Maurita Weissenberg holds a Diploma in Senior Primary Education from Cape Town Teacher’s College and has been a teacher for over 25 years, specialising in special needs education and children with learning difficulties over the past 15 years. While doing volunteer work with grade five pupils between 1998 and 2000, she realised the importance of early learning interventions. Based on her research on the issue – using the UK-based Tower Hamlets Business Education Partnerships as a model – she founded The Shine Centre at Observatory Junior School in Cape Town in 2000 and is still its Director.