Adopt a South African Preschool (ASAP) creates and maintains Libraries of Educational Toys in impoverished communities where most children languish in overcrowded, informal daycares with no toys or stimulation.

A daily “brain boost” of nutritious food is now being distributed to 900 children in preschools registered at the toy library training hub in Senekal, Free State.

Can you believe this plain container will become a beautiful toy library?! After months of searching, the ideal location was found for a second Soweto toy library on the grounds of an Anglican Church. The toy library will be across the street from where a 1976 student-led uprising against apartheid education policies led to the tragic massacre of 157 children. Before, during, and after photos on this homepage will tell the exciting, unfolding story of ASAP’s ninth toy library!

Laughter, joy and anticipation filled the air as preschool owners from ASAP’s Educational Toy Libraries gathered for their annual, end of the year celebration. South Africans across the board love parties—decorations, music, great food, dancing…!

You can be one of the lucky 12 who will have a wonderful July 31-August 14 tour of South Africa. Dr. Kevin Dean is an ASAP board member who led our 2024 tour featured in the photo.

ASAP’s September yard sale was the official kickoff of the Fall campaign to fund 200+ sets of 110 handmade, wooden blocks to help children gain the foundation to succeed in school, and in life!

ASAP not only establishes libraries of educational toys. Our South Africa team headed by Marlese Nel, pictured here, takes stock annually of our soon-to-be 9 libraries.

In a world where technology is quickly evolving and shaping the ways we work, learn, and connect, our ASAP-PEN preschool coaches working in impoverished South African communities are delighted to benefit from innovative tools.

The preschool coaches at the Johannesburg hub were delighted by Marlese’s visit for the Toy Library training in August 2025.

Can Learning Through Play Really Be the Key to Success in Life? by Maria Nienaber, who directs ASAP’s partner-NGO “Young Children’s Program.”

Did you, or your children, or your grandchildren, enjoy building roads, towers, and cities with wooden blocks?

ASAP’s fall campaign aims to fund 200+ sets of 100 handmade wooden blocks which last forever. Preschools can “earn to own” these blocks which are the most valuable resource for learning through play.

ASAP Yard Sale Extravaganza! Saturday, Sept. 6th: Donate things, Buy things, Win things!

ASAP Honored Nelson Mandela’s Birthday and Legacy at United Christian Church in Levittown on July 20th, 2025.

How does the ASAP-PEN model turn babysitters into preschool teachers? Seeing is believing, in this short video!

Boys and girls develop fine motor skills, imagination, and empathy while playing with ASAP-supplied dolls clothed in beautiful outfits made by volunteers from churches and retirement communities.

Owners and staff of preschools registered at ASAP’s first six Educational Toy Libraries were recently trained to “make math fun” for 4-6 year-olds.

Faculty and students from the University of Pretoria’s Department of Early Childhood Education are assessing the impact of the PEN/ASAP model. PEN’s staff of 23 coaches mentor daycare owners as they turn their settings into preschools.

The ASAP board received photos from PEN’s preschool coaches to celebrate our fifth birthday on Valentine’s Day.

This Valentine’s Day marks the fifth birthday of Adopt a South African Preschool (ASAP), a Yardley-based nonprofit which makes early childhood education accessible in disadvantaged South African communities.

Linda McGowan (right) and Evette Pettaway (left) are engaged in high finance at Executive Director Nancy Schongalla’s dining room table.