Unrestricted capital to support continued scale and capitalize on government traction

Early childhood education is foundational for future learning and earning; it’s nearly impossible to remedy later in life and perpetuates cycles of poverty. Over 80% of children from lower-income households in South Africa do not attend any formal early learning program. SmartStart’s social franchise model equips women in low-income areas of South Africa with the training, curriculum, and tools to start Early Childhood Development (ECD) micro-enterprises using SmartStart’s evidence-based program.

Why Rippleworks Invested:

SmartStart has created the simplest version of a quality early-learning program and has demonstrated outcomes for the lowest-income students. The organization is changing the trajectory of children who otherwise would not access quality early learning by empowering local women in the community. Moreover, SmartStart and its partners have amplified the importance of ECD in South Africa and it’s a top priority for the Ministry of Education. An unrestricted grant will allow SmartStart to maintain its rapid growth and capitalize on government momentum.