Latest News

7 / 4/2021 IMIZAMO YETHU with James House and The Little Optimist Trust. Kids at Imizamo Yethu were so happy to receive easter eggs via the James House Easter hand out. Thanks to Simon and his SPAR Stores in Hout...

Hangberg – Hout Bay 2 April 2021 Theresa is “mother” to 50 small “semi abandoned” kids in the Hangberg Township of Hout Bay. These kids are clothed, fed and looked after by her and her team , as their parents...

Maitland Cottage Children’s Hospital  – 31 March 2021 The kids at Maitland Cottage Hospital were surprised with a visit from The Little Optimist Team  just before the Easter weekend. Each child got to enjoy The Little Optimist cartoon movie, and...

1 April 2020 – Hout Bay Thanks to our amazing collection boxes manufactured by The Excellence Group we were able to collect over 2000 Easter Eggs in Hout Bay alone. The Little Optimist Trust placed Boxes at Oakhurst Kwik Spar...

WED 24 March 2021 When the Little Optimist Trust team rolls in, you know that the FUN and SMILES have arrived! 25 Kids who are the children of  primary caregivers and staff from Tygerberg hospital, all got some magic and...

Bling for Bravery is an initiative by Harfield Harriers Running Club in collaboration with the Little Optimist Trust; where we celebrate and reward the bravery of the orthopedic patients at Maitland Cottage, Red Cross and Tygerberg hospitals. And now with...

This little Edu Care Creche is lovingly run by Mama Linda, who built the home and creche with her own bare hands. We visited the little creche to a warm welcome from the 25 kids who range between 1 and...

10 March 2021.  It was a stormy rainy day . Many of these kids live in small houses or shacks in the vicinity of the school.  Many did not make it to school this day due to the weather and...

On 2 February 2021,  Greg and the Little Optimist team of volunteers, Rafilwe and Gloria,  visited James House in Hout bay .   James house is a youth care facility that assists Orphans and vulnerable youth in the community. jameshouse.org.za...

LITTLE BRINKS Foster Home Visit NPO 176-343 26/02/21 On Friday the 26 February we visited Little Brinks NPO and Foster care facility. This little farmyard houses 6 young kids and supports another 20. These kids have very little and get...

The Little Optimist Sailing Therapy Program is fun, educational and inspiring. We bring the sailing to the kids! At hospitals, schools or even a tidal pool. The program allows kids to experience a new skill where they are given the...

2020 Christmas toy delivery was a little different because of Covid - but keeping our sick kids safe was top priority.

Thanks to the V&A  Waterfront promotion and our Crazy Store partnership our Teddy Bear Drive was  able to collect over 1000 Toys and Teddies. We ran a Christmas promotion in the V&A Waterfront from 10 to 24 December, and our...

Due to Covid we are unable to hold our annual event – Paddle for Presents. This event is the main drive to get teddies in for kids in hospital over Christmas. This year we ask that you still donate at...

From ages two to 82, South Africans of all ages, shapes and sizes took to the water in the Little Optimist Global Challenge. Dams, swimming pools and even fish tanks hosted the tiny boats and their over-sized occupants. The challenge, which...

Bertie Phillips set out to row in the open ocean from Kommetjie to Bakoven all in the name for raising funds for The Little Optimist Trust and NSRI. On 17 September Bertie completed the row in 6 hours and arrived...

Cape Town – For the past two years the by-invitation-only Great Optimist Race has been held in Cape Town, and has involved experienced sailors, celebrities and medical survivors sailing for charity and the work of the Little Optimist Trust. But...

Bertie Philips, proud supporter of The Little Optimist Trust and NSRI, plans to row from Kommetjie to Bakoven via Noordhoek, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Sandy Bay and Llandudno all in the name of charity! The date is set for this...

Do you have some office furniture you would like to donate?  The Little Optimist is excited to bring OPTIMISM and HOPE to the youngsters in Cape Town! We are partnering with The Excellence Group, our project sponsor, to renovate and...

As a kid I was shy, lacked self-esteem, was bullied,  and thought I would never amount to much.  I carried this burden and infliction with me well into adulthood, as many kids do. My lack of self-worth, negatively affected every...

On 14 August families living is very isolated rural areas of Elands Bay received much appreciated food parcels and a treat of hot chocolate from Importers Coffee.

On the 12th of August Wielie Walie Kleuter Skool were treated to a host of surprises. The Little Optimist books in Afrikaans Stationary sets – sponsored by Mandela Day doantions Bears Hot Chocolate from Importers Coffee A HUGE Rogz Cat...

This woman’s day we are supporting a very courageous YOUNG WOMAN whose perseverance is so inspiring. The Little Optimist has supported Anisha in her quest to walk again, due to her debilitating disease – Systemic Lupus. Now she needs our help again!  Anisha’s...

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 Beach is your one stop SUP and Surf store,...

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 and skills development and feelings of belonging , accomplishment and...

“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 with a little gift in these tough times. FoR every...

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 part of the Team! As sports photographers we don’t usually...

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 by #africanfilmservices and @brinkushner with him for the children of #elandsbay , and he...

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 

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 the local coaches Clinton and Emma. Thanks for your time and...

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 strain this has placed on your businesses and lives  and...

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 HERE and help us positively impact the children.R100 gets 2...

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 TIAAN en @laastedrif for all the donations of vegetables #covid19#coronavirus#covidrelief#vegitables#soupkitchen#communityfeeding#weskus#elandsbay#thelittleoptimisttrust@laastedrif@twooceansmarine@ullmansailssouthafrica@italtilesa

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 , Maneer Heyns, Ms Booysen and thanks @9milesproject for all...

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

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 are available in 8 languages and can be shared far...

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 much support and wonderful sponsorship – we are so thankful....

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 that struggling families of a famous Western Cape surfing town won’t...

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 mortals who do not ride monstrous waves or paddle across...

You have surfed their waves, visited their town NOW THEY NEED YOUR HELP! 

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 of a sport fishing boat in Hout Bay and is...

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 us for this momentous occasion. Greg Bertish – founder –...

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 to the kids about being a hero and believing in...

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 2019 Little Optimist Race! (PR VALUE R4 565 866) achieved! ...

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 pleased to be given a new toy, to hear a...

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 revamped school was re-opened on Tuesday, and will now be...

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 donation to the Trust this week, in appreciation for the...

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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 the institution. More than 60 paddlers, ranging in age from...

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 joint winner with Sailing4handicaps, a charity addressing the stigma around...

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. A great achievement for our event and fantastic return on...

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 @sailoptimist @sailleisure @sailingcentral @southafricansailing @sailingmagazine @rcycsailingacademy @zeekoevleiyc @gregbertish @littleoptimist

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 and will keep in touch.

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 to the water and get them sailing. We hosted children...