Nthabiseng PHALATSE, from South Africa, is pursuing a PhD in occupational therapy at the University of Pretoria, focusing on developing and evaluating a context-specific early childhood development (ECD) resource guide for caregivers of children aged 3–5 years in low-resource communities. One of her supervisors, Prof. Karin van Niekerk, is a former MMEG recipient, reflecting a powerful legacy of women supporting women in advancing impactful scholarship.
Growing up in a low socio-economic environment herself, Nthabiseng witnessed first-hand how women and children can thrive when meaningful opportunities and support systems are created. From a young age, she assisted in caring for a family member with special needs, an experience that deeply shaped her commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and empowering their caregivers.
She is also a lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pretoria, contributing to undergraduate teaching and postgraduate research supervision. She has presented her work at early childhood intervention conferences, contributing to national and international dialogue on equitable early childhood development.
Her work centers on empowering caregivers, many of whom are women, with accessible, culturally relevant tools that enhance child development and school readiness. Her long-term goal is to advance early childhood intervention across Africa through research, teaching, policy advocacy, and sustainable community partnerships.
