Latest News

Blikkiesdorp Football Club visited us at the Waterfront for the Ocean Race on the 18th of February and watched The Little Optimist Movie at the amphitheatre. Last Saturday, coaches Joyce and Errol brought the team to the academy to sail for...

Birthday parties at The Little Optimist are for both the young and old! Here is Caeden tying knots with his Granddad. The creativity was flowing with the decorations at this party . Wow!

In late 2021 little Onwaba, from Umtata, underwent a dual leg straightening operation. This brave little girl has been recovering well and has visited Cape Town 3 times for checkups since her surgery – in January and July 2022 and...

Greg Bertish is a man with a big heart. His story is inspiring and shows that resilience together with a positive mindset and an unfathomable amount of optimism you can achieve anything you put your mind to. He uses his...

The 9-12 Phase from Generation Schools Imhoff had a blast at our academy. “The best outing ever”. Thanks to all the teachers who enjoyed it just as much as the kids 🙂 

The grade 6 and 7’s from Llandudno Primary learnt all about sailing and ocean health. It was the most exciting, close finish for the relay race! #nevergiveup 

We had a Birthday “Splash” this Saturday. Book a birthday party with us for a fun time and assist a charity, all in one go! Bookings at sailing@thelittleoptimist.org.

It is always fun and games when Zaironesa Karriem and her team from Bonteheuwel come visit with children from their community. There was a feisty wind that ensured speed and excitement in the little optimist boats –our expert instructors Amir,...

For World Read Aloud Day, we visited some Foundation Phase classes at Generation Schools Imhoff to read the tale of The Little Optimist. The children were fascinated to learn that this book is based on a true story, that little...

Click here to listen to Podcast Welcome to the Good Tidings Podcast with host Larry Harper, Founder of the Good Tidings Foundation. This podcast is all about highlighting the good in people and what individuals are doing to make an impact in...

Heideveld Baptist Church Outing – 12 January 2023 We started 2023 with a bang, welcoming the Heideveld Baptist Church Group. Ten brave and feisty little girls learnt about optimism, ocean health and off course how to sail and tie knots....

This week The Little Optimist Team visited children in hospitals around the western Cape. Our Team delivered LOVE, SMILES, medals, books, and TEDDIES to the kids in Maitland, Red Cross, Tygerberg, and New Somerset children’s hospitals. What a fantastic week!...

1000s of Teddy Bears and plush toys are being collected and donated to the Little Optimist Trust, by our partners and friends around the Western Cape. The Teddies have been pouring in thanks to Darios Café Hout Bay, Kom Surfshop,...

15 youth from Blikkiesdorp Football Club joined us on 13 December for a morning of inspiration, fun and sailing. We were joined by Kevin Langeree (2 x World Kite boarding champion and 3 x Redbull King of the Air winner)...

On 10 December kids from Bonteheuwel experienced sailing for the very first time. These kids come from a highly under-resourced area, their home lives can be dangerous with exposure to drug addiction and gang violence. A community member from Bonteheuwel...

The SOS Africa Children’s Charity is a grassroots child sponsorship organisation which invests 100% of their donations in the education and care of African children. To end off the year the children were treated to a day with The Little Optimist. We hosted...

We are super proud to share the final result of our project at Astra Special School for 2022. 2 bathrooms were completely refurbished with beautiful tiles sponsored by Italtile who also donated generously along with Italtile Foundation. Thank you to...

Ten years after researchers first found that “blue spaces” could be good for us, the concept is proving to be a powerful, practical tool for mental health. Amidst the gentle rock of the sea, the breeze tickling their skin and...

Letter from Reverend about the amazing sailing therapy lessons hosted Read the letter here See the attached references written by the sweet children from Lawhill school. Read the reference letters Hi Cara and Greg, Just wanted to say another huge...

This year’s Great Optimist Race in conjunction with Boatica was a showdown of epic proportions as the wind dropped midway into the race, and skippers resorted to paddles, their hands, and dirty tactics with water weapons to get their boats across the finish line....

