As of July 2024, in three years you have changed the present and future of more than 9,591 children, 198 preschools and 1,075 women through our 8 educational toy library training centers.

ASAP is inspired by South Africa's first black and first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, who often said, "South Africa has three priorities: education, education, education.... Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

What is Adopt a South African Preschool's mission? ASAP funds the training and resources for preschool education, so that at-risk South African children can succeed in school and in life.

ASAP and our South African nonprofit partner called PEN:

Uplift informal childcare settings to function as safe, caring, and stimulating preschools.
Enable caregivers to borrow toys, activities, books and games. They are mentored in a curriculum and become teachers. School owners are also coached in business skills.
Establish ASAP-PEN Educational Toy Library Training Centers to resource 30 preschools.

Why create Toy Library Training Centers? Most South African children live in communities still impacted by the poverty, mindsets and legacy of apartheid which legally ended 30 years ago.

Many children grow up in single-mother households, not knowing their fathers. Someone must look after the children while their mothers work, look for work, or beg.

Often, as many as 30 children sit in front of a TV all day in the apartment of a woman who has taken them in to earn money. No preschool education is possible because the caregiver has neither training nor the toys, puzzles, books, games to learn through play. Government funding for preschools is very limited and qualified teachers are rare in impoverished areas. Few children in these communities get the stimulation needed for cognitive, physical, and social development. They will not do well in school.

In fact, by fourth grade, 80% of children in communities like those ASAP and PEN serve cannot comprehend what they read; 40% cannot read at all. This deficit is seldom overcome. Consequently, students drop out, become pregnant, remain unemployed, and often join gangs searching for self-esteem, power, diversion, and belonging. Our mission is to change that!

ASAP and our non-profit partner PEN honor Nelson Mandela's legacy by working to ensure that every South African child is enriched in their critical, young years. The joy of learning and gaining competence will serve them for life.

For more Information please visit our website or view the event flier. (Ignore the "team directive" on the Give Butter platform.)

Take Action!

$15 Funds two educational toys, games, puzzles, puppets, or books.
$75 Funds one Play and Learn (PAL) Kit of curriculum-aligned toys for preschools to borrow.
$150 Funds PEN's Incentive Points Store which rewards owners as their schools make progress.***
$300 Funds one Play and Learn (PAL) Kit of 30 musical instruments.
$4,500 Funds seed money for a an early childhood development coach's annual salary.
$6,000 Funds a new Educational Toy Library Training Center to support the first 10 preschools.
$3,000 Funds an additional 10 preschools (max for a center is 30 schools.)
***Incentive Store Details: Points buy dolls, large soup pots, buckets, mops, carpet pieces, and essential items which are too difficult or costly for preschool owners to buy. ASAP and PEN, reward attendance at trainings, and initiative rather than dependency.

Please share your excitement about ASAP's impact with your family, friends, and associates.

If you are local, please come to our July 21, 2024 Nelson Mandela International Day Celebration co-sponsored by ASAP and United Christian Church, 8525 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19054.

10:30 Worship with message about the "Be a Nelson Movement" (optional)

12:00-1:30 Lunch, and stories about South Africa and ASAP's mission from our April tour.

Nelson Mandela July Birthday Campaign!

By Adopt A South African Preschool

Nelson Mandela July Birthday Campaign!

Welcome to our annual giving campaign honoring Nelson Mandela's birthday and legacy!