Mikhulu Trust

What Mikhulu Trust does

Mikhulu Child Development Trust, trading as Mikhulu Trust, is a Cape Town-based non-profit organisation established in 2017 (South African Non-Profit Company registration 2017/464907/08; also a registered SA Public Benefit Organisation and UK charity, number 1158733) that develops and delivers early childhood development (ECD) programmes centred on dialogic book-sharing with wordless picture books. Its core offering pairs a library of locally-illustrated wordless picture books, designed so any caregiver can share them with a young child regardless of literacy or education level, with a facilitator training curriculum and a published methodology developed in collaboration with academics at the University of Cape Town. The flagship Book-sharing Programme is supplemented by the 'Time with Dad' (Ixesha lam noTata) fatherhood programme developed with Sonke Gender Justice, a WhatsApp-based parenting support channel via the Parentline SA / SAPPIN network, an infographic resource range, and ongoing research and advocacy work including a research collaboration with the Centre for Universal Education at Brookings Institution.

The operating model is a training-of-trainers distribution through a network of implementing partners that includes community-based organisations, ECD centres (e.g., 139 centres supported via Inceba Trust in the Winelands), faith-based groups (Living Hope, Sikhula Sonke), the City of Cape Town's 102-branch library system, the Western Cape Department of Health's First 1000 Days community health workers, violence-prevention initiatives (Seven Passes), after-school programmes (Boost Africa/Aftacool, Uphakanyiso, Fathers Connect NPO), corporate workplaces (Vector Logistics pilot) and others. Mikhulu Trust earns no commercial revenue in the conventional sense: funding comes from donations, foundation grants and corporate partnerships, with a small supplementary income stream from direct sales of wordless picture books through its own website. The organisation employs 1-10 staff led by CEO Kaathima Ebrahim and Acting CEO / Head of Programmes Karen Ross, and has been recognised as one of HundrED's Top 100 Education Innovation Programmes for 2023.

Name

Mikhulu Trust

Legal name

Mikhulu Child Development Trust

Website

https://mikhulutrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mikhulu Trust is a Cape Town-based non-profit that delivers early childhood development programmes through dialogic book-sharing with locally-illustrated wordless picture books, training community facilitators, and research and advocacy, reaching caregivers primarily in South Africa via a network of NGO, library, government and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Engagement & Parent-Facing Early Learning Content (EDAGACAJ), Family Literacy & Early Language Development Programs (EDACALAE)

Keywords

• Early childhood development
• Book-sharing programmes
• Caregiver education
• Wordless picture books
• ECD facilitator training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Mikhulu Trust operates as a non-profit organization funded through donations, corporate partnerships (e.g., Cadbury Glass & a Half Project raising R1-million), and grants from foundations and government partnerships.
2. Wordless Picture Book Sales: The organization's specially-designed wordless picture books are available for purchase by caregivers. Books can be bought through the organization's website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mikhulu Trust delivers early childhood development programmes through dialogic book-sharing using specially-designed, locally-illustrated wordless picture books. The trust trains facilitators and partner organisations to coach caregivers (parents, grandparents, fathers) in sharing these books with young children, supported by capacity building, research, and advocacy. Complementary offerings include the Time with Dad fatherhood programme and Parentline SA WhatsApp-based parenting support.

