Our Story

My journey into this work began in 2017, during my Honours in Psychology, when I volunteered at a vocational centre for children with autism. The centre's goal was to equip children with the skills they'd need for life — and, where possible, for work, from packing to labelling. I loved every moment of it. But it also opened my eyes to something bigger: the need for early intervention. Watching these young adults navigate the world made me wonder how different their journeys might have looked with earlier, more individualised support.That realization became a dream — to open an early intervention centre of my own.From there, I went on to work at an early intervention centre, and in 2019 and 2020 I was sent to Rwanda and Malawi to help set up centres there. It was work that stretched me, taught me, and deepened my belief that every child, no matter where they are in the world, deserves access to the right support at the right time.Having grown up in the Lowveld, I always knew I wanted to come home one day. When I did, I saw clearly what had been missing all along: a dedicated early intervention centre for children with autism and other developmental delays, right here in our own community.Around this time, I was also completing my Master's in Special Education, with a focus on autism. That year immersed me fully in the world of autism and special education — and it's where I found my niche. I've always been fascinated by child development, and I have a particular passion for working with children experiencing developmental delays. There's nothing quite like watching a child reach a milestone that once felt out of reach. That, more than anything, is what drives me.In 2023, that dream became real — Guiding Growth opened its doors from the spare room of our own home. Today, we're blessed to have grown into a fully equipped, registered premises that these children can proudly call their school.​- Emma Bailey