LENASIA SOUTH, SOUTH AFRICA — In the heart of Lenasia South, the poorest region in the city of Johannesburg, one early childhood center is proving that community-led education can raise the bar for safety, trust and developmental quality.
Wasalaam Nursery and Preschool was initially established in 1995 by a local couple. Today, it’s operated by the Lenasia South Muslim Association (LSMA).
Wasalaam has become a standout example of how grassroots leadership can reshape education, particularly in townships — historically disadvantaged residential areas initially created amid the racial segregation of Apartheid.
Why are we running a story on child care in South Africa? Source Media Properties is in the midst of a series examining child care in north central Ohio. The series title borrows from a famous African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” As part of this special project, we’ve partnered with journalists in South Africa to offer an international perspective on the importance of high quality child care and how communities are meeting that need. These stories will run daily from August 18 through 23.
“We found a niche for pre-school education with an Islamic ethos. There were no libraries or health facilities at the time, so we also filled an emotional and educational gap,” said board member, and former school principal, Mohamed Farouk Hassen.
Wasalaam didn’t just provide a place to leave children — it provided structured, holistic learning in a nurturing and spiritually aligned environment. Over the decades, the school has built a reputation as a positive deviant — thriving where others struggled.
Bringing high quality care to an underserved suburb
In the early 1990s, the early childhood development (ECD) landscape in Lenasia South was marked by unregulated, makeshift facilities. ECD centers operated without oversight — many in private homes or garages converted into daycares. Basic infrastructure and training were lacking. Children were left in overcrowded rooms without proper ventilation, toilets or first aid protocols. Few caregivers had formal qualifications. Critical issues like nutrition, hygiene and child safety were often overlooked.
Hassen said Wasalaam emerged to meet these gaps head-on. Initially serving a small group of families seeking a safe, value-aligned preschool environment, the school soon became known for delivering far more than basic care.
“From the outset, Wasalaam pursued formal registration with the Gauteng Department of Education, ensuring it met all required standards of operation,” Hassen said. “The center offers properly ventilated, age-appropriate classrooms, spacious outdoor play areas and child-sized toilets facilities rarely found in similar township-based centers.”
The center also set a precedent for administrative transparency. Attendance registers for staff and learners, formal pay slips and leave forms, incident reports, quarterly lesson plans and teacher supervision systems are all maintained meticulously.
A volunteer board of management drawn from the local community — including educators, legal experts, and health professionals — ensures compliance and strategic oversight.
The school’s curriculum blends a state kindergarten (known in South Africa as Grade R) curriculum with religious instruction, fostering both academic readiness and cultural roots. Although grounded in faith, the center is open to learners of all religious backgrounds, with a focus on inclusion and holistic development. Enrichment programs focused on technology, performing arts, tennis and gymnastics are bundled into tuition, offering families value without hidden costs.
“With 67 learners on board, parents trust us because we prioritise their children’s safety, education and spiritual development,” said the school principal, Aysha Wadiwala. “We’ve shown that high-quality early learning is not the preserve of wealthy suburbs.”
‘It was the perfect place to start their journey’
Wasalaam’s educators are all registered by the South African Council for Educators and certified in first aid. Classrooms and furniture are designed to match children’s developmental needs. The school is well maintained year-round and conflict resolution structures are in place to address any parent or staff concerns. Daily communication with parents is encouraged through newsletters and WhatsApp updates, ensuring transparency and engagement.
Although the center does not formally track alumni, feedback suggests that Wasalaam’s learners transition well into primary school — often outperforming peers in literacy, numeracy and emotional readiness. Graduates are noted for their confidence, discipline and strong sense of identity. Community pride in the school remains high, with frequent participation in school events and celebrations.
One parent, Nazeera Khan, said all her kids attended their early childhood development phase at the school.
“The environment that is provided by the teachers is loving, caring and the structure of their curriculum supports the learner in providing them with a strong foundation to walk into Grade 1 completely ready to face the foundation level at primary school,” she said.
Another pleased mum, Nthabiseng Phelani, said both her children attended Wasalaam and she could not be more grateful for the nurturing and supportive environment they experienced.
“It was the perfect place to start their journey,” she said.
Community, faith and professionalism are the building blocks of Wasalaam
The school’s model is not without its challenges. Despite meeting all compliance requirements, Wasalaam does not receive a government subsidy. This limits its ability to hire more staff, expand facilities or lower fees for families in greatest need. Space constraints prevent further growth and attracting skilled practitioners on limited salaries remains a hurdle.
Still, in a national context where over 60% of ECD centers are informal or under-resourced, Wasalaam’s sustained success offers important lessons.
Estimates suggest faith-based centers like Wasalaam make up 10 to 15% of South Africa’s 45,000 ECD facilities. But few operate at Wasalaam’s level of safety, professionalism and parental trust.
By embedding education within trusted cultural and faith networks, ensuring rigorous compliance and investing in strong infrastructure, ECD centers can dramatically improve outcomes for children and communities alike. Local partnerships, bundled tuition models and proactive parent communication are strategies that could be adapted in similar under-resourced areas.
Wasalaam Nursery and Preschool is more than a school — it’s a living, thriving solution to the early childhood care gap in greater Lenasia South. By blending professionalism, faith, community participation and care, it models how township-based preschools can be both high-quality and culturally rooted.
This story was written by Shirley Govender. Govender is a community media publisher and managing editor behind three independent, hyper-local community publications in the south of Johannesburg: Globe Post, Orange Farm News and Walkerville & Savanna City Times.