Product overview

Mikhulu Trust operates as a non-profit organisation offering a unified book-sharing programme as its core product, supported by multiple complementary services and products. The flagship offering is the Book-sharing Programme, which pairs specially-designed Wordless Picture Books (locally-illustrated and affordable) with facilitator training and caregiver education. Additional offerings include Parentline SA (WhatsApp-based parenting support), the Time with Dad fatherhood programme, Capacity Building training, Research initiatives, and Advocacy work. These products work together to achieve the organisation's mission of supporting parents to develop positive, nurturing relationships with their young children through evidence-based early childhood development interventions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Book-sharing Programme Flagship programme that teaches caregivers (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles) to share wordless picture books with young children through dialogic interaction, building nurturing parent-child relationships and improving child cognitive and socio-emotional development. Targeted at caregivers of young children (0-6 years) across South Africa.
• Wordless Picture Books Specially-designed, locally-illustrated wordless picture books that can be shared with young children by adults regardless of the adult's language or education levels. Illustrations feature South African community contexts. Available for purchase through the organisation's website.
• Time with Dad / Ixesha lam noTata (Fatherhood Programme) Specialised parenting programme for fathers developed from the original Book-sharing for Families initiative, in collaboration with UCT and Sonke Gender Justice, to encourage fathers to be more involved in their young children's lives.
• Parentline SA (WhatsApp Support) WhatsApp-based parenting support platform providing advice on parenting issues and challenges to parents of 0-6-year-old children, established by the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN), with Mikhulu Trust as a member organisation providing resources and referrals.
• Capacity Building / Facilitator Training Training programmes that build the capability of facilitators, community-based organisations, and caregivers to implement book-sharing effectively in various settings. Includes training-of-trainers for implementing partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research partnership with Brookings Institution's Centre for Universal Education among 16 global participants
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• UphakanyisominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 3 July 2025Registered non-profit in Masiphumelele near Fish Hoek, run by founder Athenkosi (Prince) Ntshentshe. Provides after-school homework assistance and supports book-sharing with 11 employees.
• Fathers Connect NPOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 May 2025Non-profit organization working on stronger families through book-sharing in collaboration with Mikhulu Trust.
• State of South African FathersminorOthers · 25 February 2025Partnership contributing to State of South African Fathers Report 2024.
• Amandla DevelopmentminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 29 January 2025Organization implementing book-sharing to empower young children through literacy.
• GCUminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 December 2024Literacy and sports non-profit in Heideveld, Cape Flats. Team trained in book-sharing to implement program with schools and parents in January 2025.
• Parentline SA (SAPPIN)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2024WhatsApp support platform for parents of 0-6 year olds established by South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network. Mikhulu Trust is a member organization providing parenting resources and referrals.
• Vector LogisticsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 May 2024Pilot workplace program where 13 fathers with children ages 1-2 received book-sharing training during work hours. Demonstrates corporate support for employee parenting programs.
• Centre for Universal Education at Brookings InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Research partnership to extend 'Conversation Starter Tools' into ECD for first time. Mikhulu is one of 16 global participants. Research conducted across 10 ECD centres with 484 families and 74 educators. Findings shared at Global Symposium in Washington D.C.
• Legacy Community DevelopmentminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 March 2023Organization in Kayamandi township teaching embroidery skills. Employee Zandile completed book-sharing training and shares lessons with children in community.
• Boost Africa / AftacoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 January 2023After school programme in Dunoon where book-sharing is integrated into reading support for children. Facilitator Sinetemba recruits parents from community.
• Sikhula SonkeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 May 2022Community organization in Khayelitsha. Partnership celebrated on Mandela Day with ECD activities and book-sharing introduction.
• Living HopecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 29 April 2022Faith-based community development organization based in Cape Town and East London. Living Hope has employed 11 facilitators to implement book-sharing, training 33 parents and caregivers. The partnership provides employment opportunities in high-unemployment communities.
• Inceba TrustcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 29 April 2022ECD organization supporting 139 centres across the Winelands with 9 mentors. Has embraced book-sharing as part of their parent engagement focus. Facilitators trained with one becoming a coach.
• Seven Passes InitiativecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 29 April 2022Violence prevention organization in George, Western Cape. Eight facilitators trained to implement book-sharing in rural communities, with two becoming coaches. Partnership links book-sharing to violence prevention outcomes.
• Denis Goldberg House of HopeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 29 April 2022Arts and culture education centre in Hout Bay focusing on Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg communities. Programme coordinator trained as facilitator to implement book-sharing with parents.
• Western Cape Department of HealthcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 29 April 2022Partnership to train Community Health Workers to deliver ECD support to mothers in their homes as part of the First 1000 Days initiative.
• Love to GiveminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 17 March 2022Organization running Sustainable Livelihoods programme that includes Mikhulu's book-sharing training for beneficiaries.
• Sonke Gender JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2022Gender justice organization working with fathers in Gugulethu. Partnership launched Book-sharing Fatherhood Project to investigate impact on father-child relationships and violence prevention. Sonke's Wellness Clinic serves as site for workshops.
• University of Cape Town (UCT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2022Research partnership with UCT Department of Psychology and Social Development. Professor Catherine Ward leads research on whether book-sharing impacts fathers' sensitive parenting and reduces violence risk in children.
• KidsHavenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 January 2022Organization supporting children in Gauteng to integrate back into society. Staff trained as facilitators to implement book-sharing with families.
• Book DashminorOthers · 21 February 2021Partner donating children's books for #MyStoryMyLanguage competition prize.
• African StorybookminorOthers · 21 February 2021Partner donating children's books for #MyStoryMyLanguage competition prize.
• BiblionefminorOthers · 21 February 2021Partner donating children's books for #MyStoryMyLanguage competition prize.
• City of Cape Town LibrariescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 June 2020Network of 102 public libraries. Eight librarians were trained online during COVID-19 lockdown to conduct book-sharing sessions. Libraries integrate book-sharing into 'A Thousand Stories Before School' campaign targeting pregnant mothers and young children.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Pratham Education Foundation: Large Indian non-profit running community-driven early-literacy and ECD programmes. Comparable in leveraging trained community volunteers to deliver caregiver-focused ECD interventions at scale, though operating in India.

Direct peers

• Book Dash: South African non-profit that creates free, openly-licensed children's storybooks for ages 0-5. Already a partner/donor to Mikhulu, but directly comparable as a creator of locally-illustrated early-childhood content distributed through partner organisations.
• African Storybook: Open-access platform of African-language children's stories for early literacy. Directly comparable as a free, locally-illustrated early-grade reading resource aimed at under-served language communities across sub-Saharan Africa.
• Nal'ibali: South African reading-for-enjoyment campaign that produces children's stories and trains literacy mentors across ECD centres and libraries. Direct comparable in mission, methodology (story-based caregiver engagement), partner-led GTM, and geographic focus on South Africa.
• SmartStart Social Franchise: South African ECD social enterprise that recruits, trains and supports low-income women to launch ECD playgroups. Comparable partner-led, training-of-trainers model targeting ECD access in under-served communities, though focused on centre-based rather than home-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Room to Read: Global literacy non-profit operating in 20+ countries with established early-childhood and primary literacy programmes. Comparable as a large-scale, evidence-based literacy intervention NGO, though broader geographic and programme scope than Mikhulu.
• Sesame Workshop: Global early-childhood development organisation producing educational content for young children in low-resource settings, including South Africa. Comparable mission and locally-adapted content model, though vastly larger and broader in scope.
• Reach Out and Read: US paediatric literacy programme that integrates book-sharing into well-child visits. Highly comparable methodology (training caregivers in dialogic book-sharing with young children) and partnership-based model, but operating in a different geography at much larger scale.

Others

• Sonke Gender Justice: South African gender-justice NGO running fatherhood and violence-prevention programmes, including the joint Book-sharing Fatherhood Project with Mikhulu. Comparable in father-engagement ECD work, though broader social-justice mandate.
• Biblionef South Africa: Non-profit that distributes free children's books to under-resourced children in South Africa. An existing donor/partner to Mikhulu, operating in the adjacent content-distribution layer of the ECD ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MikhuluTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mikhulu-trust

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mikhulu Trust