“The Great Optimist Race 2022 was an absolute blast. It was fast and it was furious, and the racing was hard and it was fun, and it was wet for some. We raised lots and lots of money for our...

A trio of courageous Capetonians who have all faced severe adversity are preparing to sail in the Great Optimist Race hosted by Boatica at the V&A Waterfront. Shark attack survivor Caleb Swanepoel, breast cancer warrior Adele Niemand and stroke victim...

PRESS RELEASE Three survivors prepare to set sail for charity A trio of courageous Capetonians who have all faced serious challenges are preparing for a different kind of test this Saturday: sailing in the Great Optimist Race in conjunction with...

Published by Tauhira Ajam on October 26, 2022  Numerous studies in recent years have shown sailing to have a profound impact on mental health. According to Dr Wallace Nichols, an award-winning marine biologist, the mere sight and sound of water can promote wellness by...

AHOY MATEY, THE GREAT OPTIMIST RACE IS BACK! The Great Optimist Race in conjunction with Boatica is back! Following a two-year break as a result of the global pandemic, the Little Optimist Trust is delighted to announce that the event...

While the boys bathroom gets it finishing touches, the girls bathroom has started taking shape. Beautiful soft grey tiles were chosen for the girls side – Italtile really has amazing taste. Keep watching this space for the final reveal

The boys bathroom has started to transform and it is looking AMAZING. Italtile chose beautiful tiles that brighten up the room gorgeously – we cannot wait for the kids to see it. The boys bathroom should be done by early...

We partnered with the V & A Aquarium to give some specially chosen children an experience they would not forget! The group arrived and immediately got stuck into an informative and fun classroom experience in the Aquarium.  Once the lesson...

On 12 September 2022 we finally started phase 1 of the Astra Project, in collaboration with Italtile. Installco, our contractor, arrived bright and early and went straight to work removing the tiles on the walls of the boys bathroom. 15...

We work with incredible people… Rev Vernon brought just 12 of his hundreds of children that he works with to come sailing on the 27 August.  The children he works with come from underprivileged homes, most live with grandparents or...

“Soccer Budyz is an extramural program that works in partnership with schools in Cape Town. Boys and girls ages 3-10 will have an opportunity to enhance their physical and social skills and abilities through the medium of football. The Soccer...

HIIT Fitness and its members collected sanitary pads during the month of July for donation to Woman’s Shelter Movement for Woman’s Day 2022. Woman’s Shelter Movement strives to be the united voice on sheltering women and their children affected by...

ABSTRACT – The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a sailing rehabilitation program on the quality of life (QoL) in a sample of patients with severe mental disorders. The study adopted a randomized, crossover, waiting-list controlled...

Veterans with mental conditions, substance abuse disorder help researchers find answers

A special group of 10 lovely little souls arrived to take on some sailing therapy! We had the best day together. We are lucky to work with such organisations. Once the Sailing Therapy was over, the group headed to the...

A winters day spent right! On the canal with 8 excited and brilliant children from The Home of Hope!  Our first group was the littler children from Home of Hope and now we had the most keen group of older...

On behalf of our Home of Hope Family we would like to say a HUGE thank you to The Little Optimist Sailing Academy for inviting our children to an outing for a Sailing Therapy Day. All our children had smiles...

A winters day spent right! On the canal with 8 excited and brilliant children from The Home of Hope!  Our first group was the littler children from Home of Hope and now we had the most keen group of older...

Astra Special School – under construction The Little Optimist Trusts BIG project for 2022 is the refurbishment of Astra Special School Dormitories – bedrooms and bathrooms! Italtile and Italtile Foundation have once again been super generous by donating R50 000.00 towards...

Durbanville Children’s Home embarked on the huge task of refurbishing their bathrooms. With a very kind donation of R50 000.00 from Italtile Foundation, they were able to get the process started. Construction is under way and its looking great. We can’t...

