Bridging the Early Childhood Development Access Gap
For the past three years, the Knysna Education Trust (KET) has been proud to lead a Rotary International Global Grant initiative focused on closing the Early Childhood Development (ECD) access gap in the Knysna region. Our goal: to ensure that every child in the area has access to a safe, nurturing, and high-quality ECD facility.
Expanding Access Through New ECD Facilities
A key component of this initiative was the establishment of new ECD facilities, particularly in under-serviced and remote areas. In partnership with SmartStart, a recognised franchise model for early childhood education, we have empowered women to open their own learning centres. By using SmartStart’s franchisor framework, we have grown from 19 franchisees in 2022 to 83 active centres by February 2025. This expansion means that an additional 803 children now have access to a quality learning programme, even in the most isolated communities.
Our dedicated SmartStart team has been instrumental in screening potential franchisees, providing training for over 120 candidates, and conducting more than 65 Programme Quality Assurance assessments to ensure that every facility upholds the high standards required for effective learning and development.
Ensuring Safe and Nurturing Environments
Providing quality education goes beyond just the curriculum – it’s also about creating safe, welcoming spaces for children to learn and grow. Part of our strategy was to improve existing ECD facilities to meet the infrastructure and governance standards set by South Africa’s Children’s Act. Through this project, all 20 of the targeted sites achieved registration with the Department of Basic Education, with three of them now receiving government subsidies for each child enrolled.
Facility upgrades in 27 facilities included the installation of essential services such as toilets, ceilings, electrical rewiring, damp treatments, and kitchen facilities. These improvements are vital to ensuring that the learning environment is not only safe but also conducive to children’s well-being and development.
Engaging Parents for Lasting Impact
One of the most crucial factors in ensuring children’s success is active parent involvement. We recognised that educating parents on the importance of early childhood education and the value of paying for quality services was essential for the long-term success of the initiative. Over the past three years, we have worked tirelessly to engage parents through events, pamphlets, and infographics that explain the value of preschool education. Additionally, we provided teachers with the tools to effectively include parents in the learning journey, helping to create a strong partnership between educators and families.
Feeding Young Minds: e’Pap for Nourishment
We know that hungry children can’t focus or learn. To combat this, KET partnered with e’Pap to provide daily breakfasts for the newly established SmartStart franchisees. For the past three years, this initiative has ensured that more than 400 children are nourished and ready to learn.
Monitoring Progress for Future Success
To ensure that we were meeting our goals and maximising the impact of the grant, KET implemented Salesforce’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. This powerful tool allows us to collect real-time data on each ECD facility, track the interventions we provided, and adjust our approach as needed to achieve the best possible outcomes. With this data-driven strategy, we’re now better equipped to continue our mission of ensuring that every child is thriving and ready to enter Grade 1 by the age of six.
A Bright Future Ahead
As the three-year Rotary International Global Grant comes to a close, we look back on the incredible progress made and the lives impacted. The success of this initiative means that more children in the Knysna region now have access to safe, stimulating learning environments, with the resources and support they need to thrive.
We are deeply grateful to Rotary International, all the contributing Rotataries, and funding partners. Our work is not done – with a solid foundation in place, KET will continue to advocate for and support the future of early childhood education in our community. Together, we’re ensuring that no child is left behind, and every child is given the best possible start in life.