Nomvula Catherine Kgoete and young learners at the Child First Day Care Centre in Ivory Park, Midrand.
Each day at Child First Day Care Centre in Ivory Park, Midrand, Nomvula Catherine Kgoete works with children at the start of their learning journeys.
For Kgoete, 57, her work is personal. As the founder and principal of the centre, she has built her role around a belief that young children need care, encouragement, and meaningful opportunities to learn long before they enter formal schooling.
“I have always loved working with children,” Kgoete said. “I wanted to be someone who could help them build a strong foundation for their future. Seeing a child learn something new, gain confidence, and grow is one of the most rewarding experiences.”
But passion alone did not always answer the practical questions she faced as an ECD practitioner and centre principal. Kgoete said she wanted to improve her approach to curriculum planning and teaching, and to offer children more consistent, stimulating learning experiences.