5 wheel chairs and 7 special needs children arrived from Astra to learn all about sailing! BLOWING little minds❤️#astraspecialschool kids got to experience a day of magic and magnificent moments yesterday.❤️These beautiful little beings who have to overcome so much ,...

A group of gorgeous little ones from the Home of Hope arrived this past Saturday to learn all about sailing, ropes, and get a chance to go to the Aquarium.  We had 5 boys and 4 little girls! Some were...

This year HIIT Fitness had a collection drive for Marsh Memorial Home They collected clothing, toiletries and loads of yummy Easter eggs for the kids. Marsh Memorial officially opened their doors on the 12th of January 1903.  The purpose of...

10 excited children arrived at our Sailing academy early on 23 April ready to learn how to sail!  We spent some time in the classroom learning some techniques and all about safety and sailing! Once we had gone through the...

During the month of February – Forever Strong Durbell wanted to spread the love a little further. The gym collected blankets, clothing and toys for Heaven’s Nest – Temporary Child Care Centre. Heaven’s Nest was established in 2004 and is...

There was more good news this month for the Little Optimist Trust in the week that it opened its new sailing academy at the V&A Waterfront. The Trust has received a grant of almost R500 000 (27 500 euros) from...

On a perfect Saturday morning, 10 excited students arrived from the 9 Miles project! We spent the day together learning how to tie knots, ocean cleanliness and how to protect the ocean, water safety techniques, and most importantly how to...

https://youtu.be/V3Wwjf9wuTo

The Little Optimist Sailing Academy in Cape Town recently received close to R500 000 from the Paris 2024 Olympics. The charity is the only one worldwide that offers sailing therapy to underprivileged children. Many of the children have experienced medical hardships.  ...

The Little Optimist Sailing Academy @ Battery Park V&A Waterfront.  The celebrities and boating and sailing legends rolled in to celebrate this amazing milestone and the first of its kind in the world.  Massive thanks to Sportncommun and Paris Olympics 2024 for...

Top yards throw weight behind Bertish initiative. Two of South Africa’s top yards have thrown their weight behind a new ‘sail therapy’ initiative for disadvantaged South African children at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Cape Town yards Two Oceans Marine...

Astra School is very close to our hearts for many reasons! On 15 March 2022 10 excited learners arrived for their Sailing Therapy and Aquarium experience! The day was filled with excitement, classroom lessons, knots at the side of the...

Greg Bertish is an inspiration to all of us at Italtile; a Multiple Heart Surgery Survivor, Big Wave Surfer, Ocean Activist, SA Champion Lifesaver and Stand Up Paddle Boarder. But he will tell you that his greatest joy is The...

The Little Optimist Sailing Academy will soon be launched at the popular V&A Waterfront. The academy is a flagship programme of the Little Optimist Trust, which aims to inspire children to look past their present struggles and find hope and...

The Little Optimist Sailing Academy, a flagship programme of The Little Optimist Trust, will soon be permanently based at the V&A Waterfront’s Battery Park. For the past three years the academy has been providing sailing therapy to disadvantaged children from...

Just when you thought the V&A Waterfront couldn’t offer up anything more… an exciting new venue is set to open its doors next month at Battery Park. Cape Town’s premium tourist destination and The Little Optimist Trust have teamed up...

On the 9th December the kids of the Durbanville Children’s excitedly arrived at the Waterfront for their Sailing Therapy Day.  As they entered the conference room, their eyes lit up with excitement for afternoon that lay ahead. The afternoon started...

04 December 2021 10 Kids aged between 9 and 12  got to sail for the very first time. In fact, 8 out of 10 had never been on a boat or even knew what a sailboat or a life jacket...

On the 17th November a group of Grade 3 learners from Constantia Primary could not wait for the home time bell to ring, as they were super excited for the Sailing Therapy day to begin. Just after 2pm they were...