June is Youth Month in South Africa. It’s a time to reflect on the country’s youth unemployment crisis and spotlight the young people carving out purpose-driven careers against the odds. At just 25 years old, Thandiwe Mahlangu is doing just that. As the founder and principal of Bright Futures Learning Center in Brakpan, she’s not only helping children thrive, she’s also shaping her own future, building a vibrant business through determination, creativity and deep community commitment.

A quote on her office wall reads, “The Future of the World is in This Room.” It’s more than decoration, it’s a daily reminder of the responsibility she carries, not only as a young person, but as an early learning practitioner and the vision she has for her pupils. She sees herself in that future too, and so do we. As a young ECD owner shaping young lives, she says: “I don’t live for myself. I live for that future too. I realise I have a reputation to uphold.”

A Path Paved by Passion and Grit

Thandiwe’s journey into early childhood development (ECD) began at her mother’s daycare centre. But when she wasn’t offered a salary, she decided to strike out on her own. “I applied for many jobs but there was no work,” she explains. “So, I knew I had to start something myself.”

“There was a space in my area that I saw potential in. I approached the councillor and asked to use it. They didn’t help with anything else,” she recalls. “I did everything myself, the cleaning, the painting. Everything you see now.”

Building Bright Futures

Bright Futures Learning Center opened its doors just 11 months ago. What began with 15 children has grown to 30, aged one to four. The centre offers full-day care, including aftercare and babysitting, and provides breakfast, lunch and a snack, an essential support for working parents. Thandiwe leads a dedicated team of four: herself as principal, two young teachers and a caretaker.

The infrastructure includes a classroom, kitchen, toilets for children and adults and a safe, enclosed outdoor play area. Outings and themed days like Sports Day and Pool Day bring additional joy and stimulation. It’s more than childcare; it’s a space for growth, learning and exploration.

The name Bright Futures was chosen with intention. “I saw how kids transformed in just a few months,” she says. “They were learning, growing and doing things I had taught them. My work speaks for itself.”

Running the centre, however, is not without its challenges. Thandiwe charges R500 per child per month, a price designed to remain accessible to parents in her community. Of that, about R120 goes to food and R300 to operating costs like teacher salaries, electricity and transport. After covering expenses, she’s left with a monthly income well below the national minimum wage. This financial pressure is one of the reasons she’s had to get creative to make ends meet.

A Side Hustle That Reflects a Bigger Mission

Alongside running her centre, Thandiwe manages a kids’ events side-hustle, organising jumping castles and face-painting for local parties. “There are no parks in my area,” she says. “So, I try to accommodate all kids, not just those at my daycare.” Like many young South Africans navigating limited job opportunities, her entrepreneurial spirit is born as much from necessity as ambition.

Energy, Innovation and Leadership

For Thandiwe, being young in the ECD sector is not a disadvantage, it’s an asset. “In less than a year, I have 30 kids and more who want to join. The challenge is on,” she laughs. “All it takes is passion and energy.”

She says her age helps her connect with both children and parents. As a young mother herself, she understands caregivers’ concerns and uses one-on-one check-ins to help them better support their children’s development.

She also brings fresh thinking to the classroom. “Before, kids just played with toys. I brought in activities that build their skills beyond the classroom. I bring energy into learning.”

Learning Through IMBE’s Accelerator Programme

Thandiwe discovered IMBE on Facebook. “I saw that they were helping other creches. At one of them I saw a jungle gym, and I really wanted one too,” she recalls. “So I tried my luck and applied to the Accelerator Programme.”

Launched in 2021, IMBE’s Accelerator Programme is a structured, 12- to 18-month journey that combines learning, coaching and infrastructure support to help ECD business owners strengthen their financial sustainability and improve early learning outcomes in their communities.

Since being accepted to the programme in December, Thandiwe has attended a Growth Day workshop and completed her onboarding for Financial Record-Keeping, where she receives practical tips and tricks to improve her financial reporting based on her individual needs. She’s now preparing for her upcoming infrastructure site assessment, a check-in to assess infrastructure needs and provide tailored guidance.  The assessment will help her work towards registration by reviewing her infrastructure against the Department of Basic Education’s guidelines.

The programme is already making a difference. Thandiwe has learned how to manage her finances, recruit more parents and use social media to promote her centre. “It’s really built my confidence. Other centres saw my posts and got inspired, they asked where I learned everything. I told them about IMBE.” Some have even invited her to share her insights in person. “Other daycare centres want to host me and teach them what I’ve learned,” she says proudly.

Investing in Youth, Investing in Futures

Thandiwe dreams of expanding to a larger, owned space where she can accommodate more children and eventually grow into a full school. “Right now, the space limits me,” she says. “But I’m not done yet.”

Her message to other young South Africans? “Start small, be patient. Good things take time. Know what you want, study it and just start,” adding that self-development is key. “You learn along the way, I am still learning”.

Thandiwe also calls for greater support: “We need funding, learning materials, toys, qualified teachers. We want to offer quality but that takes help.”

One of the most important levers for support is the government ECD subsidy. Registered centres can receive R24 per child per day, a game-changing contribution for small businesses like Thandiwe’s, which operate on tight margins and unsustainable livelihoods. While she isn’t yet registered, unlocking this subsidy would allow her to cover core costs and earn a more sustainable income.

Thandiwe’s story is a powerful reminder that South Africa’s future depends on investing in its young entrepreneurs. Talent and drive alone aren’t enough, young leaders like Thandiwe need help, and the ECD ecosystem can play a crucial role in providing it. By unlocking their full potential, we can inspire a new generation to see early learning as a space of opportunity and impact. At IMBE, we’re proud to be part of that ecosystem, supporting young entrepreneurs to grow, lead and thrive. With the right tools, training and trust, they are more than capable of building businesses, communities and bright futures.