Breadline Africa

• The Vision of Breadline Africa is to be the organisation that has the greatest impact on early learning through infrastructure and partnerships. 
• Our Mission is to create innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions through collaboration and partnerships. We enable quality education to stimulate young minds and bring about lasting positive change.  

At Breadline Africa, we are dedicated to transforming young minds and envisioning a brighter tomorrow for all. Since 1993, Breadline Africa has been on a mission to transform the lives of children across South Africa, one innovative initiative at a time. Our journey began with a simple yet powerful idea: to provide infrastructure and support to resource-poor communities, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. For over 30 years, we've been committed to this vision, driven by the belief that every child possesses the potential to do something extraordinary with their life. We've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education and early childhood development, and we're dedicated to unlocking the imaginations of young minds, paving the way for a brighter future. Through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts, we've converted more than 1,300 facilities into safe, nurturing spaces for learning and growth. These spaces have become more than just classrooms; they're hubs of innovation, creativity, and possibility, where children can explore, learn, and dream without limits.

Lene Øverland: Breadline Africa’s Chief Operations Officer and member of the executive team has more than 20 years of leadership in public and private health, education, gender, advocacy and communications across Africa, with a strong focus on governance, strategic planning, impactful programmes and strategic partnership-building. Her thematic areas of expertise include universal healthcare, early learning, women's leadership, sexual and reproductive rights and health, resource mobilisation and effective communication.

Her role includes the development of strategic plans, aligning educational infrastructure to national priorities and overseeing their implementation.

Overseeing key performance areas for the marketing, strategic partnerships, impact and infrastructure departments, her role is to monitor their implementation and take corrective action, if required. Further, it is her task to maintain understanding of business operations and the impact of educational infrastructure on children's early learning.

Additionally, it is her responsibility to boost trust within diverse communities including educators, policy makers, staff, board directors and financiers to position the organisation for long-term financial sustainability.

For the past year, and for 2024 and 2025, impact work is and continues to be the primary priority of Breadline Africa, with the project lead, the Chief Operations Officer, devoting 20% of her time to this important aspect of the organisation’s work.

Additionally, Breadline Africa employs two people, Nyaradzo Mutanha, a MERL Specialist and Nonjabulo Mtwa, the organisation’s Impact Manager, for whom understanding the impact of Breadline Africa’s interventions is a priority.

2024 activities working towards the impact goals include:

• Completing baseline assessments: 10 impact pilot projects to start the work to qualify and quantifying the impact of educational infrastructure on children – including the pit toilet replacement campaign schools
• Guiding new projects through monitoring and evaluation processes
• Implementing a phased design and implementation approach, including advocacy, with partners involved in the 10 impact pilots

To better understand the impact of Breadline Africa’s work, in 2023, a South African impact analysis organisation was appointed to support the development an impact report by analysing implementation data for the previous two years.

Following the development of a Theory of Change, an Impact Management Framework was created to support the management and measurement of the organisation's proposed outcomes.

As part of this process, indicators were selected to measure the contribution of programmes. Qualitative indicators made use of thematic analysis to gain insight into children’s experiences of educational outings. Further qualitative data has been collected through interviews with parents and principals. Quantitative indicators made use of baseline data collected through the application process, as well as data collected following the provision of infrastructure.

This report has formed the foundation of this process but is only the start of a journey that will take several years to reach fruition and would be greatly assisted by the resources and knowledge repository that the LEAP Challenge would make possible.

Breadline Africa provides safe, cost-effective educational infrastructure, empowering children, teachers, and caregivers in under-resourced communities.

Only 30% of SA's children under the age of six attend a pre-school – of which only 45% are school-ready. Many schools across South Africa are overcrowded, unsafe and susceptible to adverse weather conditions. Breadline Africa’s goal is to change this status quo by assessing needs and building either full pre-schools or classrooms, toilet facilities and kitchens. These structures also assist sites in obtaining government subsidies, which are critical for sustainability. 

The recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study report shows that 82% of South African children can’t read for meaning by the age of 10. 

Breadline Africa constructs libraries in primary schools, nurturing a love for reading and creativity, all while providing a haven from the distractions and pressures of the external world. Fully functional kitchens are also placed in schools to support feeding programmes. In 2021, Breadline Africa began implementing alternative environmentally friendly infrastructure options, including biomass/carbon neutral solutions. 

