ECD centre owners are constantly looking for ways to improve their schools.
A safer bathroom. A better outdoor play area. More space. Better infrastructure. Improvements that strengthen compliance. Changes that make the environment more welcoming and functional for children and teachers.
The challenge is often not the vision. It is finding the money to make it happen.
For centres in Grow ECD’s Small Business Programme, the Grow Small Business Loan can be one option for funding practical improvements that strengthen the centre as both a business and a place of early learning.
Two Grow ECD centre owners recently used this opportunity in very different ways. Their stories show what can happen when a clear plan is matched with access to finance.
A dream waiting since 2021: Makgoka Wa Ngwato Pre School and Daycare
Makgoka Maphakane runs Makgoka Wa Ngwato Pre School and Daycare in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. The centre opened in 2021 and currently cares for 48 children with four teachers.
From the beginning, Makgoka wanted to build proper toilets for the children.
“We started our centre in 2021 dreaming every day to build proper toilets for the kids. But because of lack of money we didn’t manage,” she says. “My biggest dream was to give the children clean, safe toilets instead of potties.”
The Small Business Loan gave her the means to finally act on that plan. The funding covered the new toilets and also enabled the centre to build an office.
The change was immediate.
“The children are very happy with the new toilets because I chose small, colourful, and comfortable toilets just for them,” says Makgoka. “At first I didn’t tell parents, but the children went home and talked about their toilets so much that parents came to the centre to see them.”
The improvement also strengthened the centre’s compliance position. Makgoka says the new toilets and office helped the centre meet compliance standards, while also improving hygiene and parent confidence.
Creating more space to play, learn and grow: Blessed Little Hands ECD
For Mary-Anne Oke, Principal of Blessed Little Hands ECD in Parow, Cape Town, the priority was different.
Her centre was established in 2022 with a vision to create a safe, nurturing and affordable learning environment. As the centre grew, Mary-Anne wanted to improve the outdoor play facilities and make the school environment more stimulating and functional.
“We wanted to develop a safe and attractive play area where children could engage in physical activity, build social skills, and enjoy outdoor learning experiences,” she explains.
The Small Business Loan helped the centre move ahead without having to wait years to save the full amount.
“The Grow Small Business Loan provided us with the financial support we needed at exactly the right time,” says Mary-Anne. “Without the loan, it would have taken us much longer to raise the necessary funds.”
The new play area has changed how children experience the centre day to day.
“The children are more active, engaged, and enthusiastic during outdoor activities,” she says. “The play area has become one of their favourite parts of the day and has greatly enhanced both their learning and overall well-being.”
Teachers are also able to incorporate more outdoor activities into their programmes, while parents have responded positively to the improved facilities.
Finance with a purpose
These two centres used their loans differently, but the thinking behind both decisions was the same. The owners already knew what their centres needed. The loan gave them a way to make those improvements sooner.
For one centre, that meant better hygiene, compliance and basic infrastructure. For another, it meant creating a stronger outdoor learning environment where children could move, play and develop. This matters because ECD centre improvements are not simply cosmetic. The right investment can affect daily operations, teacher practice, child experience, parent confidence and long-term business sustainability.
A loan should still be approached carefully. Centre owners should have a clear purpose for the investment, a realistic repayment plan, a detailed scope of work, a realistic budget and an experienced contractor appointed under a written agreement. These measures help reduce risk and increase the likelihood that the project will strengthen the sustainability of the centre and deliver the expected benefits.
Mary-Anne’s advice to other centre owners captures it well:
“Explore available funding opportunities, seek guidance, and be prepared to invest in your goals. The Grow Small Business Loan showed us that with the right support, dreams can become reality. Believe in your vision, plan carefully, and remain committed to providing the best for the children in your care.”
For Makgoka and Mary-Anne, the loan was not the vision. The vision was already there. It simply gave them a way to move it forward.