Bambanani Breakfast brings global insights into South African schools
Afrika Tikkun's Bambanani programme reaffirms the power of collaboration in education, offering practical approaches to overcome challenges.
The Bambanani Breakfast was a resounding success, drawing more than 180 teachers, heads of schools, and heads of departments from across Gauteng.
Themed: Aligning Global Trends to Local Practices, the event, held on September 25 at The Houghton Hotel, created a dynamic platform for dialogue and inspiration, showcasing how global best practices can be adapted to strengthen South Africa’s education sector, with a special focus on early childhood development (ECD).
The Afrika Tikkun Bambanani programme is a holistic early learning initiative that equips ECD centres with the tools, training, and resources they need to transform education from the ground up.
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Built on an internationally certified, play-based curriculum, the programme has, over four years, impacted more than 700 centres, trained over 4 000 teachers, and supported the development of more than 62 000 children – reinforcing its position as one of South Africa’s leading models for scalable and inclusive early learning.
Attendees were treated to thought-provoking keynote presentations from Pascale Bakos, Jon Helge Saetre, and Kelly Eyre, who each offered powerful insights into inclusive, innovative, and future-ready education.
Their presentations encouraged attendees to reflect on the challenges faced in local classrooms, while offering practical approaches to overcome them.
Adding a creative spark to the morning, the Field Band’s uplifting performance captured hearts and reminded everyone of the role that music and the arts play in holistic child development.
Theresa Michael, CEO of Afrika Tikkun Bambanani, thanked the attendees and partners for their presence and commitment. “We are deeply grateful for every principal, teacher, and leader who joined us today.
Your willingness to share, to learn, and to carry these lessons back into your schools is what makes change possible. The strength of Bambanani lies, not only in our curriculum, our training, and our digital tools, but in the passion of educators like you who make it come alive in classrooms every single day.”
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Teachers and principals shared heartfelt reflections on the value of the event. One principal noted: “It was refreshing to be part of a space where global insights are directly linked to our South African context. I left with practical ideas I can take back to my staff and children.”
A teacher added: “The breakfast reminded us that we are not alone in this journey. Seeing so many colleagues dedicated to early learning gave me renewed hope and motivation.”
The Bambanani Breakfast reaffirmed the power of collaboration in education. It brought together diverse voices, practical solutions, and inspiring ideas, all pointing towards a shared vision: Ensuring that every child in South Africa has the opportunity to thrive.
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