Who are we
As a result of the devastating impact of the Covid pandemic on the Early Childhood Sector in South Africa, the Sandton Fun Factory was established as a Not-for Profit Organization with Public Benefit status in 2022. Formerly known as Discovery Fun Factory, Discovery Health’s creche for its employees, the creche existed for 20 years before the outbreak of the pandemic.
Rising from the devastation left by the Covid Pandemic on the Early Childhood Sector in SA, the new Sandton Fun Factory was founded by Mariana Naude, Zaid Margroes and Fareed Chothia. Today the Fun Factory comprises of 31 well-qualified staff members and 14 world-class playrooms that serve the employees of the Sandton corporate sector as well as the wider Sandton precinct.
Our mission
Our mission is to harness the power of early childhood education by ensuring that all children at the Fun Factory, and beyond, benefit from early learning experiences that affirm their individual, family and community assets and strengthen their developmental potential.
Our primary goal is to support our children to holistically develop knowledge and skills that will ensure their optimal learning and development. We believe that our families, our pre-school, and the businesses in our community have complementary responsibilities in the critical task of educating this new generation and supporting the early childhood practices in South Africa to promote the well-being, care and education of all our children.
Directors of the Sandton Fun Factory
Mariana Naude
CEO
Zaid Margroes
Head of IR Discovery Health
Nkosi Tshabalala
Attorney EnsAfrica
Fareed Chothia
CFO Discovery Health
Prof. E. Atmore
CECD
The Sandton Fun Factory’s CEO, Mariana Naude, oversees daily activities and leads the Early Childhood Financial Literacy Program. With numerous publications on Early Childhood and Foundation Phase Education, Dr. Naude is pivotal to the program’s success. A dedicated board of directors, passionate about expanding the Centre’s initiatives, supports her efforts. They focus on ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability by growing current revenue streams, such as corporate partnerships, and pursuing new 5
funding opportunities through grant research and applications. Together, they drive the growth and impact of the Financial Literacy Program, benefiting early childhood education and development in the country.
Our Social Responsibility:
We are dedicated to unlocking the limitless potential of every child, irrespective of their socio-economic background. Our social responsibility is to create a brighter, more equitable future for all children in South Africa.
Our Social Commitment:
We believe that the foundation of a child’s future success begins in the early years. We are committed in supporting the South African Early Childhood sector to provide high-quality Early Childhood learning opportunities to children from underserved communities.
Our programs are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that children with different abilities, backgrounds, and circumstances have equal access to enriching learning experiences.
We understand that real change happens when communities are involved. We strive to support all Early Childhood facilities with whom we collaborate to actively engage with their families and the communities that surround them to create a supportive network that will foster every child’s holistic development.
We continuously strive for excellence in early childhood education and learning opportunities. We invest in research, training, and the use of innovative teaching methods to provide the best possible learning experiences for all Early Childhood children in South Africa.
We are driven by the principle of equity. We work to eliminate the barriers that limit access to quality early childhood experiences and learning resources. Our efforts are geared towards making these opportunities accessible to all, regardless of their economic circumstances. opportunities. We invest in research, training, and the use of innovative teaching methods to provide the best possible learning experiences for all Early Childhood children in South Africa.
By embracing these principles we aim to create a world where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed, regardless of their circumstances. Together, we can build a more just and prosperous future for all.