Discovering Waldorf Education in Silicon Valley & Finding our Way to Michael Oak

My journey to Michael Oak Waldorf School was unexpected yet deeply meaningful, shaped by a mix of professional insights, personal values, and a search for a holistic approach to education for my children.

It all started during a conversation with colleagues in Silicon Valley. At the time I was working for an Aerospace and avionics finance Company as a Components Project lead for North and South America. I had experience in both commercial and innovation-driven industries so my focus was very much in technology and business. I was gathered with colleagues at a braai when the conversation led me to a surprising revelation: sheltering children from screentime is important for healthy development. We were discussing the overexposure to screens, especially for children, in a world where technology companies dominate daily life. Then, someone mentioned that many executives at major tech firms like Google and Apple were sending their children to Waldorf schools. At the time, I had no idea what a Waldorf school was—I thought they were talking about the Waldorf Astoria hotel! But the idea that people designing and promoting technology were opting for a low-tech, hands-on education for their own children seemed almost unbelievable.

Curious, I started reaching out to friends and colleagues in the U.S., and what I discovered truly intrigued me. Waldorf education had a strong presence, especially in places like the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Parents working in tech were drawn to its emphasis on creativity, play, and hands-on learning—values that stood in stark contrast to the highly digital world they worked in. It became clear that these tech leaders understood something they weren’t necessarily broadcasting: that unregulated screen exposure wasn’t what they wanted for their own kids. This realisation led me to start questioning how I wanted to raise my own children and what kind of education would truly serve them.

When we were starting a family, we began to consider the question of which education system would be the right fit for us. Initially, we considered a highly structured private school with a reputation for academic excellence. This appealed to my interest in setting my children up for success. My wife however had attended a similar high pressure, academically focused private school. She longed for a different experience for our children, one which allowed children the space to explore and develop without the stressful pressure of the results-oriented system she had known.  

I asked myself whether this system nurtured kindness, and whether it would cultivate the qualities I value most in a human being. Personally, I would choose kindness. I wanted a school where my children could be educated, while still have the freedom to simply be children. This reminded me of the conversation with my colleagues about Waldorf education. My wife and I began to research the Steiner system, and instinctively we knew we had found a form of education that would allow for successful academic development while also centering the human-focused values which were so important to us both.

When we finished our studies, we moved to the southern suburbs and started looking for a Waldorf school. Michael Oak was the first one we came across in the area. It felt like the right fit immediately. The balance between structure and allowing kids to experience childhood through creativity, movement, and imaginative play felt just right. We were so sure of our decision that we even bought a house within walking distance of the school, making it a seamless part of our daily lives.

Looking back, I see our journey to Michael Oak as an affirmation of what we truly believe in: an education that nurtures not just the mind, but the heart. Here, my children are growing into thoughtful, compassionate individuals—learning not just facts and skills, but how to navigate the world with empathy and understanding. And for that, I couldn’t be more grateful.

by Mohamed Majapa

Mohamed is a Managing Partner of Bora Growth Partners, an advisory, Product Development and Growth Strategy consulting firm with a mission to amplify the impact of entrepreneurs in Africa. He is also a co-founder of Picortex (Pty), a technology company implementing business management system for SMMEs. He is a Mentor, Business Coach and an entrepreneur in practice with an academic background in business (MBA Cum Laude – Graduate School of Business at University of Cape Town) and keen interest in business technology, innovation, financial economics, market entry research and strategy formulation.

His current area of focus is developing growth strategies for entrepreneurs and enabling digital transformation and operational system implementation to foster business resilience.