380 teachers. 231 ECD centres. Four regions. One big celebration!
Every year, the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day on 5 October. For the past three years, Grow ECD has taken this opportunity to acknowledge and upskill early learning teachers, creating a special training festival exclusively for Early Childhood Development (ECD).
On Saturday 3 October, Grow ECD brought together teachers from our Small Business Programme centre network for a day filled with celebration, learning, laughter and plenty of fun! This year’s theme, Teachers as Champions of Inclusive Education, focused on practical ways to support learners with special needs in the daily programme.
Our Grow ECD Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Gqeberha branches hosted special events to recognise the incredible teachers who give so much of themselves to the children in their care.
And what a celebration it was!
A day filled with fun, laughter and appreciation
From music and dancing to games, competitions, dress-ups, guest speakers, gifts and prizes, each branch brought its own energy and excitement to the occasion.
Teachers enjoyed a well-deserved opportunity to step away from their daily routines, have some fun and connect with fellow educators. Guest speakers also added value to the celebrations, sharing their knowledge and experiences with teachers. Among them was Thandeka Mafila, owner of Lonwabo Special School, who joined Cape Town as a guest speaker.
Even on their day off, our teachers were ready to learn about Inclusive Education!
One of the things we admire most about the teachers in the Grow ECD network is their commitment to continuous learning. Despite it being a day dedicated to celebrating them, more than 400 teachers across four provinces enthusiastically participated in training focused on inclusive education and supporting learners with special needs.
To reinforce the theme Teachers as Champions of Inclusive Education, the workshop explored practical ways to create more welcoming, responsive and effective learning environments for all children.
The sessions equipped teachers with practical strategies to recognise barriers to learning, better understand children’s diverse needs, and adapt everyday classroom activities so that every child has the opportunity to participate, learn and thrive.
Rather than focusing only on theory, the training provided real-world tools teachers can apply immediately in their classrooms.
This commitment to professional development is one of the key reasons Grow ECD invests so heavily in ongoing training, mentoring and coaching. High-quality early learning starts with confident, skilled teachers, and every new skill gained ultimately benefits the children in their care. By continuously strengthening their knowledge and practice, teachers are helping to build stronger foundations for lifelong learning.
“At Grow ECD, teacher development is a critical part of our three-year Small Business Programme. Through ongoing training, mentoring and practical resources, we work alongside teachers to strengthen the quality of early learning in their centres. The Teacher’s Day Festival brought together two things we value deeply: investing in our teachers’ professional growth and celebrating the incredible role they play in shaping young lives. When teachers grow, children benefit, and entire communities are strengthened,” reflected Dr Rose Mokoena, Grow ECD’s Head of Education
More than a programme. We become family.
Over the three years of Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme, our teams spend a great deal of time alongside ECD centre owners and teachers.
Through classroom mentoring, training, challenges and achievements, we build relationships that go well beyond a typical training programme. We celebrate milestones together, work through difficult moments and sometimes even laugh and cry alongside one another.
Over time, we become family.
So when Teachers’ Day came around, our Grow ECD teams were more than happy to give up their Saturday to celebrate the teachers they have come to know so well.
It was a chance to show our appreciation, enjoy time together and recognise the people who bring quality early learning to life in their classrooms every day. The appreciation was mutual. As Nosibusiso from Ivy Gcina Preschool shared, “Thank you so much Grow, you really make people feel special, honestly.”
To our teachers, thank you!
ECD teachers do extraordinary work, often without the recognition they deserve. Every day, they encourage curiosity, nurture confidence and create opportunities for young children to learn, play and grow.
A heartfelt thank you to our regional teams, guest speakers and everyone who contributed to making these celebrations memorable.
And to every teacher in our Grow ECD network, thank you for your passion, dedication, willingness to learn and the care you bring to your classrooms every day.