Lesedi Educare Association
Lesedi Educare Association is a Bloemfontein-based South African non-profit, founded in 1993, that delivers its Integrated ECD Care Package combining accredited practitioner training, community development, and direct mobile outreach to underserved children, families, and ECD centres in the Free State and Eastern Cape.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersBloemfontein, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lesedi Educare Association does
Lesedi Educare Association NPC is a South African non-profit Early Childhood Development (ECD) resource and training organisation founded in April 1993 and headquartered at 52 Kellner Street, Westdene, Bloemfontein in the Free State province. It operates across the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces, delivering services to underserved rural and urban communities, with a staff complement of 15 full-time and 4 part-time employees (19 total) overseen by a six-member Board of Directors and led since inception by Managing Director Christine Waldie. The organisation is registered as a Section 21 / Non-Profit Company (2005/009933/08), a Non-Profit Organisation (004-435NPO), and a Public Benefit Organisation (930005573), and holds ETDP-SETA and QCTO (ETDP10024) accreditation as a training provider.
The organisation's core offering is the Integrated ECD Care Package (IECP), introduced in 2007 and reconfirmed in a 2013 strategic review, which combines three components: (1) an ECD Practitioner Training Programme covering accredited Level 4 training and a non-accredited hands-on Enrichment Programme for community ECD centres; (2) a Community Development & Family Support Programme with accredited Level 4 Community Development training and capacity-building for ECD Outreach Practitioners; and (3) direct outreach via two Come-and-Play Buses and a Mobile ECD Unit that deliver weekly structured playgroup sessions and parent/caregiver support to children without access to formal ECD provision. In 2017 this model reached 209 ECD Practitioners (covering 9,160 children in their ECD centres) and 93 ECD Outreach Practitioners (covering 834 children without ECD access), for a total of 9,994 children directly served and over 10,000 children reached annually.
Lesedi operates as a free-to-beneficiary service funded through corporate sponsorships and charitable foundation grants (including Woolworths, Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, First Rand Foundation, FNB Fund, Elma Foundation, HCl Foundation, The Davies Foundation, The Childwick Trust/Jim Joel Fund, Apex-Hi Charitable Trust, Bigen Africa, and Interstate Bus Lines), government and private-sector training contracts, and active fundraising campaigns. Distribution is direct and community-based rather than commercial: services are delivered through the branded mobile units, partnered community ECD centres, community playgroups, a weekly SABC Lesedi FM radio slot hosted by the Playgroup Co-ordinator, and an active Facebook page, with the organisation recognised by UNICEF in 2009 as a best-practice model and recipient of multiple national ECD awards through 2014.
Lesedi Educare Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lesedi Educare Association
- Legal name
- Lesedi Educare Association NPC
- Website
- https://lesedieducare.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lesedi Educare Association is a Bloemfontein-based South African non-profit, founded in 1993, that delivers its Integrated ECD Care Package combining accredited practitioner training, community development, and direct mobile outreach to underserved children, families, and ECD centres in the Free State and Eastern Cape.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lesedi Educare Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB), Pre-Service ECE Credential Programs (Certificates/Diplomas/Degrees) (EDACAIAA), Domain-Specific Curriculum (Literacy, Numeracy, Science, SEL, Motor, Arts) (EDACAJAB)
Keywords
Where Lesedi Educare Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bloemfontein
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Lesedi Educare Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Sponsorships and Donations: Funding from corporate sponsors, charitable trusts, and foundations that support the organisation's IECP implementation. Current sponsors include Apex-Hi Charitable Trust, Bigen Africa, Interstate Bus Lines, The Childwick Trust/Jim Joel Fund, The Davies Foundation, The Elma Foundation, First National Bank Fund, First Rand Foundation, HCl Foundation, The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, and Woolworths.
