SmartStart CEO driving ECD transformation through community women

SmartStart owes its success over the last decade to leadership that understands the power of people. Grace Matlhape, our Chief Executive Officer, believes that early childhood development is more than policies and programmes. It is about tapping into the power of over 24 000 overlooked women as changemakers. Recognised by Chief Women Leaders for International Women’s Day as a leader driving real impact, Grace, along with the leadership of SmartStart’s implementing partners have, through their shared vision, transformed homes in South Africa’s low-income, underserved communities into learning hubs that reach 160 000 children weekly through 15 000 practitioners – proving that when leadership trust communities, both child outcomes and economic empowerment scale with minimal effort. Read the full story