Running an ECD facility in a vulnerable community is a daily challenge, and every bit of support makes a difference. Through targeted programmes, KET provides additional resources that ease financial pressure and help centres stay sustainable. From extra funding to specialist support, our aim is to ensure these preschools can keep their doors open—and that no child is left behind. Access to remedial support means children who start behind get the help they need to catch up and thrive.
KET launched the Adopt a Child’s Education (ACE) programme in 2006 to support the most vulnerable children—those who would otherwise miss out on preschool due to financial hardship. Each year, the programme grows, with the goal to support at least 500 children annually.
Through the generosity of sponsors, ACE provides vital financial support to preschools, helping them remain sustainable while ensuring children from families living below the breadline have access to early education. These families may have little, but they are deeply committed to giving their children a better start.
Your support helps cover a child’s preschool fees for a year—giving them a safe space to learn, daily nutritious meals, and the solid educational foundation every child deserves.
Many families live below the breadline, and the meals children receive at preschool are often their only meal of the day. With assistance from donors, KET currently funds bi-weekly food vouchers so that ECD facilities can feed the children a highly nutritious cooked lunch and two snacks a day. Cooks follow a menu designed by a nutritionist to ensure the best results at the lowest possible cost.
This feeding scheme ensures that children receive the nutrition necessary to support their healthy physical and intellectual development, as well as emotional wellbeing. It also alleviates a significant financial burden from the preschool, allowing principals to redirect their limited resources toward other operational needs—contributing to the long-term sustainability of the facility.
Since the inception of the programme, more than 1 million meals have been provided to vulnerable children
In partnership with The Learning Initiative, the Blocks for Growth programme targets developmental delays in children aged 4–5, ensuring they are ready to thrive in Grade R. Many children enter preschool too late and miss key developmental milestones, putting them at a disadvantage when they begin formal schooling.
Blocks for Growth provides intensive therapeutic support for children at risk. Occupational therapists lead small therapy groups twice a week at ECD centres, helping accelerate holistic development in areas such as motor skills, perception, and emotional readiness.
Crucially, the programme also empowers teachers and parents through training and mentorship, equipping them to better support each child’s growth both in the classroom and at home.