Jane Evans
‘Jane Evans is a name that has earned enormous respect in Early Childhood Development circles. The fact that ECD is an essential pillar in our country’s programme of educational reform owes much to Jane and other activists of the time – many of whom are mentioned in her book. While this is a personal memoire it is also an important record of ECD in South Africa.’ – Dr Tshepo Motsepe
A Path Unexpected is a well-written memoir by Jane Evans, founder and former-CEO of Ntataise Network Support Programme. In it, Jane shares her life story, about working as a journalist in the big city before moving to the small and, in some instances, backward town of Viljoenskroon in the northern Free State along with her husband, Anthony Evans, who was a well-known and respected businessman and farmer. It is here that she is moved to create her non-profit organisation to provide education and training for the wives and children of farm labourers during the height of apartheid. She has had a profound influence on these families and is considered an activist for advocating early childhood development (ECD) and adult teaching in rural communities.