Following a year of intensive foundational preparation, Strand-based NPO Smiling Child has reached a major milestone in its mission to break the cycle of poverty through education.
As the 2026 academic year commenced, the organisation has successfully transitioned the majority of its inaugural group of learners into the government-school system.
Founded in February last year, Smiling Child began its journey with 30 learners aged eight to 15 who had previously been excluded from the traditional schooling system. While three learners required intervention from social workers as a result of disruptive behaviour, the organisation saw 27 learners through to the end of its first year.
In a significant victory for the community, 24 of those 27 learners have now been placed in government schools for the current academic year. This achievement was made possible through a close partnership with the provincial education department and the social services organisation Badisa, which assisted with late registrations to ensure no child was left behind.
One of the most complex hurdles in this transition has been the age-grade disparity. Many of the children, despite being between nine and 14 years old, possessed only a Grade R level of literacy and numeracy when they arrived at Smiling Child.
Sharon Engelbrecht, founder of Smiling Child, noted the bittersweet reality of these placements: “Rusthof Primary School had to put the older children in the correct grade for their ages. This is very sad for us, because a Grade R education is not the equivalent of a Grade 3, 4 or 5 education. However, we know a government education is their future and a matric certificate opens doors to employment.”
But Engelbrecht remains optimistic, citing the “excellent standards and dedicated teachers” at Rusthof Primary committed to helping them catch up.
To combat the potential stigma of being behind, volunteers have worked to build excitement about the dignity of “going to a real school”. The children were provided with brand-new school uniforms, shoes and stationery, thanks to donations from the community.
Engelbrecht continues to ensure the routines established in 2025 stick. In the early days she frequently visited homes to fetch children who missed classes.
“I am still travelling into the same communities to fetch our new learners if they do not arrive every day,” she said, emphasising that attendance is necessary to change the youth’s trajectory.
Smiling Child’s impact has caught the attention of local leadership, with Ward 83’s Heinrich Bredenkamp of the DA and representatives of Ward 85, coming forward to support to the NPO when it faced challenges.
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