Ntataise - meaning to lead a young child by the hand - is an independent, non-government organization founded in South Africa in 1980 to help women in disadvantaged rural communities gain the knowledge and skills to establish effective early childhood development (ECD) programs for children in their pre-school years.

In 1980, ECD was largely unknown in South Africa's vast rural areas. Yet its importance is profound - the opportunity for physical, mental, social and emotional development during a child's most formative years in a safe, caring, healthy and stimulating environment. Good quality ECD programs lay a solid foundation for a child's future education and life-long learning.

Today, 24 years after its inception, and through the network of independent ECD training organizations it has established, Ntataise has reached some 12,000 women who, in turn, have taught and cared for approximately 300,000 children in some of South Africa's most disadvantaged areas.

All 18 network members are self-sufficient and independently run. Spanning 8 of the country's 9 provinces, they offer training in ECD to large numbers of pre-school practitioners. Ntataise is based in Viljoenskroon in the northern Free State and offers professionally-developed training programs and courses, materials, assessment and monitoring services.