- Government Contracts: Training contracts with Government departments and private sector organisations that supplement organisational income
- Fundraising: Active fundraising campaigns to cover costs of implementing various components of the IECP
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Community Services - Free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Lesedi Educare Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lesedi Educare Association delivers an Integrated ECD Care Package (IECP) that combines accredited ECD Practitioner Training, Community Development & Family Support, and direct mobile outreach through two Come-and-Play Buses and a Mobile ECD Unit. The organisation trains ECD practitioners at community ECD centres and provides structured playgroup sessions to young children who lack access to early childhood development services in underserved communities across the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.
Product overview
Lesedi Educare Association operates as a single unified nonprofit organization offering the Integrated ECD Care Package (IECP) as its core program. The IECP comprises three interconnected components: ECD Practitioner Training Programme (accredited Level 4 training plus non-accredited enrichment), Community Development & Family Support Programme (family outreach and capacity building), and Direct Outreach services delivered through 2 Come-and-Play Buses and a Mobile ECD Unit. These programs work together to provide holistic early childhood development support to children and families in rural and urban communities across South Africa's Free State and Eastern Cape provinces.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Integrated ECD Care Package (IECP) Comprehensive community development program combining ECD Practitioner Training, Community Development & Family Support, and direct outreach services via mobile units to provide holistic early childhood development support to children and families in underserved communities.
- ECD Practitioner Training Programme Training programme for ECD practitioners at community ECD centres, including accredited ETDP-SETA/QCTO Level 4 training and a non-accredited hands-on practical ECD Enrichment Programme for community ECD centres.
- Community Development & Family Support Programme Component of IECP focusing on the quality of childhood and well-being of children in families through accredited Level 4 Community Development training combined with non-accredited strengthening and capacity building of ECD Outreach Practitioners, plus parent/caregiver support sessions.
- Come-and-Play Buses Two mobile playgroup units delivering regular weekly structured playgroup sessions directly to children who lack access to ECD provision in underserved communities, along with parent/caregiver support.
- Mobile ECD Unit A dedicated mobile early childhood development unit providing direct outreach services and structured playgroup sessions to young children in difficult circumstances who have no access to formal ECD provision.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 young children reached annually through various programmes
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Lesedi Educare Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lesedi Educare Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Lesedi Educare Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bright Kid FoundationcorePartnership to deliver fully-equipped ECD centres in modified containers (ECDCC's) to communities. Lesedi has partnered with Bright Kid Foundation to deliver ECD centres to areas such as Botshabelo and Thaba'Nchu, replacing shack structures with proper ECD facilities.
- Innovation EdgeminorParticipated in Innovation Edge's national on-line, interactive 8-week 'ECD Heroes Challenge' pilot competition, where 24 Lesedi ECD practitioners participated through their smartphones.
- South African Congress for Early Childhood DevelopmentcoreMembership organisation for ECD stakeholders in South Africa.
- National ECD Alliance (NECDA)coreMembership organisation. Lesedi participates in NECDA activities including the UNICEF/DSD Parent Support Programme rollout coordinated nationwide by NECDA.
- NECTA (Network of Early Childhood Training Agencies: Eastern Cape)coreNetwork of early childhood training agencies in Eastern Cape province.
- Ntataise NetworkcoreNetwork organisation. Lesedi attended Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) training through Ntataise.
- Ilifa LabantwanaminorLesedi's Playgroup Co-ordinator appears on weekly radio programme, which is an Ilifa Labantwana initiative.
- Interstate Bus LinescoreLong-standing partner that has played a pivotal role in enabling Lesedi to reach many children. CEO George Mokgothu served on the Lesedi Board of Directors for many years.
- Inclusive Education South Africa (IESA)minorPilot programme during first 6 months of 2017 to strengthen inclusion of children with special needs and disabilities through Lesedi's programmes. IESA provided training sessions and practical support for Bus and Mobile ECD Unit Playgroup Facilitators.
- LETCEEminorPartner host for 'Learn-to-Play & Play-to-Learn' Week in Durban, August 2017, in partnership with TREE and sponsored by Kinderfonds.
- TREEminorPartner for 'Learn-to-Play & Play-to-Learn' Week in Durban alongside LETCEE and Kinderfonds.
