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Planting Seeds, Growing Futures: How Ma Kekana is Nurturing the Next Generation of ECD Leaders
In the heart of Johannesburg’s Cosmo City, a diverse mixed-income community, one woman has become a quiet force for transformation. Rasenkele Naomi Kekana, affectionately known as Ma Kekana, has spent over a decade running Little Ducks Day Care Centre, building it into a trusted, financially sustainable business that meets community needs. But her legacy extends far beyond her own walls.
In a sector often driven by competition, Ma Kekana has chosen a different path, one grounded in generosity, mentorship, and collaboration. She believes that when one woman rises, she has a responsibility to lift others with her, by sharing knowledge, creating opportunities, and building a strong, supportive network.
Her Journey from Practitioner to Mentor
Her story is one of determination and vision. She left school in Grade 8 but later returned to complete her matric, going on to earn a degree in teaching. In 2014, she opened Little Ducks without sponsors, relying on the trust and support of parents from her church community.
Over the years, she has faced challenges that would have closed many businesses, yet she persevered, driven by her belief in the value of early childhood development (ECD) and the strong relationships she had built with other women-run ECDs and parents.
“I’ve learned to work with people, to know the children, to connect with the parents, to be part of their lives,” she says. “When I see these kids, I see my own children.”
Her dedication turned Little Ducks into a cornerstone of quality early learning in Cosmo City, and eventually, into a platform for mentoring other women to run strong, sustainable ECD businesses that balance educational quality with financial viability.
Sisterhood in Action
Ma Kekana’s journey into mentorship began around five years ago, when she realised her experience could strengthen the delivery of ECD in Cosmo City.
“There were many younger women who wanted to start centres but didn’t know where to begin,” she recalls. “If we could guide them, we could strengthen our whole community.”
When she was starting out, she visited other women-led ECDs daily to observe, ask questions, and apply what she learned. Her generosity is rooted in this experience: “I gained knowledge from other crèches,” she says. “Why should I be greedy with it?”
One of the women she has mentored is Stacey Liebenberg. Their paths crossed when Stacey, raising her sister’s baby, was advised by a friend to visit Little Ducks. She was struck by Ma Kekana’s professionalism and warmth. Unemployed at the time, Stacey began to see ECD as a business opportunity that could also make a difference in children’s lives.
Ma Kekana shared strategies from her own operations, and connected Stacey to ECD forums, workshops, and training. She also helped her gain her ECD Practitioner certificate, opening the door to formal recognition and growth in her career.
“I am proud of those I’ve mentored. Mentorship for me is seeing that at least there is a seed that I’ve planted. By seeing them running their own crèches and that they’ve got kids, I know I did well,” she notes.
Passing On Practical Knowledge
For Ma Kekana, mentorship isn’t just about inspiration, it’s about equipping women with practical business skills to run ECDs as thriving enterprises that also deliver quality learning. She distils years of experience into actionable business principles that any ECD owner can apply:
Stacey applied these principles to grow her own ECD, Pride and Joy Day Care Centre, which she opened in 2022 with just 3 children. From holding confident parent meetings and maintaining steady enrolment, to hosting events that boost her centre’s visibility and credibility in the community, she has built strong foundations for growth. Today, she serves 42 children and has built the financial independence she once only dreamed of. It was this drive to continually strive for learning and improvement that Ma Kekana instilled in her that inspired her to join the IMBE accelerator programme this year.
“I basically ran my business through her teachings,” Stacey says. “Even small things, like offering a sibling discount, came from her advice. And more than that, I learned respect, love, and perseverance from watching her work.”
Why Collaboration Matters
In the ECD sector, where enrolment numbers are often seen as the ultimate measure of success, competition can easily overshadow collaboration. But Ma Kekana believes that supporting other centres ultimately strengthens the whole sector. In her view, when another ECD thrives, it benefits the entire community by ensuring more children receive quality care.
Her collaborative approach has brought tangible benefits: shared referrals, pooled resources, and a stronger collective voice when advocating for practitioner needs. Stacey agrees: “If we shared our burdens and met regularly to talk through problems, we could find solutions together. And for those of us who are still new, having experienced women guide us means we avoid mistakes and grow faster.”
Ma Kekana dreams of an ECD sector where collaboration is the norm, not the exception, where women have access to mentorship, training, and resources to run sustainable businesses while keeping fees affordable for parents. She wishes more people understood that early childhood development is not babysitting, but foundational work shaping South Africa’s future workforce, leaders, and citizens.
A Tribute to Women Who Uplift
Ma Kekana’s story reminds us that leadership isn’t only measured by personal success, but by how much you invest in others along the way. In Cosmo City, her influence is seen not only in Little Ducks Day Care Centre, but in the ripple effect of women like Stacey who are now running their own ECDs with confidence, care, and a sound business foundation.
At IMBE, we are committed to empowering women entrepreneurs to serve their communities while building sustainable incomes. Our Accelerator Programme supports small, women-owned ECD businesses in peri-urban and rural areas across seven provinces. Like Ma Kekana, our goal is to equip women with the skills to thrive, offering guidance on budgeting and cash flow management, strategies to boost enrolment and diversify income, tools to streamline administration, and training to strengthen operational systems. Over 12 to 18 months, participants gain the skills to run their ECDs as sustainable enterprises, boosting their confidence as entrepreneurs while enhancing the quality of care and learning they provide. Because when we empower women like Ma Kekana and Stacey, we help create stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a stronger future for every child they serve.