These structures further contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The tragic death of another child in a pit toilet in 2023 triggered the Pit Toilet Campaign, with the goal of replacing 4,000 unsafe pit toilets in 240 schools, benefitting 120,000 children. Unsafe pit toilets in South Africa stem from social, economic, and infrastructural factors, including high levels of poverty and inequality in affected communities resulting in limited access to proper sanitation due to socioeconomic disparities and insufficient government intervention; Poor planning and coordination contribute to unsafe pit toilets, with inadequate assessments, insufficient long-term planning, and lack of maintenance leading to deterioration and unhygienic conditions. 

Many of the pit toilet structures were built many years ago, without foundations and have been known to collapse and kill children; Limited resources and funding allocated to underprivileged areas lead to the construction and ongoing use of unsafe pit toilets; Acceptance and prevalence of pit toilets can be influenced by cultural and social norms, with insufficient awareness of associated health risks hindering demands for improvements. 

Breadline Africa works with pre- and primary schools in South Africa that are also supported by other resource and training partners. In this way, the organisation can leverage teaching and learning resources, nutritional, training, literacy leadership support and mentoring for these organisations, thereby building their long-term sustainability. 

There are five key groups among partners, providing varying elements of support:

•Pre-school support: for infrastructure, mentoring, training, resources and feeding, with the goal of obtaining government registration.

• Nutritional support at pre-and primary schools: for infrastructure and feeding.

• School library support: for infrastructure.

• School literacy support: for infrastructure, access to books, training and resources.

• School leadership and management support.

Breadline Africa offers a range of solutions designed to create safe, nurturing, and sustainable learning environments for children in South Africa. Our diverse unit types, from prefabricated units to converted shipping containers, are adaptable and resilient, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

• Classroom solutions provide spacious learning environments that replace unsafe shack structures, ensuring regulation of extreme temperatures for year-round comfort and ample space for diverse teaching methods. Separate learning spaces cater to different age groups, fostering tailored education.
• Kitchen solutions ensure safe food preparation, facilitating school feeding programs and adherence to health and safety standards. This not only supports children's health and development but also enhances overall school efficiency.
• Toilet solutions address basic sanitation needs, providing safe and hygienic facilities to prevent the spread of diseases and promote dignity and positive learning outcomes among children and staff.
• Library solutions foster a lifelong passion for learning and literacy by providing access to a variety of age-appropriate storybooks, creating spaces that nurture a love for reading and offer a peaceful environment away from daily stresses.
• Office/sickbay solutions enable efficient administrative duties and provide a dedicated space for attending to the health needs of children, promoting their well-being and safety while contributing to preschool sustainability.
• Combo unit solutions offer practical solutions for pre-schools with space limitations, combining essential facilities like kitchens and toilets or kitchens and offices into one unit, maximizing the use of limited space efficiently.
• Replacing unsafe pit toilets with eco-friendly low flush toilets and handwashing facilities provides a holistic and sustainable solution to the problem. It improves health and safety, protects the environment, enhances dignity and privacy, offers long-term cost savings, and aligns with social norms and standards, ensuring a better quality of life for individuals and communities affected by the pit toilet crisis.

Breadline Africa conducted extensive research in collaboration with a South African impact management agency from May 2023 – October 2023. To evaluate the effectiveness of the organisation’s solutions in transforming the lives of children in under-resourced communities. The research process involved several key steps, including the development of a Theory of Change through stakeholder engagement sessions with implementation partners and team members.  This foundational research helped the organisation articulate the pathways through which the interventions lead to desired outcomes. Following the establishment of the Theory of Change, an Impact Management Framework was created to guide the management and measurement of our proposed outcomes. This framework enabled Breadline Africa to systematically track the progress and impact of the programmes over time. Within this framework, both qualitative and quantitative indicators were selected to measure the contribution of our programmes to the well-being and development of children. Qualitative indicators were assessed through thematic analysis of data collected from various sources, including interviews with children, parents, and school principals. 

These qualitative insights provided valuable context and understanding of the experiences and perceptions of beneficiaries regarding Breadline Africa’s interventions, such as seaside outings. Quantitative indicators were measured using data collected during the application process and subsequent data collected following the provision of infrastructure. This quantitative data allowed the organisation to assess changes in key outcome measures, such as school attendance, academic performance, and health outcomes, attributable to Breadline Africa’s interventions. The Impact Report developed covers data collected over a two-year period from April 2021 to March 2023. This report provided a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of the programmes in achieving their intended outcomes and offered valuable insights into areas of success and areas for improvement.

