When Favourite Nompumelelo Mbona (Mrs), owner of Zuzulwazi Creche in Pietermaritzburg, received a Gold Star certificate with an outstanding 99% score from the Chief Director of the District Health Services for the Umgungundlovu District, it marked an incredible achievement for her centre.
But for Favourite, the award represents much more than a score. It is the culmination of nearly three decades of perseverance, faith, and an unwavering commitment to giving children the best possible start in life.
“We started in my dining room.”
“Zuzulwazi Creche opened in Pietermaritzburg in 1997. We started in my dining room. We moved the couches out, put down a carpet, and taught children there because the community needed us. We later built a small wooden house for the children.
I was inspired because I saw parents who had to work but had no safe, caring place for their little ones.”
For many years, Favourite continued serving children with the resources she had while holding onto the dream of one day building a proper school.
That dream became a reality in 2022 when Zuzulwazi joined the Grow ECD Small Business Programme.
“I had a site to build on, but I didn’t have money to build a proper school. The biggest difference Grow made was partnering with Zuzulwazi and introducing us to The Go Group. The two organisations work together, so The Go Group helped, through Grow, by building us a beautiful school with proper classrooms.
Grow’s teacher training, curriculum, and the Grow App also changed how we teach and manage the centre.”
“God is faithful.”
Receiving the news of the Gold Star award was an emotional moment.
“I was overwhelmed. From a dining room in 1997, to a new school built by The Go Group in partnership with Grow ECD in 2022, and now 99% Health Gold Star, I thought, ‘God is faithful.’ This is for my staff who stuck with me through everything, and for Grow who always believed in and motivated us.”
Favourite believes the recognition is the result of years of perseverance, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
“Grow ECD supported us with quality education, helped us with our finances and compliance, and once we had the right environment, we were able to follow the 5-star quality standards every day. We didn’t give up when we were in a dining room, and we didn’t stop improving when we got our new building.”
More than a building
While the new school transformed the learning environment, Favourite says it was the ongoing support that truly changed the centre.
“Grow’s mentors trained our teachers, gave us a curriculum, and coached us through the 5-star quality process, not just in education but in our centre’s finances too. They didn’t just help us qualify to get a building from The Go Group — they gave us the tools to run a Gold Star centre inside it.”
Today, the impact of that journey is felt throughout the centre.
“For my staff, it means dignity. They now teach in a beautiful school and are recognised as Gold Star professionals. For the children, it means they learn in a safe, quality space. For families in Pietermaritzburg, it means their children get the best start in a centre that went from a dining room to 99% Gold.”
Looking back, Favourite is most proud of one thing.
“I’m proud of the journey. From a carpet in my dining room in 1997, to a wooden house, to partnering with Grow ECD in 2022 and being part of The Go Group building us a beautiful new school, to Gold Star in 2026. I’m proud we never stopped, even when we had no money to build.”
Her advice to other ECD centre owners is simple.
“Start with what you have, even if it’s just a dining room. Be honest about what you need. I told Grow I had a site but no money, and they helped. Work hard, use the training, and trust the process. We went from a carpet on the floor to 99% Health Gold Star status. If Zuzulwazi can do it, your centre can too.”