Quality Education should be a right,
not a privilege
We will keep co-creating with children, educating dedicated teachers and engaging with communities until every child in South Africa is connected through creativity.
Connecting children through Community
Connecting children through Passion
Connecting children through Creativity
Connecting children through Purpose
Connecting children through Connection
The Centre for Creative Education, Iziko Labantu be Afrika is a non profit organisation that exists to connect every child in South Africa through creative education. We approach our purpose through three specific focus areas, teacher education, early years education and community advocacy.
Outcomes that Matter
Every teacher we train is a catalyst for change, shaping brighter futures in classrooms and communities. You can support us in training teachers.
1,200+
Trained teachers, with many now working in schools nationally and internationally.
85%
of CCE student teachers and young learners are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
253,000+
Children touched through our network of partnering ECD centres.
98%
of CCE student teachers secure paid employment upon graduating.
Make a Donation
Your support helps us make quality education accessible to all children and train the educators of tomorrow.
The Challenges We're Addressing
South Africa faces critical educational challenges that require immediate action. Here's how we're making a difference.
Unemployment prevents young people from reaching their full potential and earning a living
Our Approach
We provide gateways to meaningful employment by offering accredited courses. More than 95% of our graduates secure employment.
Our Goal
To train as many young people as possible so that they can reach their full personal and earning potential.
Government recognises Early Childhood Development as a priority, but it has been slow to ensure that efforts to expand access to early education have kept pace with the vast need in SA.
Our Approach
Expanding quality ECD to vulnerable communities where it is most needed.
Our Goal
To serve as many communities as possible, by providing high-quality early education and care.
90% of brain development happens before age 5 - a window we cannot afford to miss.
Our Approach
Our ECD programs set up solid foundations for both school and life. Add in that we train parents how to care for their babies in the most critical first months of life.
Our Goal
To ensure the holistic development of children so that they are progressing well for their age.
Women often face barriers that stop them from earning a living and taking up leadership opportunities.
Our Approach
We help level the playing field as the majority of our student teachers are women.
Our Goal
To ensure that more women are able to take up economic and leadership opportunities because they are adequately supported.
Education of a high standard is usually only accessible to those who are well off.
Our Approach
Our primary school, Zenzeleni, makes education of an exceptional standard affordable for children from underserved areas. We train teachers who can offer this kind of quality in education to their learners.
Our Goal
To expand Zenzeleni so that more children have access to quality education.
In South Africa, we have nearly 7 million children between the ages of 0 and 5. Yet, around 1.3 million children aged 3 to 5 are not attending any form of ECD programme
― Siviwe Gwarube,
Minister of Basic Education, addressing the Bana Pele 2030 Roadmap Leadership Summit on 17 March 2025
Stories of change
Beyond every statistic is a powerful story of change. These are the voices that drive our mission forward.
Zenzeleni’s Origin
In 1998, during Maria Msebenzi’s third year teaching the reception class at Noluthando Educare Centre, the parents of the children were amazed by the positive changes they saw in their children and envisioned a different educational journey for them. Maria fondly recalls how seasonal festivals were celebrated in the kindergarten, not only for the children but for the entire community, fostering the spirit of ubuntu. The CCE was approached by the parents and the community to open a class 1 so that their children could continue with a holistic, creative approach to education. Thus, the Waldorf initiative kindergarten and the The Centre for Creative Education, Zenzeleni school was founded at Noluthando Educare Centre. The Khayelitsha community wholeheartedly embraced the uplifting of education in their community. The Centre for Creative Education School, Zenzeleni, offers a Waldorf education experience for every child. This school is fully registered as an independent government subsidised primary school.