Joyfultimes Daycare and Nursery in Rosettenville thrives
She saw improvement after joining Grow ECD.
Nokuthula Kalimashe, an unmarried mom of three, started her Joyfultimes Daycare in 2016 from a house in Townsview, and she has since opened a second centre in Rosettenville.
She explained that in the beginning, her centre didn’t have direction, she didn’t have a curriculum, and there were no charts on the wall for children. “When one child left, it was a struggle to get another child in,” she said.
In 2019, Nokuthula joined Grow at its Midrand offices. Grow ECD has developed an intensive programme that trains ECD owners how to operate profitable and sustainable centres that offer learners a five-star education with a good, practical play-based curriculum.
Nokuthula explained her first experience at Grow: “I left seeing that there’s a lot that they were asking for. Then, when I thought about it, I realised that Grow is a solution to my problems. I went back again to say I’m ready to start.”
Nokuthula’s school is thriving since she made the commitment to join Grow ECD’s programme. With Nokuthula as principal, her school has 86 children and employs four teachers and a cleaner.
Her teachers have job descriptions and employment contracts, and the property is safety-compliant with valid health and fire safety certificates.
She provides her learners with nutritious and well-balanced meals for breakfast, snacks, and lunch. The parents receive regular reports and resources for home support.
Nokuthula said, “We hold our meeting with parents quarterly, unless there is an emergency. Our parents are so involved in their children’s work and eager to know more that we are planning to do a workshop with parents next year to show how they can be involved in children’s education.”
“Everything improved since I joined Grow. In January, I don’t struggle; in June holidays, the school is always full. I know how to budget and save. I learned marketing strategies, so no pamphlets anymore,” Nokuthula said.
She’s been so successful that she has opened another crèche with two teachers.
A recent independent assessment of her school gave Nokuthula’s school a glowing report: “JoyfulTimes Daycare offers a nurturing and engaging early childhood education environment.
Enthusiastic and well-prepared staff, like Teacher Lerato, create a positive atmosphere for learning and development, effectively implementing age-appropriate activities aligned with the NCF and ELDAs, covering language, literacy, numeracy, and creative arts.”
Grow ECD’s Helene Brand said, “We are very proud of how well Nokuthula has done with her wonderful school. At Grow ECD, we are committed to helping and empowering principals who want to improve their schools, provide a better learning experience, and build a sustainable business. It requires a commitment from the principals, but it pays off in the end. There are more than 200 thriving Grow ECD schools around South Africa, run by empowered women who are making a difference in their communities and in their own lives.”
