Impact
For over 35 years, Play-with-a-Purpose has been transforming early childhood development across South Africa and beyond.
Through our 7 hubs across the country, we reached 2,201 children and trained 1,192 educators in 2025 alone. More than 300 preschools have been strengthened through a programme implemented or trained in 13 countries. Every number tells the story of a child given a stronger start, an educator equipped to teach through play, and a community changed for good.
Case Study
Project Impact Snapshot: West Rand (2018–2020)
Over a three-year period, Play with a Purpose Educational Trust partnered with early childhood development centres in West Rand to strengthen quality, compliance and sustainability.
Number of ECD centres increased from 10 to 15
All started with no ECD programme and by 2020 ran our NCF aligned Play-with-a-Purpose programme.
7 centres have formally entered the compliance and registration process
14 out of 15 centres now comply with municipal and teacher child ratios and no longer overcrowded.
80% of centres now have appropriate educational toys and learning resources.
All started with no books, by the end 3 preschools had proper libraries up and running, and others having books donated to build up their libraries.
70% of centres now pay at least the minimum wage to staff
All centres actively involve parents in children’s development and wellbeing
This is one example of the work we do across many communities in South Africa, where similar patterns of improvement and impact have been observed over time.
Curriculum
A Child’s Journey with Play-with-a-Purpose
Quality early childhood development creates lifelong impact. Here's how the foundations we build in the first five years continue to shape children's lives through primary school, adolescence, and into adulthood.
Ages 0–6: Strong Foundations
Emotional regulation
Secure relationships
Early vocabulary and language
Curiosity, problem-solving and resilience
Purposeful, neuroscience-based play
But it doesn’t end there and we receive feedback after a child has left our preschools which correlates with the latest research from Heckman, the Lancet and Thrive by Five. The Gauteng Educational Department has also done studies on our programme and children who have gone through it.
Primary School
School readiness
Improved concentration
Better behaviour regulation
Higher achievement
Adolescence
Higher attendance
Lower dropout risk
Positive decision-making
Leadership and confidence
Adulthood
Improved likelihood of tertiary access
Better employment opportunities
Higher lifetime earnings
Stronger families and community stability
