We Did It! The Little Optimist Trust Honoured by the International Olympic Committee
What a massive milestone for The Little Optimist Trust!
We are absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news with our amazing community. We have just received our official Certificate of Participation and Contribution from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for our involvement in the Sustained Insight and Impact (SII) initiative.
To say we are proud would be an understatement. This recognition belongs to every single one of you who has supported our mission to inspire, heal, and throw a lifeline of hope to children who need it most.
Sailing Beyond Paris 2024: The Power of Sport for Development
The SII initiative is a heavyweight international programme. It builds directly on the incredible legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, born out of a powerful collaboration between the IOC, the French Development Agency (AFD), and Paris 2024.
Their mission is to sustain and scale high-impact sport-for-development initiatives across Africa. And right here in South Africa, The Little Optimist was chosen to be part of that vision.
Through this journey, we have aligned ourselves with Olympism365; the IOC’s brilliant strategy aimed at building a better world through sport, every day and everywhere. It is not just about the podiums and the gold medals; it is about using the spirit of sport to foster healthier lives, greater inclusion, and stronger communities 365 days a year.
Two Years of Hard Work, Growth, and True Impact
This certificate represents two years of intense, rewarding grind. As a team, we have been working tirelessly to scale and strengthen our initiative. Through the SII programme, we were backed by tailored, world-class training, expert coaching, practical development tools, and vital financial support.
This holistic approach has completely transformed how we operate, giving us the tools to ensure our passion translates into lasting, sustainable social impact.
And the collective power of this initiative is mind-blowing. Over the last two years, across the 10 African programmes involved, the collective impact numbers speak for themselves. Together, we engaged 6,077 participants in sport-based activities promoting positive social change. We saw 2,876 participants explicitly strengthen key life skills, and an incredible 4,815 participants demonstrate measurable improvements in their wellbeing, inclusion, and livelihood opportunities.
A Massive Thank You
This recognition fuels our fire to keep moving forward, to keep building local partnerships, and to keep championing the values of Olympism in our beautiful country.
We want to extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to Ana-Marija Garcevic, Head of O365 Innovation and Engagement at the IOC, and the entire Olympism365 Department for believing in our vision.
A special shout-out must also go to our incredible delivery partners at Sport Impact – Nelson, Coralie, and Myriam. Your dedicated, hands-on support and guidance throughout this entire journey have been absolutely invaluable to Greg and the rest of our team.
The Journey Continues
We are wrapping up this chapter with immense gratitude, but the work does not stop here. We are more motivated than ever to keep using the power of sport, sailing, and optimism to change lives.
Thank you to everyone who sails this journey with us. Let’s keep keeping on!