The data collected during Breadline Africa’s research studies for 30 years of impact – the impact report last year provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of its solutions in addressing key challenges faced by under-resourced communities, particularly in the education sector. Analysis of this data revealed several positive outcomes resulting from the implementation of Breadline Africa’s infrastructure and support programmes, which have informed the work moving forward. One significant finding from the data is the increased government registration or eligibility for government registration among pre-schools following the provision of infrastructure. This indicates that the interventions are not only improving the physical environment of these institutions but also enhancing their ability to meet regulatory standards and access government subsidies, leading to greater financial sustainability. Moreover, the data shows an increase in the number of children attending pre-schools, along with a rise in the number of teachers with higher qualifications and average monthly salaries. These improvements in staffing and enrolment contribute to the overall quality of education provided, fostering a conducive learning environment for children.

The impact of these interventions is further supported by qualitative feedback from parents, who expressed confidence in the safety and educational quality of the preschools. This positive perception underscores the importance of the organisation’s efforts in enhancing infrastructure and educational resources, as well as in providing nutritional support to children. The increase in the number of pre-schools receiving feeding support reflects the success of Breadline Africa’s initiatives in addressing food insecurity among children, thereby promoting their overall health and well-being.

Additionally, the provision of libraries in primary schools has improved literacy-based activities, with more children accessing books and engaging in reading both at school and at home. This not only fosters a love for reading but also enhances children's cognitive and language development, laying a strong foundation for academic success.

Furthermore, the educational outings were reported to have provided children with valuable opportunities for outdoor play, environmental education and social interaction. Feedback from children and caregivers highlighted the positive experiences and lasting memories created during these outings, demonstrating their importance in promoting holistic child development.

Moving forward, the data collected from these research studies will continue to inform Breadline Africa’s programmatic decisions and strategic initiatives. By leveraging these insights, the approach can be further refined, identify areas for improvement, and maximise the impact of the organisation’s interventions on the lives of children and communities Breadline Africa serves.

Breadline Africa has made significant strides in addressing the challenges faced by under-resourced communities, particularly in the education sector, through its diverse range of solutions aimed at creating safe, nurturing, and sustainable learning environments for children. However, as the organisation continues its mission to improve educational outcomes and overall well-being for children, there is a pressing need to strengthen the evidence base of its solutions. Engaging in a LEAP Project now is crucial for several reasons.

Firstly, while the impact report from last year provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of the interventions, there is a need to deepen the understanding of the specific educational outcomes achieved by Breadline Africa’s programmes. By quantifying and qualifying the impact of our initiatives on educational outcomes for children, particularly focusing on Early Learning Outcome Measures (ELOM) indicators and Monitoring and Assessing the Uptake of Nutrients in Children (MAUC) assessments for the new intervention targeting the reduction of stunting in children through health clinics at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, the effectiveness of the programmes can be better assessed and areas identified for improvement.

Secondly, with the recent tragic death of another child highlighting the urgent need to address unsafe pit toilets in schools, the Pit Toilet Campaign aims to replace 4,000 unsafe pit toilets in 240 schools, benefiting 120,000 children. This campaign underscores the importance of having robust evidence to support our advocacy efforts and demonstrate the impact of Breadline Africa’s interventions in improving the health, safety and dignity of children.

 Moreover, the ongoing challenges posed by poverty, inequality, and inadequate infrastructure in underprivileged communities necessitate a more comprehensive and evidence-based approach to the organisation’s interventions. By engaging in a LEAP Project, research methodologies can be enhanced, along with data collection processes, and analysis techniques to generate rigorous evidence that informs not only programmatic decisions but also policy advocacy efforts aimed at addressing systemic issues affecting children's education and well-being.

Furthermore, as Breadline Africa collaborates with various partners to support pre- and primary schools in South Africa, there is a need to strengthen the evidence base of collective efforts and measure the collective impact of their interventions. By aligning the organisation’s research methodologies and indicators with those of Breadline Africa’s partners, the synergistic effects of the collaborative initiatives can be effectively evaluated and opportunities identified for collaboration and shared learning.

What are specific educational outcomes, particularly using Early Learning Outcome Measures indicators and what is the contribution to children’s school readiness and overall well-being?

What are the measurable impacts of the Pit Toilet Replacement Campaign on health, safety, and dignity of children and staff, and learning environment and attendance rates?

