Insights and Pathways from the 2025 National Systems Mapping Workshop In October 2025, SmartStart, the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Ilifa Labantwana, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, and the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) convened a two-day Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Systems Mapping Workshop. Early childhood practitioners, parents, government officials, civil society organisations, […]

MEDIA RELEASE With an innovative social franchise model, SmartStart is providing early childhood education for South Africa’s children—and economic opportunity for communities  Washington, DC, April 7, 2026—Today, the Skoll Foundation announced SmartStart as one of the three organisations that will receive the 2026 Skoll Award for Social Innovation. The award provides unrestricted support to nonprofit organisations with a proven track record of advancing transformational social change on intractable global issues.    Through innovative public-private […]

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 […]

SmartStart’s home-based early learning model is garnering the attention of international audiences. High-level delegations from Ethiopia and Uganda visited Johannesburg to explore how we empower women in the lowest-income communities to deliver ECD at scale without costly infrastructure. Ethiopian delegates learn scalable ECD model During August, Ethiopia’s School Readiness Initiative (ESRI) Executive Director Mr. Menelik […]

South Africa stands at a crossroads in early childhood care and education (ECCE). The 2030 Strategy for ECD Programmes, Children’s Amendment Bill, mass registration drive, and rising public investment signal real political will for universal access. SmartStart proves home- and community-based programmes can reach excluded children at scale. Yet fragmentation stalls progress given regulatory complexity, […]

SmartStarters Unite provincial events across the country built momentum for the Power Circle: Children, Women, Community, a landmark SABC 2 special broadcast celebrating 10 years of SmartStart and the broader early childhood development sector’s potential through united action. The national finale showcased collective leadership transforming ECD when women, parents, communities, government and social partners align. […]