Grace Matlhape, CEO of SmartStart, discusses how South Africa is reimagining Early Childhood Education and Development through collaboration, evidence, and empathy. Through moving stories of transformation – from women finding purpose to children gaining access to opportunity – this conversation explores what’s possible when a society chooses to start early.

About the speaker: Grace Matlhape is the CEO of SmartStart NPC, an early learning social franchise in South Africa. She is involved in and responsible for developing strategies and leading SmartStart’s strategic implementation across the country.

Before joining SmartStart, she was the CEO of LoveLife, a large-scale, comprehensive national youth leadership development and risk reduction organisation in South Africa. She has extensive experience working in the social justice and development field in South Africa, with a particular interest in working with youth.

Additional resources:

• SmartStart South Africa's website: http://www.smartstart.org.za/
• SmartStart(ing) Early Childhood Development: https://societalthinking.org/blog/smartstarting-early-childhood-development/

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