How does the provision of educational materials in pre-schools and libraries in primary schools contribute to enhancing literacy rates, promoting a love for reading and improving literacy and numeracy outcomes?

How does the provision of health clinics at Early Childhood Development centres, impact the reduction of stunting in children?

Breadline Africa anticipates the following outputs from LEAP Fellows:

• Collaboratively create detailed research designs tailored to each of the identified research questions. This will involve outlining methodologies, such as studies for evaluating the impact of the Pit Toilet Replacement Campaign and longitudinal studies for assessing the long-term effects of educational material provision on literacy rates.
• LEAP fellows to provide a robust review of existing monitoring and evaluation tools developed by Breadline Africa – used to track key indicators related to the identified research questions. This may include reviewing survey instruments, data collection protocols, and assessment frameworks designed to capture both qualitative and quantitative data.
• LEAP fellows and Breadline Africa to collaboratively construct conceptual frameworks that outline how Breadline Africa’s interventions lead to desired outcomes. These frameworks will serve as navigational tools, facilitating data collection, analysis, and interpretation, ultimately enhancing our understanding of the organisation’s impact.

• Breadline Africa will leverage the research designs developed during the LEAP Project to conduct rigorous evaluations of its programmes. This will involve collaborating with partner organisations, schools, and communities to implement data collection protocols and gather necessary information.
• Breadline Africa will utilise the monitoring and evaluation tools created by the LEAP Fellows to collect data on key indicators related to the Pit Toilet Replacement Campaign and the provision of educational materials. Data will be collected longitudinally to track changes over time and assess the effectiveness of interventions.
• Breadline Africa will disseminate research findings through various channels, including reports, presentations, and workshops. This will not only contribute to the evidence base of Breadline Africa's interventions but also facilitate knowledge sharing within the sector and inform policy discussions.
• Breadline Africa will use insights from the research findings to inform iterative improvements to its programmes and strategies, including its design and implementation approach. This may involve scaling up successful interventions, modifying approaches based on identified challenges, and exploring new opportunities for impact.

The desired long-term outcomes of the 12-week LEAP Project sprint for Breadline Africa encompass both organisational growth and solution effectiveness, fostering tangible and sustainable impacts on the communities served.

For Breadline Africa, the LEAP Project aims to catalyse a paradigm shift in evidence-based practices, enhancing the organisation's capacity to measure, evaluate, and optimise the effectiveness of its initiatives. 

Through the outputs generated by the LEAP Fellows, Breadline Africa anticipates the development of robust research designs, methodologies, and monitoring and evaluation tools tailored to its specific context and objectives. These tools will empower the organisation to conduct rigorous assessments of its programmes, enabling data-driven decision-making, resource allocation, and strategic planning. By strengthening its evidence base, Breadline Africa seeks to enhance accountability, transparency and stakeholder confidence, fostering trust and credibility within the philanthropic sector and among its beneficiaries.

 Furthermore, the LEAP Project endeavours to drive tangible improvements in the impact and sustainability of Breadline Africa's solutions. By addressing critical research questions related to the Pit Toilet Replacement Campaign, provision of educational materials in pre-schools, and establishment of libraries in primary schools, the project aims to unlock insights that optimise programme design, implementation, and outcomes. Through the development and implementation of innovative strategies informed by the LEAP Fellows' recommendations, Breadline Africa aspires to maximise its reach, effectiveness and long-term sustainability, ensuring that its interventions continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of under-resourced communities.

At the solution level, the desired long-term outcomes of the LEAP Project include measurable improvements in educational outcomes, health outcomes and well-being for children. By leveraging the outputs produced during the 12-week sprint, Breadline Africa anticipates enhanced effectiveness and efficiency in achieving its impact goals. Specifically, the organisation aims to see a significant reduction in the prevalence of unsafe pit toilets in schools, resulting in improved sanitation, hygiene, and safety for children. Moreover, the provision of educational materials in pre-schools and libraries in primary schools is expected to lead to enhanced literacy rates, cognitive development and academic performance among students. These positive outcomes contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality, empowering individuals and communities to realise their full potential and thrive.

Overall, the desired long-term outcomes of the LEAP Project encompass organisational capacity building, solution optimisation and tangible improvements in educational and health outcomes for marginalised communities. Through collaborative efforts and evidence-based approaches, Breadline Africa aims to create lasting positive change and contribute to building a more equitable and prosperous society.