Our Voice, our future, Stories of hope to bring change

Our Voice, Our Future is a podcast powered by Breadline Africa that explores the challenges and opportunities shaping children’s lives in South Africa and beyond.

From early childhood development to literacy, sanitation, economics, and innovation, each episode amplifies voices from communities, changemakers, and thought leaders who share stories of urgency, resilience, and hope.

Season 1 brings six diverse conversations, from the pit toilet crisis to the power of books, from daring to dream to reimagining early learning, showing how local struggles connect to global futures.

This retrospective looks back on our journey through Season 1. Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, NGO leader, or someone who simply cares about children and equity, this podcast invites you to listen, reflect, and imagine together.

What happens when early childhood development meets entrepreneurial innovation?

In this powerful episode, Marli Hoffman joins us to explore how social enterprise models are transforming pre-schools into sustainable, women-led businesses that uplift entire communities. Drawing on her experience as co-owner of Little Ashford Pre-school and as a leader in educational innovation, Marli shares how she introduced tablet-based learning into classrooms, scaled its impact in underserved communities and reimagined what a pre-school can be.

Hosted by Kelsley Sharpley from Masicorp, this conversation explores how technology, infrastructure and enterprise can significantly impact outcomes for children, families and educators, particularly in low-income settings.

In this episode, Marli Hoffman unpacks:

The moment she realised pre-schools could be micro-enterprises

Her journey integrating technology into early learning

How ECD centres can drive education and economic empowerment

Why women’s leadership is key to thriving ECD ecosystems

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Marli Hoffman’s TEDx Talk – Preschoolers and Technology

https://www.amicorpcommunityfoundation.org/

GROW Educare Centres

SmartStart SA

Masicorp Education Projects

Breadline Africa

If you believe in building a future where quality early learning is powered by local leadership, share this episode and join the conversation.

#OurVoiceOurFuture #MarliHoffman #EarlyLearning #SocialEnterprise #ECD #BreadlineAfrica #Masicorp #PreschoolInnovation

Enterprise
Hosted by: Kelsley Sharpley (Masicorp Education Centre)
Guest: Marli Hoffman (Education Innovator & TEDx Speaker)

What if preschools weren’t just places of care, but dynamic micro-enterprises that uplift whole communities?

In this episode, we sit down with Marli Hoffman, early learning pioneer and advocate for tech-enabled education, to explore how social enterprise models are shifting the early childhood development (ECD) sector from surviving to thriving.

From the digital classrooms of Little Ashford to scalable models like GROW Educare and SmartStart, we dive into how women-led ECD centres are building sustainable, high-quality learning spaces while empowering educators and families.

Hosted by Kelsley Sharpley of Masicorp, this conversation bridges community infrastructure, women’s leadership, digital inclusion, and the future of ECD in South Africa.

Episode coming soon

What does a national budget have to do with a four-year-old’s chance to thrive?

In this compelling episode of Our Voice, Our Future, we explore how decisions made in government, treasury departments, and corporate boardrooms directly shape the lives and futures of South Africa’s youngest citizens.

Only 45% of children aged 3–5 are enrolled in early learning programmes. One in four children under five is stunted due to chronic malnutrition. And 81% of Grade 4 learners are unable to read for meaning in any language.

These aren’t just statistics – they’re signs of a system that fails to recognise early childhood development (ECD) as a vital public investment. Too often, children remain invisible in economic models, development strategies, and budget allocations.

We’re joined by Kelly Morkel, a social policy expert and advocate for child-focused governance, to examine how ESG frameworks, SDG 4 (Quality Education), and long-term planning can – and must – centre children in public investment.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Why children are excluded from mainstream economic thinking

- The long-term social and economic cost of underfunding ECD

- How ESG and SDG 4 can reshape national priorities

- What role must government, business and civil society play

Be part of the movement to prioritise children in economic recovery and national planning because the cost of the future should never be paid by those with the least power to shape it.

#OurVoiceOurFuture #ECDMatters #BudgetForChildren #BreadlineAfrica

What does it truly mean to “dare to dream”? In this inspiring episode of Our voice, our future, we speak with Greg Bertish, heart surgery survivor, adventurer, author of The Little Optimist children’s books and founder of The Little Optimist Trust.

Greg’s story is a remarkable journey of resilience, imagination and purpose. From spending nearly 200 days in hospital battling a life-threatening illness, to sailing over 200km in a tiny Optimist dinghy to raise funds and inspire children in need, his life is a testament to the power of hope and determination.

We explore how his love for the ocean helped him heal, how his experiences shaped a much-loved children’s book series and how The Little Optimist Trust is bringing optimism, sailing therapy and educational support to under-resourced schools and hospitals across South Africa.

If you believe in the power of stories, imagination and possibility, this episode is for you.

Find out more about Greg’s work: www.thelittleoptimist.org

Support Breadline Africa’s mission: www.breadlineafrica.org

What does it truly mean to “dare to dream”? In this inspiring episode of Our Voice, Our Future, we speak with Greg Bertish – heart surgery survivor, adventurer, author of The Little Optimist children’s books, and founder of The Little Optimist Trust.

