While completing her PhD at UCLA, the late  Dr. Avima Lombard compiled an evidence base which concluded that school-ready children, despite socio-economic profile, overwhelmingly had their parents directly involved in their pre-school education. Dr Lombard took 6 years from 1969-1975 at the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education, to develop the HIPPY programme where it took root in Israel.Click here to view a tribute to Dr Lombard.

In the 1980’s HIPPY began spreading around the world. In 1984 the first programs began in the U.S. in Virginia, Oklahoma and in 1985 in Miami. In 1986 Hillary Clinton visited Miami and visited the HIPPY program there. She then brought HIPPY to Arkansas where the first training and technical assistance center was established a few years later. In 1988, HIPPYSA was established, with the support of the National Council of Jewish Women, under the guidance of Marion Stewart. Since then, the HIPPY programme in SA has served over 38,000 vulnerable families in disadvantaged communities in all provinces in SA.

Over the years HIPPYSA has faced many challenges and opportunities. At times we did not keep up with shifts and trends in the Sector which had a negative effect both on the performance and funding. Over the last five years HIPPYSA has focused on evidence-based programming, fidelity, scale and quality. This transformation has begun to show results since 2010 and each year the organisation goes from strength to strength.