- HOPE World WideminorProvided parenting workshop training programme focusing on supporting and encouraging positive parenting and facilitating effective parent support groups.
- UNICEF / Department of Social DevelopmentcoreLesedi attended UNICEF/DSD Parent Support Programme training workshop, the rollout of which to 17,000 parents/caregivers is coordinated nationwide by NECDA. Lesedi will facilitate the programme for 400 parents/caregivers.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lesedi Educare Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LETCEE (Little Elephant Training Centre for Early Education): A KwaZulu-Natal-based ECD training NGO delivering playgroup-based outreach and practitioner training. Directly comparable to Lesedi's Come-and-Play Bus and Outreach Practitioner model.
- SmartStart (South Africa): A large South African social franchise supporting ECD centre quality and access. Comparable to Lesedi in its focus on improving quality of ECD provision for young children in underserved communities.
- Ntataise Network: A South African non-profit focused on ECD training and capacity-building for ECD practitioners and centres. Directly comparable to Lesedi in offering accredited training programmes and practitioner support across rural communities.
- TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education): A South African NGO offering ECD training, resources and practitioner development. Lesedi has actually partnered with TREE on joint programmes, making it a strong operating peer in the same sector.
Others
- National ECD Alliance (NECDA): An umbrella body coordinating ECD organisations in South Africa, including coordinating the UNICEF/DSD Parent Support Programme rollout in which Lesedi participates. Sector-relevant as a convener of comparable ECD NGOs.
- South African Congress for Early Childhood Development: Membership organisation for ECD stakeholders in South Africa. Lesedi is a member; relevant as a national convener addressing the same practitioner, centre, and beneficiary segments.
Broad incumbents
- Ilifa Labantwana: A South African ECD funding and programme intermediary that convenes donors and ECD NGOs. Lesedi's Playgroup Coordinator appears on Ilifa's national radio programme, evidencing direct sector overlap.
- Cotlands: A larger South African NGO providing ECD services, training, and outreach across multiple provinces. Comparable to Lesedi in ECD training and direct beneficiary services, but operates at significantly broader scale.
Emerging players
- Innovation Edge: A South African ECD innovation funder that ran the ECD Heroes Challenge pilot in which 24 Lesedi ECD practitioners participated. Comparable as a sector player driving practitioner-level ECD innovation.
- HOPE World Wide South Africa: Provides parenting and ECD programmes in South Africa, including positive parenting workshops that Lesedi itself has accessed. Comparable in targeting parents/caregivers and ECD practitioners through community-based programmes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lesedi Educare Association social profiles
Digital presenceLesedi Educare Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lesedi Educare Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Lesedi Educare Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lesedi Educare Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lesedi Educare Association
What does Lesedi Educare Association do?
Lesedi Educare Association delivers an Integrated ECD Care Package (IECP) that combines accredited ECD Practitioner Training, Community Development & Family Support, and direct mobile outreach through two Come-and-Play Buses and a Mobile ECD Unit. The organisation trains ECD practitioners at community ECD centres and provides structured playgroup sessions to young children who lack access to early childhood development services in underserved communities across the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.
Is Lesedi Educare Association a public or private company?
Lesedi Educare Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lesedi Educare Association founded?
Lesedi Educare Association was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lesedi Educare Association based?
Lesedi Educare Association is headquartered in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Lesedi Educare Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Sponsorships and Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Contracts and fundraising.
Who are Lesedi Educare Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LETCEE (Little Elephant Training Centre for Early Education), SmartStart (South Africa), Ntataise Network and TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education). Others are National ECD Alliance (NECDA) and South African Congress for Early Childhood Development. Broad incumbents are Ilifa Labantwana and Cotlands. Emerging players are Innovation Edge and HOPE World Wide South Africa.
Does Lesedi Educare Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lesedi Educare Association.
What industry is Lesedi Educare Association in?
Lesedi Educare Association's product category is Early Childhood Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAKAB, Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education, with a secondary code of EDACAIAB, In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.