Full episode live next week

In this episode of Our voice, our future, powered by Breadline Africa, we explore the transformative power of literacy in shaping young lives and communities.

With 82% of South African grade four students unable to read for meaning, access to books and literacy programmes is more critical than ever.

Join us as we speak with Derek Carelse from The Little Issue, a groundbreaking initiative providing free, curriculum-aligned reading material to young learners across South Africa. We also hear from Dorette Louw from Book Dash, a non-profit dedicated to making high-quality, diverse children’s books freely available to under-resourced communities.

Every child deserves the right to read, to learn and to dream.

Credits:

Production: Creafluence Pty Ltd

Music: Pixabay_music

Images: Canva

Reference Articles:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/02/04/south-africa-afe-transforming-the-basic-education-sector-can-drive-inclusive-growth

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/learning-south-africa-evolving-education-landscape

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/02/south-africa-broken-and-unequal-education-perpetuating-poverty-and-inequality/

https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/south-africa-education-leading-trends-changing-learning-landscape

https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/371/237029.html

https://www.enca.com/analysis/over-80-10-year-old-south-africans-battle-read-study

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR7NW2jBldY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPgjx0TT4Wg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmUdvTQRbvQ

Podcast Description: Our Voice, Our Future – Episode 3: The Power of Literacy**

In this episode of Our Voice, Our Future, powered by Breadline Africa, we explore the transformative power of literacy in shaping young lives and communities. With 78% of South African Grade 4 learners unable to read for meaning, access to books and literacy programs is more critical than ever.

Join us as we speak with Derek Carelse from The Little Issue, a groundbreaking initiative providing free, curriculum-aligned reading material to young learners across South Africa. We also hear from Dorette Louw from Book Dash, a non-profit dedicated to making high-quality, diverse children’s books freely available to underprivileged communities.

Tune in as we discuss the barriers to literacy, the role of community-driven initiatives, and how innovative publishing models are helping to close the literacy gap.

#LiteracyForAll #OurVoiceOurFuture

Thousands of South African schools still rely on unsafe pit toilets, putting children’s lives at risk every day. Despite promises of change, this crisis continues to impact education, health, and dignity.

In this episode, our host, Arafat Gatabazi, speaks with Brian Lewis, Director at Envirosan Sanitation Solutions, to explore:

* The reality of sanitation in South African schools

* The devastating effects of unsafe toilets on children’s safety and education

* How organisations like Breadline Africa and WaterAid SA are making a difference

* How you can take action to push for change

Take Action:

📍 Report unsafe school toilets: Safe Schools App


📢 Advocate for policy change


🤝 Support NGOs like Breadline Africa

Every child deserves a safe, dignified learning environment.

#SafeSchools #EndPitToilets #SanitationForAll #BreadlineAfrica

Credits:

Production: Creafluence PTY LTD

Video:

* YouTube Video 1

* YouTube Video 2

Music: Pixabay.com

Reference Links:

* Breadline Africa – Toilet Crisis

* GroundUp’s article

* BBC News – South Africa

* Amnesty International

* UNICEF

* UNICEF WASH Programmes

* WaterAid South Africa

* SA News – Pit Toilets Eradication

* Business Live – Sanitation & Education

If the old adage is true, “If we change the beginning of the story, we change the whole story, " a lot needs to be done to address Africa's nurturing care deficit and ensure that the future of children on the African continent is bright. The Nurturing Care Framework is a global strategy designed to ensure that every child has the chance to survive, grow, and reach their full potential. But despite this clear understanding, millions of children in Africa face significant barriers that prevent them from thriving.

To explore this complex issue, we're joined today by Patricia Martin-Wiesner a policy, organisational development, advocacy, and system’s strengthening expert specialising in rights-based governance to build human capital for sustainable development.

Discover how we can work together to bridge this critical gap and secure a brighter future for Africa’s children.

Credits

Produced by Creafluence PTY LTD

Video clips:

-UNICEF Report | 23% of children in SA live in severe food poverty: Toby Fricker

https://youtu.be/Ug2_PGhtcBs?si=AVxnlAjq72ozctCv

-COP29 | Children across the globe hit by climate crisis

https://youtu.be/AqxK_icf6eo?si=xDdcN2gYUeD23lmd

·-Nurturing Care Program in Siaya - Part One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EThtiAXnbXU

Music:

Licensor's Username:

https://pixabay.com/users/good_b_music-22836301/

Licensee:

u_ru7kovq3qd

Audio File Title:

Cinematic Chillhop Main

Audio File URL

https://pixabay.com/music/beats-cinematic-chillhop-main-6676/

Pictures:

Pictures are licensed by Pixabay

Child face africa by Manuela Milani

Group Children Boy, education by Ean254 (Ian Ingalula)

Black and White Boy by Wendy Corniquet