For years, Happyness and her team worked without salaries, and the school struggled to buy basic necessities. Despite the challenges, her passion for helping children never wavered.
Affordable ECD Finance for South African Preschools
Traditional banks often avoid lending to ECD centres without collateral or extensive financial records, and moneylenders charge very high interest rates. But without the necessary investment, how can these centres grow and provide the quality education that young children deserve? This was the dilemma faced by Happyness Moloi, the founder of Bright Future Preschool.
When Happyness learned about Grow ECD’s affordable finance options, she knew this was the solution she had been waiting for. Grow ECD offers a unique, blended finance model, where loans are a mix of cash, loans, and grants, designed to meet the specific needs of South African preschools. Unlike traditional finance options, these low-cost loans come with affordable, fixed interest rates, helping ECD centres invest in their infrastructure, education programmes, and compliance requirements.
In 2019, Happyness and Bright Future joined Grow ECD as a partner centre, and the partnership has since been transformative. Through Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme (SBP), Happyness gained access to vital resources and support to elevate her centre.
Through the Small Business Programne, Happyness gained access to:
- A play-based and NCF-aligned curriculum
- Classroom kit of educational equipment
- Online, interactive teacher’s guides
- Business and education mentoring
- In-person training
The Impact of Low-Cost Loans on Bright Future Preschool
With Grow ECD’s support and low-cost loan option, Happyness has been able to invest in critical upgrades to her centre.
“When Grow ECD told us about their low-cost loans, I saw an opportunity to solve some of the maintenance problems we had,” Happyness recalls. “They made sure I understood my finances before applying and helped me figure out how to use the loan to benefit the business.”
Happyness secured two loans from Grow ECD:
- 2019 Loan: This initial loan helped pay for the Small Business Programme, renovate four classrooms, improve the bathroom facilities, and enhance the outdoor space with maintenance and new resources.
- 2024 Loan: The recent loan is being used to meet additional requirements for registering the centre with the Department of Basic Education (DBE). This includes installing junior toilets and updating the building plans.
“Having access to these loans has changed everything for us,” says Happyness. “We can make the upgrades we need without worrying about high interest rates or expensive fees.”
Benefits for the Children, Teachers, and Owner
The impact of these low-cost loans has been felt by every part of Bright Future Preschool:
For the children, the improved facilities and resources have created a more engaging and stimulating learning environment. Happyness proudly states, “The children are more excited to come to school. The upgrades have helped with their overall development, and parents have noticed the difference.”
For the teachers, the loan has provided stability and professional growth. Regular salaries and access to resources have enabled the staff to focus on delivering quality education. “Our teachers are more motivated and have the tools they need to perform their roles effectively,” Happyness adds.
For Happyness, the owner, the financial burden of running the centre has eased significantly. “Before Grow ECD, I was struggling, I didn’t have a salary because all the money went to food for the creche and paying staff,” she admits. “Now I can take care of my family and my business. I can even pay my bond, something I never thought possible when I started.”
For Happyness, the journey with Grow ECD has been transformative. Her advice to other ECD owners is simple:
“Don’t just focus on the passion—think of it as a business. Seek help with finances and mentorship to sustain your centre. Let your passion provide for you and your family while helping your community.”
Is a Low-Cost ECD Loan Right for You?
If your ECD centre has 25+ learners and is 75km of a Grow ECD office in Cape Town, Gauteng, Durban, or Pietermaritzburg, you could qualify for a Grow ECD low-cost loan. Your centre must be operating for at least two years and use the Giraffe App for learner and staff management.
These loans are ideal for investing in education programmes, infrastructure, or meeting DBE registration requirements. With affordable, fixed interest rates, Grow ECD ensures easy repayments and sustainable growth.
Grow ECD is an early learning social enterprise. We equip ECD businesses and organisations with the skills, support and resources they need to provide 5-star early learning for every child.