Support our Supporters
ITALTILE, proud sponsor of The Little Optimist Trust, presently have a number of fantastic promotions storewide. Now is the perfect time to turn your house into a home.Xpression on the…
Sailing Therapy
If you could see their faces …….. #sailingtherapy with #thelittleoptimisttrust is the most unique and beautiful experience to witness. Marginalized kids experiencing the wonders of the world , the wind , nature , adventure…
Mandela Day
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than by the way it treats its children.” Nelson MandelaIt’s MANDELA DAY on 18 July! Help us treat the children…
PADDLING 4 MANDELA & THE CHILDREN!
Let's raise R67000 in honour of Mandela Day! Its gonna be Awesome! The Little Optimist has become a large part of our lives and we are super proud to be…
CATalyst for doing good!
We LOVE being the CATalyst for doing good! This awesome (slightly angry looking) cat donated by @rogzwhq is on his way north. He has a bunch of toys and books donated…
Sport SA Daily Diary chats to sailer & big wave surfer, Greg Bertish
How did this happen .....?Who is this guy ......?How can he say that ......?Is this REAL or FAKE .....?You decide .............Two Oceans Marine ManufacturingUllman Sails South AfricaItaltile
Teaching surfing skills to the 9 miles project kids in Elands Bay
Such a cool day inspiring, educating and teaching surfing skills to the @9milesproject kids in Elands Bay; with @mattbromleysurf , @jameslowe783 , @nigel_savel and @gregbertish ; with the help of…
Covid -19 – The Little Optimist Sails on
The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has been an enormous blow to our country and the economy, leaving no person untouched. We at the Trust are aware of the enormous…
Youth Day Book appeal
This YOUTH DAY... help us feed their minds. Support 2 children for R100.We will be delivering #thelittleoptimistbook and other educational children’s books and workbooks to marginalized kids and communities. PLEASE DONATE…
Soup kitchen serving hundreds in the West Coast
These ladies and this SOUP KITCHEN served hundreds on the west coast each day. We are proud to be supporting them with food and vegetables we deliver each week. Dankie…
School feeding
SCHOOL FEEDING .... #rice #maize #pilchards #lentils #bullybeaf and lots of #vegitables FOR THE CHILDREN at the #elandsbay school feeding program.Thanks #laastedrifboerdery and farmer TIAAN for all the veg, thanks @karacombrinck…
Food Delivery in Ebay
FOOD DELIVERY to the soup kitchen in #elandsbay Thanks to #laastedrif farm and farmer TIAAN, to @karacombrinck and to @9milesproject for organizing all the other food supplies. YEEEHA! @twooceansmarine@ullmansailssouthafrica@italtilesa#covid19#coronavirus#covidrelief#soupkitchen#donation#communityrelief#youthdevelopment#thelittleoptimisttrust@sailoptimist@sailoptimist@woeskus_magazine@weslander_koerant@deonbinglive@zigzagsurf@wavescapesa@captainkaisworld@52superseries@superyachtradio
Stay Safe with our guide
The Little Optimist collaborated with partners in the Netherlands and with Professor Pierre Goussard from Tygerberg Hospital to produce and distribute easy to read and understand Corona Virus Information Sheets. The brochures…
Together Today, The Little Optimist Trust and Ocean Love
Thabane of Imizamo Yethu and Together Today has come to us to ask for help. On the 20 April, we launched our first food parcel project and we received so…
Optimism during the COVID-19
Please click here to be directed to the main newsletter by The Little Optimist Team Surfers rally to help coastal town residents Surfers and charities have joined forces to ensure…
The Bertish Factor
What is it about these Bertish brothers? They spend half their lives trying to kill themselves and the other half saving the world. Or so it seems to us lesser…
Help Elands Bay
You have surfed their waves, visited their town NOW THEY NEED YOUR HELP!
The Little Optimist Trust raises R100000 to help Dusty beat cancer
On Wednesday 11 March, The Little Optimist Trust held a fundraiser for Dustin Heinze, or Dusty as he is fondly known, at Atlantic Boat Club. Dusty works as a skipper…
Sailing Academy Opening
On the 10th of March 2020 we officially opened The Little Optimist Sailing Academy. Kids from St Joseph’s Children’s Home took part in sailing therapy while sponsors and friends joined…
Maitland Movie Night
INSPIRATION | MOVIE | PIZZA | HOT CHOCOLATE The children at Maitland Cottage Orthopedic Hospital were treated to an evening filled with spoils and inspiration! Caleb Swanepoel, amputee, spoke…
PR Value The Little Optimist 2019
WOW The Little Optimist outdid itself this year - please see the link to the Newsclip report below. An AVE of R1 521 955, 56 in media coverage for the…
Thank you Bertish brothers
Dear Bertish Brothers Thank you so much for your delightful donation of Christmas gifts. Your donation was greatly appreciated and what a treat for our patients who are so grateful and…
Sponsors join forces to save teaching centre
In April 2019, Umthawelanga Educare in Mfuleni was on the brink of closure because of health and safety concerns. But thanks to an intervention from The Little Optimist Trust, the…
Greg visits Joe Public in Amsterdam
To the Little Optimist Trust Team Huge thanks to Greg Bertish, who visited us at our Advertising Agency in Amsterdam in November this year. We will be making a nice…
WATCH HERE – 2019 Great Optimist Race
https://youtu.be/h2e92VQZ2X0
South Africans paddle to bring some Christmas cheer
Christmas will be a little more cheerful for the patients at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital after the annual Paddle 4 Presents event collected almost 300 toys that will be donated to…
Greg on the loose in Amsterdam!
