Peggie Shand
Doug Shand
Peggie Shand is an educator and early-childhood learning specialist with international teaching experience in Zambia, China, Singapore, and South Africa. With a background in teacher education (B.Ed.), she has dedicated much of her career to helping young children build strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, and handwriting through structured, engaging learning materials.
In 2018, Peggie founded Kool Kidz Pre & Primary School, where she developed a practical, child-friendly approach to early education focused on confidence-building and step-by-step skill development. This experience led to the creation of the Kool Kidz Workbooks series, designed for children aged roughly 2–7 years, covering handwriting, phonics, early reading, and basic mathematics.
Her workbooks emphasize clear progression, repetition, and fun visual activities, helping children develop essential learning skills both in the classroom and at home. Through her educational work, Peggie aims to make early learning accessible, enjoyable, and effective for every child.
Doug Shand is a writer, entrepreneur, and former mining professional whose work draws heavily on his experience in Africa’s mining industry and his long-standing interest in regional history. After a career connected to mining operations and business across Southern and East Africa, he turned to writing historical fiction that blends real events, technical authenticity, and human drama.
He is the author of Frontier Gold, a historical thriller set along the Zimbabwe–Mozambique border, where the worlds of mining, politics, and personal ambition collide. Doug’s storytelling combines practical industry knowledge with vivid characters and settings, bringing authenticity to stories rooted in African landscapes and history.
Doug is involved in the management and administration of Kool Kidz School as well as the educational publishing through the Kool Kidz Workbooks project.
Kool Kidz School
Kool Kidz Pre & Primary School is a small, child-centred early-learning school founded in 2018 by educator Peggie Shand. The school focuses on building strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, handwriting, and social development through structured teaching and a supportive, nurturing environment. With small class sizes and individual attention, Kool Kidz aims to help children develop confidence, independence, and a love of learning from an early age.
In 2026, the school was intentionally scaled back to focus exclusively on early childhood education, and it no longer caters for Grade 3 and above. Kool Kidz now concentrates on Baby Class, Middle Class, Reception, and the early primary years, where foundational skills are most important and where the school’s teaching approach has proven most effective.
This more focused structure allows Kool Kidz to specialize in early learning, ensuring that younger children receive the attention and strong academic grounding they need before progressing to larger primary schools. The school’s classroom experience also continues to inform the development of the Kool Kidz Workbooks, which are designed to support learning both at school and at home.
The Kool Kidz Sponsorship Programme supports underprivileged children by helping to cover school fees, learning materials, and basic educational needs, giving them access to a safe and supportive early-learning environment. The programme aims to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent a child from receiving a strong educational foundation during their most important developmental years.
We are always looking for new sponsors — individuals, families, and organizations — who are willing to invest in a child’s future through education. Even small contributions can make a meaningful difference in helping a child attend school, build confidence, and develop essential life skills.
US$800 per year covers tuition fees, a daily meal, stationery, workbooks, toiletries and a school uniform.
Join us in sponsoring a child.