LGT Venture Philanthropy (LGT VP) is delighted to announce the renewal of our partnership with Lively Minds, focused on improving early childhood development (ECD) across Africa. This extended collaboration will strengthen Lively Minds’ institutional capacity and expand Its impact in Ghana and Uganda, further advancing early learning outcomes in underserved rural communities.
Since September 2022, LGT VP has supported Lively Minds to enhance their organisational capacity and scale its innovative ECD model in Northern Ghana. Through community-led Play Schemes, parenting workshops, and interactive radio programmes, Lively Minds has significantly improved access to quality early childhood education for children aged three to six, currently reaching over 139 000 mothers and nearly 300 000 children. The partnership has led to significant growth, with Lively Minds now operating in all 64 districts of Northern Ghana and one district in Uganda. Additionally, their radio programmes are now broadcast in 18 languages, soon to be 25.
The renewed partnership with LGT VP will support Lively Minds’ further regional expansion, including by assessing opportunities in other countries, strengthening its leadership team, and enhancing operational systems to enable multi-country scalability.
LGT VP’s education strategy focuses on ECD, primary education, and youth skilling, addressing the educational disparities faced by children and youth in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. Lively Minds plays an integral role within this strategy, advancing holistic ECD in close partnership with governments and communities. By ensuring access to quality early learning and nurturing care in underserved areas, Lively Minds builds the foundations necessary for a child’s educational, health and future life opportunities.
With nearly 80 % of brain growth occurring between birth and eight years old, a focus on ECD is vital. Development in this critical period shapes future academic success, employability, and emotional well-being. LGT VP’s support for organisations like Lively Minds ensures that children in marginalised communities receive the high-quality early education they deserve, paving the way for long-term success.
“Lively Minds champions a cost-effective model that shows how parents in under-resourced rural communities can play a key role in preparing their children for a strong start in primary school,” says Marcia Parada, Global Education Lead at LGT VP. “We see enormous potential for scaling this approach across other African countries.”
“We cannot do what we do, nor reach the numbers of parents and young children living in rural communities that we do, without LGT VP’s support. We have benefitted greatly from our partnership and are excited to continue working together to achieve further impact – thank you!” says Alison Naftalin, CEO of Lively Minds.
About Lively Minds Founded in 2007, Lively Minds works to improve access to ECD for children in rural African communities through low-cost, community-run Play Schemes and parenting programmes. Through existing government systems and infrastructure, Lively Minds empowers caregivers and educators in last-mile communities to provide quality early learning experiences that improve school readiness and long-term outcomes for children. Lively Minds currently operates in Ghana and Uganda, with plans to expand into additional countries.
LGT Venture Philanthropy (LGT VP) is an independent charitable foundation established in 2007 with teams in Switzerland, Sub-Saharan Africa, and India. The foundation strives to improve the quality of life of people facing disadvantages, contribute to healthy ecosystems, and build resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities. LGT VP focuses on strengthening the capabilities of locally rooted organisations that deliver effective, scalable solutions across health, education, and the environment, contributing directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For more information, please visit www.lgtvp.com.
Read the full press release here.