What began as uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a growing early childhood education success story in Khayelitsha, where one educator’s leap of faith is now creating jobs, expanding learning opportunities, and reshaping how community-based preschools can thrive.
When Mthwakazi Nancy Soqaka lost her teaching position in 2021, the disruption mirrored the experience of thousands across the country.
Yet instead of leaving the sector she had dedicated 15 years to, she chose a different path, building her own preschool from the ground up.
Four years later, Soqaka leads Grow Buddies Preschool and Aftercare and has recently opened a second Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre.
Moving beyond passion alone
As enrolment slowly increased, Soqaka realised enthusiasm and teaching experience would not be enough to sustain the centre long term. Running a school also meant running a business, a challenge many ECD practitioners face.
Her introduction to Grow ECD, which is a non-profit social enterprise supporting early learning centres, marked a shift from survival to strategy. After meeting enrolment requirements, she joined the organisation’s six-week Business Accelerator Programme.
‘That training changed my mindset. It gave me the courage to think bigger and plan properly. I knew this was the start of something big,’ she says.
Through mentoring and structured support, she refined fee systems, strengthened financial tracking, and adopted digital tools to manage daily operations more efficiently.
‘You are not running a charity. You are running a business. You must have a brain for the business and a heart for the children,’ she explains.
Alongside business training, educational mentorship helped reshape classroom practices, from curriculum planning to child assessment methods.
‘The quality of education is five-star,’ Soqaka says. ‘The children’s language, confidence, and development improved across the board.’
As quality improved, demand quickly followed. Enrolment soon exceeded available space, forcing the school to explore expansion options.
Funding support secured through Grow ECD pathways enabled refurbishment of a second property, leading to the launch of Grow Buddies 2.
Additional infrastructure support from Breadline SA provided a classroom container at the original site, increasing capacity without compromising learning standards.
Today, the growing enterprise serves:
-
17 children in the original classroom
-
20 children in the Breadline classroom container
-
16 children at Grow Buddies 2
Meanwhile, families say the impact is visible beyond the classroom.
‘My daughter started here only speaking Xhosa. After two years, she was fluent in English,’ says parent Tumelo Leballo. ‘We never expected this level of development. We are incredibly proud of Grow Buddies.’
Leaders within the ECD support sector view stories like Soqaka’s as evidence of a larger opportunity. Tracey Chambers, who is the co-founder of Grow ECD, notes that sustainable systems are key to expanding access to quality early learning nationwide.
‘If we are serious about reaching more children with quality early learning, we have to stop treating ECD centres as informal projects and start supporting them as the businesses they are,’ Chambers says, adding that financial sustainability allows centres to grow their reach year after year.
Despite the rapid progress, Soqaka sees this expansion as only the beginning. Her long-term vision includes a larger education campus with multiple classrooms, outdoor play areas, and schooling extending to Grade 7.
‘I know my dream will come true,’ she highlighted.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Picture: Supplied
