Olga’s Playgroup : Danielskuil’s Promise

I am Olga Freeman, and I run a small playgroup in Danielskuil that has grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined.

My journey wasn’t always easy. I come from a small community where many women like me have dreams but few opportunities to turn them into something real. There were days when I wondered if what I was doing even mattered, days when I worked out of a shack that would flood when it rained. I had no proper toilets for the children, and not enough learning materials. Still, I showed up. I worked with what I had, because deep down I knew: if you give a child the right start, you give them a real chance in life.

That belief stayed with me, even through the hard times. It kept me going.

When I became part of the SmartStart network, everything changed. SmartStart trains and supports women like me to become early learning practitioners who give children aged 3 to 5 a strong foundation before they get to school. They gave me the tools, training, and support I needed to grow not just for the sake of my playgroup, but for the children, and for myself.

Now, I work from a proper container classroom. It’s clean, bright, safe, and filled with beautiful, effective learning materials. We have working toilets. We have structure. We have dignity. And the children? They love coming to school. You can see it in their faces, the excitement, the joy, the curiosity. That’s what fuels me.

I run the playgroup like a small business. Parents contribute fees, and we receive subsidies and stipends that help us keep going. The parents at my playgroup pay R100 a month, it might not sound like much, but it helps with small things that make a big difference. It also reminds me that I’m not alone.

Some of the children who come to me need more than just ABCs and songs. They need attention, patience, and someone to believe in them. I make sure I meet them where they are. I go the extra mile. I don’t want any child to be left behind because I know what it feels like when the world overlooks you.

Today, my playgroup is a feeder to several primary schools in Danielskuil. Parents see the change in their children in how they speak, how they play, how they think. One mother told me, “Our kids get so much love here, they never want to miss a day.”

That’s what makes me proud.

People might think I’m just running a small playgroup, but to me, this is a movement. This is about building futures. And I am not just doing it for the children, I’m doing it for every woman who feels like she’s not seen, who wants to make a difference but doesn’t know where to start.

I tell my story because someone out there needs to know that it is possible. That if you hold on, if you take that one step, the right kind of help can change everything.

Thanks to SmartStart and the support of the people in my community, I now have a life filled with purpose. I’m not just teaching children, I’m building something that matters. And I won’t stop, because I know there are still many little ones who need a safe, joyful place to begin their journey.