Education entrepreneur Julia Nolst Trenite has traced the roots of her success in early childhood education to years of hands-on caregiving, personal sacrifice, and an enduring belief in starting small.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (19 May), the founder and director of Oak of Honor International Preschool said her entrepreneurial instincts predate her entry into education, recounting how she combined university studies with running small businesses in security gadgets and footwear.

“I was multitasking everywhere… supplying companies with security gadgets and also selling shoes,” she said, adding that her early exposure to business laid the foundation for her later ventures.

Her transition into early childhood education, she explained, was shaped by caring for her sister’s children — an experience that deepened her passion for child development and ultimately influenced her career direction.

“That was the moment for me,” she said, describing it as the turning point that led her into education.

Trenite launched her first school in Spintex around 2012–2013 under modest conditions, operating from a small space and at times sleeping on-site to care for children whose parents worked late.

“I had to even sleep in the school… I wanted to see the full process, from when the child comes in to when they leave,” she said.

The school has since evolved into Oak of Honor International Preschool, located in Osu, which she says was deliberately named to reflect resilience and strength.

“We didn’t want something generic… the oak tree symbolizes strength and deep roots,” she explained.

Starting with just five children, the school now has close to 20, with Trenite attributing its growth to a child-centred approach and emphasis on emotional as well as cognitive development.

She argued that early childhood education in Ghana requires better-trained teachers and a stronger focus on passion rather than credentials alone.

“It’s not just about having a degree… you should genuinely love children,” she said.

On parenting, Trenite cautioned against excessive academic pressure and screen exposure, advocating instead for play-based learning.

“Learning through play is the number one approach we use,” she said, adding that children need freedom to explore during their formative years.

Her work extends beyond education through the Intima Foundation, which supports underprivileged children and widows. The foundation has already undertaken outreach programmes, including donations to the Osu Children’s Home.

Looking ahead, Trenite said her ideal intervention with unlimited resources would be the establishment of community daycare centres offering access to libraries and creative spaces for disadvantaged children.

She also acknowledged the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with family life, crediting her husband’s support as critical.

“In as much as I try to be a superwoman, I cannot do everything by myself,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey, she highlighted a key lesson: “I can’t please everybody… but I have to keep my standards intact.”