A Free Preschool Management App to Help Run Your ECD Centre
Giraffe can now do much more. Discover how this free, data-free preschool management app helps ECD owners manage their business, admin, teachers, learners and parents in one place.
From a Dining Room to Gold Star Excellence: Zuzulwazi Creche’s Journey to 99% Health Status
Zuzulwazi Creche started in a dining room in 1997. Today, the centre has achieved a 99% Gold Star quality award from the Umgungundlovu District Health Services, recognising its commitment to quality early childhood education.
Grow Giraffe: South Africa’s #1 ECD Management App
The Grow ECD App is transforming how South Africa’s preschools and ECD centres are managed. With over 4,500 centres using it, this free all-in-one platform supports centre owners and teachers with tools for learner assessments, finance tracking, and training — empowering educators to deliver quality early learning in every community.
Verified for Trust: Grow ECD Earns iZinga 5-Star Verification
Grow ECD is officially verified by iZinga, achieving a 5-star rating for excellence in governance, financial transparency, and community impact. This recognition affirms our commitment to accountability and sustainable change in South Africa’s early learning sector.
PRESS RELEASE – Bridging UK Generosity with South African Impact: Introducing Taking Care of Business UK
Taking Care of Business (TCB) has launched TCB UK, a registered charity that makes it easier for UK-based donors to invest in South Africa’s most impactful poverty-relief programmes. The first campaign will support Grow ECD, helping women entrepreneurs run sustainable preschools and improve early-learning outcomes for children.
Thrive by Five: How Grow ECD is Transforming Early Childhood Development in South Africa
In response to the Thrive by Five 2024 results, Grow ECD is reshaping early childhood education in South Africa. Through innovative mobile apps, free resources, and teacher training, the organisation supports thousands of preschools in underserved communities to deliver quality learning and sustainable centre management. This is how technology and people-first solutions are driving lasting impact for children, teachers, and parents.
Tech with a Heart: How Grow ECD Built an ECD App That Serves the Sector
Grow ECD has developed a unique app suite designed to support early childhood education in South Africa. Serving thousands of preschools, the mobile-first tools help centre owners, teachers, and parents access free resources, training, and support to deliver quality early learning in underserved communities. This is technology with a heart, built to serve the people powering the ECD sector.
New STAR Assessment tool measures ECD centre strength and development areas
Grow ECD has developed an independent evaluation tool that helps us measure impact and make more data-driven decisions, while empowering centre owners with insights and action plans. The STAR Assessment tool is now also available to ECD investors and stakeholders. What does quality look like in early childhood education? At
ELOM results say our learners are thriving!
Early childhood education is the foundation of a child’s learning journey, and ensuring that children receive quality education in their formative years sets them up for success. We’re so excited to share the 2024 ELOM (Early Learning Outcomes Measure) Dipstick Report conducted on learners in Grow ECD programme centres. The
National Minimum Wage (2026 updated)
The National Minimum Wage Act applies to all employers and employees in South Africa. According to this Act, an employee should be paid a minimum amount per hour or per month depending on the number of hours they work. It is illegal to contract a person at a lower rate than the minimum wage,