From Dependence to Determination: One Principal’s Part in a New Chapter for Five Local Preschools
When Nadia Campher left her 20-year career as a chef to follow her heart into early childhood education, she couldn’t have imagined just how much courage the journey would demand.
“I spent my holiday at a small crèche with 14 children and two older women who earned R300 a month,” she recalls. “They didn’t have materials or fancy toys, but they taught those children with such love. I knew right then — this is what I wanted to do.”
That decision set her on a path that would eventually lead her to Bitou Round Table Preschool in Hornlee — and to one of the most challenging chapters of her career.
A Leap Toward Independence
For years, the preschool was managed under a larger organisation that handled finances and management decisions. While this provided structure, it also meant local principals had little say in how their preschools were run.
In August 2024, Bitou Round Table Preschool took a bold step: it became fully independent.
“It was terrifying,” she admits. “For so long, someone else handled the finances and admin. Suddenly, we had to do everything ourselves — register as an NPO, form a committee, open bank accounts. But with support from Nella and Knysna Education Trust, we managed.”
KET’s team walked alongside her and four other preschools as they made the transition, providing governance training, mentorship, and reassurance through months without government funding.
“They went six months with no subsidies,” says KET’s Nella. “But they didn’t give up. They fundraised and supported one another. It was tough — but they came out stronger and more confident.”
Community Strength and Small Victories
During the funding gap, the preschool relied on monthly fundraisers — chicken braais, community singing nights, and wellness sessions hosted by local professionals. “We usually raise about R9,000 or R10,000 each time,” she says proudly. “The community really comes together. Even when times are hard, people want to help.”
Parents also played their part, agreeing to temporary fee increases to keep the doors open. “It’s not easy to ask families for more when you know they’re struggling,” she says. “But they understood that we were doing it for their children.”
Through KET’s feeding scheme, the children continued receiving nutritious meals every day — one constant in an uncertain time.
A Leader With Heart
Today, Bitou Round Table stands proudly on its own feet, with its own governing board, financial systems, and vision for the future. But for its principal, leadership has never been about paperwork or titles.
“You need people skills,” she says. “You must understand your parents and your teachers. You don’t have to be friends, but you must be fair.”
Five Schools, One Shared Journey
Bitou Round Table is one of five preschools that have recently become independent with guidance from Knysna Education Trust.
For Nella, the transformation is about far more than paperwork.
“They’ve proven to themselves that they can do it,” she says. “These principals aren’t just educators — they’re community leaders now. They’ve built something that will last for generations.”
As for Nadia, her journey from chef to changemaker has come full circle.
“When you work with children, it has to come from the heart,” she says. “It’s not just a job. It’s a calling — and it’s worth every challenge.”