The spark that grew a school network

What does it take to build schools that work for every child, not just a few? In this episode, Vikas speaks with Stacey Brewer, the founder and chair of SPARK Schools in South Africa. She started with one school in 2013. Today, SPARK Schools has grown to 26 schools, serving over 17,000 children. It’s a story of persistence, strong values, and the belief that every child can succeed.Stacey shares how her team built a model that keeps school fees affordable, supports teachers with over 200 hours of training each year, and puts families at the centre of the learning journey. She also reflects on their proudest moment - when SPARK Soweto won the World’s Best School Prize for Community Collaboration in 2022.This is a thoughtful and honest conversation for anyone who wants to understand how strong leadership, clear purpose, and trust in people can transform education and communities.