Community KIDS Early Learning Centres is a family owned ECE service with multiple sites in Auckland. The owners Glen and Soteria Tuala are experienced educators with a passion for community development. Glen has taught secondary school biology and science, and Ria at primary school level over the past 25 years, both in New Zealand and the UK. They served for many years in a governance capacity in early childhood education, before starting Community KIDS in 2015.
Their vision is to apply the Community KIDS philosophy across a range of different communities, by increasing participation for all families in high quality, culturally responsive early learning.
The importance of preschool education started with Mrs Lealofisa Setefano QSM who together with her husband, the late Rev. Elder Leiite Setefano QSM, JP, L.Th, ministered at the Tamaki Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church for 36 years. Mrs Setefano started the Aoga A Le Teuila Preschool in Glen Innes in 1999. This Samoan language aoga amata provided a place of learning for the local community, where the culture, language and identity of Pacific children could be nurtured. Alongside ardent supporters, such as Mrs Agnes Stewart, Mrs Niua Lafolua and Mrs Silaumua Alai, the service grew over the years with many children moving onto primary schooling as secure, confident and bilingual learners.
“Make use of your opportunities wisely”
The late Rev. Elder Leiite Setefano (1947 - 2017)
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