Greg Bertish, founder and Ambassador of The Little Optimist Trust was honoured to receive the DAME Charity Award at the METS Trade Show in Amsterdam last week. The Trust is…
The Great Optimist Race PR exceeds R4.5 Million!
PR exceeds R4.5 million! The second edition of The Great Optimist Race had PR coverage to the value of R4 565 866, exceeding last year’s total by over R200 000.…
Dame Awards – That’s what we do!
THATS WHAT WE DO! Thank you @metstrade @raiamsterdam and @dameawards Thank you @twooceansmarine @ullman_sails @italtilesa You have helped us make a difference! And for that we are eternally grateful! #amsterdam #capetown #southafrica #thelittleoptimist @optimists_extreme…
Thank you from Reddam School
Once again – a huge thank you. It was amazing having you talk at our school. We are still looking at a way to get a donation towards your organisation…
Smooth sailing at the Optimist Sailing Academy
At The Little Optimist Trust we are passionate about sailing therapy and our presence at The Cape Town International Boat Show was another opportunity for us to bring kids down…
Paddle for Presents 28 November event
Come and join us on the 28 November!
The Great Optimist Race
https://thelittleoptimisttrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The-Great-Optimist-Race-video.mp4
More on the Cape Town International Boat Show 2019
Pippa in conversation with Greg Bertish, a big wave surfer, a sailor, a lifesaver, and the founder of theLittle Optimist Trust and organiser of this race. Please listen below
‘Voice’ winner Craig Lucas to swop mike for Great Optimist Race boat
Cape Town – Voice SA season 2 winner Craig Lucas will swop his microphone for a boat when he sails an Optimist (children’s dinghy) in the Great Optimist Race at…
South African shark-attack survivor sails to victory
Shark-attack survivor Caleb Swanepoel showed disability is no match for determination when he claimed the Great Optimist Race winner title for the second year in a row at the V&A…
Disability not an impediment as Caleb Swanepoel wins Great Optimist boat race
Cape Town – Shark attack survivor Caleb Swanepoel showed disability is no match for determination when he claimed the Great Optimist Race winner title for the second year in a…
On the Yellow Couch: Josie Borain on competing in the Great Optimist Race
Joining Pippa on the yellow couch is Josie Borain, a woman who’s enjoyed success on both sides of the camera, initially as South Africa’s first international supermodel, then later as…
Bertish inspires little sailors
A special group of children experienced the joy of sailing, learned a few life lessons, and got a dose of inspiration at the Zeekoevlei Yacht Club on Saturday 6 April.…
Celebs to hit the high seas for local good causes
CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson is one of the celebrities taking part in this year's Great Optimist Race in Cape Town. Dozens of celebrities and medical survivors will be taking to the…
On the right tack by People’s Post
Youngsters took part in a sailing therapy day held at Zeekoevlei Yacht Club. Sailing experts were on hand to show them the ropes. Children who participated hailed from various homes…
South African kids shown the ropes at sailing therapy day
Children from a variety of Cape Town charity groups experienced the joy of sailing for the first time at the Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club this weekend. Reach for a Dream,…
Thank you on behalf of St Joseph’s Home
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the opportunity you have given to our St Joseph’s Home boys last Saturday. Your team skills and sense of humour have…
FREE movie night at The V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre
FREE movie night at The V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre Friday 04 OCTOBER 2019 18h30pm
Movie Night at The Aquarium
Please click image or here for tickets
Generation School Talk review
Dear Greg, Here is a small review/reference: Thankyou Greg for visiting our school and inspiring the children. The children were immediately captivated with your warmth and gentle way. Your passion…
Optimist Sailing SA team
Well done Optimist Sailing SA team keep up the good work! Well done Sean Kavanagh who came in 4th place – we are so proud. Follow the link toe todays…
Getting ready for The Great Optimist Race
We are getting ready and ship shape for #thegreatoptimistrace 2019. Huge prep and boat fixing and beautifying being done by our amazing experts @johnhishin @drumbeatphotography @capetownsportphotography Zeekoe Vlei Yacht ClubMassive thanks guys. …
Feedback on Cape Town DAS Conference
Dear Greg In the speed at which life passes us by, its fleeting moments that matter. Your presentation brought life in all its humility, strength, weakness and resilience and our…
Thank you for the books!
Thank you so much for the books! The children enjoyed the time spent with Greg and JP on Monday and we started distributing the other books to our reading clubs…
Story Telling
Storytelling is what we do .... thank you. Surfer and sailor, Greg Bertish wrote a children's book "The Little Optimist" about a little believer (a dinghy) with a big and…
PLEASE HELP US PUT A ROOF OVER THESE LITTLE KIDS’ HEADS
Kholeka Hanise is a passionate teacher and caregiver who started the Umthawelanga Educare in 2002 to educate and empower the children in her pocket of Mfuleni, Khayelitsha. The school has…
OHS Recovery and Surfing
Hi Greg,Just had OHS to stick in an artificial aortic valve…. I found your website and I love your attitude so I was wondering if you could give me some…