In a sector often described as “women’s work,” Siphesihle Perfect Nkosi is quietly reshaping both Early Childhood Development (ECD) and the conversation around masculinity in South Africa.

A 2019 Activator, thought leader, and founder of Ulwazi and Innovation, Nkosi leads Isiqalo, a community-driven initiative designed to strengthen ECD centres through child safety systems, parental engagement, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

“At first, people are surprised to see a man in the ECD space,” he reflects. “Some are curious, some doubtful, a few uncomfortable.” But as safer systems emerge, fathers become more involved, and centres operate more efficiently, scepticism turns into respect. “Just being a man in ECD challenges stereotypes without saying a word.”

REDEFINING MASCULINITY FROM THE START

Nkosi believes transforming masculinity must begin in early childhood. “Masculinity is learned, not born,” he says. “If boys grow up seeing men who nurture, communicate, and care, they learn that strength includes kindness and responsibility.”

Through Isiqalo’s Smart Check-In and communication systems, fathers receive real-time updates when their children arrive safely or achieve developmental milestones. This simple intervention has a profound psychosocial impact.

“When fathers feel included and needed, they shift from distant providers to emotionally present caregivers,” he explains. “That shift strengthens men’s mental health. Connection creates purpose.”

ECD AS NATION-BUILDING

In a country battling inequality from birth, Nkosi is unequivocal: “ECD is the foundation of economic justice. If we fix the start, we change the future.”

Isiqalo supports centres with practical systems, digital attendance tracking, developmental reporting tools, operational guidance, and sustainability planning, moving them from survival mode to stability. It complements the state by strengthening compliance and safety, while simultaneously challenging it. “Communities are not waiting,” Nkosi says. “They are building.”

If policymakers were listening, his demand would be simple: “Fund the child properly. Improve learning environments. Simplify compliance. When funding follows the child, centres become sustainable, access expands, and quality improves. ECD is not childcare,” he adds. “It is nation-building.”

FROM PASSION TO STRUCTURE

Nkosi credits his time in the Activate! Change Drivers network with shaping his systems-thinking approach. “Change is not about heroic individuals, it’s about collective action,” he says. “Passion starts movements, but structure sustains them.”

Through partnerships, including collaboration with fellow 2019 Activator Mangaka Tau, Isiqalo has embedded capacity building and ecosystem support into its model. “No innovation survives in isolation. Ecosystems turn small ideas into sustainable solutions.”

Unlike many community initiatives reliant on unpredictable funding cycles, Isiqalo operates on a subscription model. “Donations end. Grants expire. But sustainability matters more than short-term funding,” he explains. “It shifts the mindset from charity to shared ownership.”

RESTORING DIGNITY

For Nkosi, the work is deeply human. “Dignity in ECD means recognising practitioners as professionals, not babysitters. When we dignify practitioners, we dignify the children they serve.”

At its core, Isiqalo is about trust, safety, and the long-term strengthening of communities. It is about ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to a safe and nurturing start, “ECD should not be a privilege,” Nkosi says. “It should be a guaranteed beginning.” And through Isiqalo, that beginning is already being rebuilt.

Written by Ntsiki Khunju, an ACTIVATE! Change Drivers Writers Hub Member, a passionate writer, child protection advocate, and women’s rights activist. Through her work, she uses the power of words to spark vital conversations, drive positive change, and empower communities. Deeply committed to advocacy, Ntsiki plays a pivotal role in protecting children and advancing the rights of women. She is devoted to writing that informs, educates, and inspires, contributing to the creation of a more just and equitable society.