Grow ECD Success Story | Bilkish Vawda | Grow with Pretty Palms Educare | KwaZulu-Natal
My name is Bilkish Vawda, and I run Grow with Pretty Palms Educare, where I care for 54 children with the support of my amazing team of 6 teachers.
Grow with Pretty Palms Educare started in 2012. I saw the need for an inclusive Early Childhood Centre in my area. I started with just 4 learners, 2 of whom had special educational needs. My dedication and unique approach to teaching was highly appreciated by families in my community, and by the end of my Year 1, I had 20 learners under my care and guidance. With each new year, my enrolment grew and my school has become a well-recognised and highly sought-after Early Childhood Centre in my area and beyond.
My daily motivation is seeing children from diverse backgrounds, with different abilities and disabilities, flourish at my Centre.
The success of my Centre also allows me to create employment for 6 women, to guide them and mentor them, and this for me is really important as women empowerment is very close to my heart. We learn, guide and support each other, which also helps us to create a safe and nurturing environment for our little learners.
As a small business owner, I faced many challenges, from managing my finances so I could run a sustainable Centre to knowing how to go about the legalities of running an Early Childhood Centre.
My greatest challenge was getting my school registered with the necessary departments. This was really frustrating as I did not have the correct guidance to go about having my Centre fully compliant. When I heard of Grow ECD and everything that they were doing to guide and support the ECD Sector, I was determined to join them to take my business to another level.
The Grow ECD Giraffe App makes managing my Centre really easy, convenient and accessible at any time and place. It also helps me keep track of my finances, my staff and my learner’s development and attendance. Through the numerous free online training modules available on the app, my staff and I are able to enhance our professional growth.
The in-person training offered to myself as a Centre Owner and my staff is vast, covering many topics of Early Childhood Development. This really boosts our professional development and allows us to impart quality education at our Centre
The Grow Curriculum, resources and kits is what sets us apart from other ECD Centres. The kit serves as an exceptional resource to the curriculum and makes teaching fun, exciting and productive.
The business mentorship is highly welcomed and appreciated by my staff and myself as it guides us and supports us through the challenges we may face in implementing the program.
At a later stage, my school was growing and space was becoming a problem but Grow ECD helped me to source a container classroom sponsor for me.
Since joining Grow’s Small Business Programme, we have a highly sought-after school that provides 5 Star quality education at an affordable rate. A Centre that is clean, bright, beautiful with quality learning aids and resources.
My teachers are empowered by the Grow mentorship and training program. This has also built on their self-confidence and motivation to give off their best as Early Childhood Practitioners.
Our children are exposed to a variety of good quality resources that makes learning fun and enjoyable. They are able to reach their developmental milestones with ease as the Grow Curriculum is child centered and encourages play based learning.
Becoming a Grow Programme School was the best decision I ever made for my professional development and the growth of my business. It has left me fearless, has allowed me to face my challenges positively and it has made me confident to advocate for Early Childhood Care and Entrepreneurship on a global platform. It has also given me the support and guidance to open my second Centre, which is a Grow Program Centre.
Joining forces with Grow ECD definitely transforms your outlook on being a small business owner, helps your business grow by enriching the programme you offer and will train your staff to be the best version of themselves!
Your support today can shape the next generation of learners and leaders. Donate now.
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.