Hope, hard work, and heart : impande

November 2025

In October 2025, we held our Annual General Meeting at our new Training Centre in KwaNzimakwe.

Instead of a large gathering, this year’s AGM brought together a focused group of leaders, including our board members and the advisory committee, which is made up of ECD chairpersons elected by their peers across KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. These leaders represent their respective networks and also facilitate their municipal network meetings.

During her address, our chairperson, Mandisa Luzipho, shared a message that moved many in the room to tears:

Her words remind us about the everyday women who, through courage and care, are changing the early learning landscape in South Africa.

Advisory members will now take insights from the AGM back into their municipal ECD network meetings, ensuring that every corner of the Impande network stays informed and inspired.

Across 11 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, Impande strengthened community-led early learning through data-driven support, partnership, and training in 2024.

Through our Learning Groups, training sessions, and new educational tools (including DUPLO packs, Book Dash books, and Little Stars kits), we’ve continued to equip ECD practitioners with the resources and skills needed to provide quality early learning experiences.

This means that with sustained investment, children in the poorest parts of South Africa can achieve outcomes equal to, or better than, those from the country’s wealthiest communities.

Residential Training Centre Launch

We opened our first-ever central training facility in KwaNzimakwe, offering accessible, accredited learning to semi-rural practitioners across 11 municipalities

Expanding Our Network

In 2023, we reported on the natural increase within the 10 initial local municipalities from 1 459 to 1 651 ECD centres; in 2024, this increased to 1 717 ECD centres.