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Episode 30: The Unlimited Child: Unlocking the Potential of 2.1 Million Children Across the Globe

Welcome to For Your Ears from the Early Years, where host Lili-Ann brings you thought-provoking conversations that enrich educational practice and strengthen connections with children, colleagues, and families. Every tenth episode celebrates global perspectives in early childhood education. Episode 10 welcomed Thane Garvey Gannaway, a Wurrunjeri educator and speaker. Episode 20 featured Ms Lola Alvarez from South America working in Beijing. Now, for Episode 30, we journey to South Africa to meet someone who is genuinely changing the landscape of early childhood education across the globe.

Candice Potgieter, CEO of The Unlimited Child, is reaching 2.1 million children across six countries. Her journey from astrophysics to leading one of Africa's largest early childhood organisations is remarkable, and what she reveals in this conversation will challenge everything you think you know about scaling quality, leveraging technology, and creating sustainable transformation.

What makes this conversation unmissable:

→ A world-first approach to early childhood that works in ways you wouldn't expect

→ Results that seem impossible (until Candice explains the ecosystem behind them)

→ The concept she calls the "care economy" and why it changes everything

→ Stories from communities you've probably never heard of, creating impact that will move you

→ A training model that sounds too good to be true, yet the evidence speaks for itself

→ Why their program changes only with the needs of beneficiaries, never with funders' demands

→ The philosophy that has attracted partnerships with leading global corporations and foundations

→ Candice's honest reflections on leadership, discomfort, and why fortune favours the brave

Lili-Ann captures the essence of this conversation through five powerful themes that you'll discover as you listen.

Candice's core message will stay with you: "A child under the age of five holds the greatest potential for change in society."

This episode is essential listening if you're curious about unlocking children's potential at scale, how to achieve quality in challenging contexts, or what becomes possible when we stop accepting limitations.

Winner of the 2024 Khalifa International Award for Early Learning (from 300+ submissions across 61 countries) and the Santam Women of the Future Award, Candice Potgieter is redefining what's achievable in early childhood education worldwide.

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For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:
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I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.