December 2025 Overview

Our Mission:

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.

At each toy library, Early Childhood Coaches offer weekly lesson planning, topical training workshops, and mentoring visits to help owners turn their daycares into preschools. Owners and their teachers love seeing children grow physically, emotionally, and relationally while learning through play.

Why Our Mission Matters:

~First grade predicts success in school and in life. 90% of brain development happens (or not) by age 5. Some deficits will never be overcome.

~ 80% of South African fourth graders cannot understand what they read and 40% cannot read at all. ASAP donors fund a phonics program children love.

Fall 2025 Fundraising Goal:  

We want to make available on an “earn to own” basis, 200 sets of 110 handmade, wooden blocks @ $100/set! Maria Nienaber, who heads up the Young Children’s Program at our partner NGO says, “Blocks are golden--the most developmentally valuable educational toy of all!” Preschools must own a block set because they are too bulky to borrow. But so far, only 10 of our 242 registered preschools have a set of blocks. Donors are changing that! 

ASAP Donors Have Funded 9 Toy Libraries Which Uplift:

11,807 children, 242 preschools, and 1,231 women!