Brand new launch of the documentary!
Buy yours & one is donated to those less fortunate
Help us make a difference
The Great Optimist Race will be boasting an inspiring adaptive sailing team for the first time this year and they are all excited to take on this popular boat race.…
The courage and excitement of Reverent Vernon Bosch and the children from Heideveld Baptist Church, inspired the skippers that were practicing for the Great Optimist Race. The aim of the…
Girl Power!! The Shooting Stars traded in their netball for a rope and a dinghy on Saturday, 5th of August. We had so much fun and looked glamourous while doing…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 the Paris 2024 Olympics in association with the French Development Association.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 Little Optimist Trust – Italtile’s chosen CSI partner – where he and his inspirational teams help to keep hope afloat for some of South Africa’s most at-risk children. Sick, poor, frail or differently abled, every child touched by the programme learns skill sets that empower them to survive and thrive, and become Little Optimists. Although much of the Trust’s work happens in the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and in township outreach events, some of the programme is run on the water, in the brave little boats that gave the Trust its name. An annual race event helps raise awareness and much-needed funds, and Italtile’s own Optimist sets sail at every event!
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
On Tuesday the 23rd of November, The Little Optimist hosted one of their Inspiration Days at Constantia Primary. These days are intended to inspire kids to survive and thrive. It…
On the 10th of November The Little Optimist team along with the Forever Strong Durbell team did a massive toiletry donation to Durbanville Children’s Home.Durbanville Children’s Home houses 115 at…
The kids from 9Miles Project arrived very excitedly at the Sailing Academy at the Waterfront on the 2nd November bright and early and ready for what the day had to…
Despite a wet and chilly start to our Sailing Therapy Day on the 16th October 2021, it turned out to be a beautiful day full of sailing, learning, smiles, laughs,…
As the clock struck 9am on the 9th of October 2021, the Excellence Team arrived at Holy Cross, Children's Home ready for Phase 1 of our project, full of energy,…
Its installation week at Luntu Educare in Philippi. Spotlight Joinery has been hard at work getting the cabinetry fitted and ready for the next phase. Next up - Infin8 will…
For the month of August HIIT Fitness did a Sanitary Towel Drive for St Michael’s Children’s Home for girls. The home houses 25 girls between the ages of 13 –…
Bishop Lavis Paradise was lovingly run by Mrs Brikkels for over 20 years. She ran a weekly feeding scheme for children in the surrounding community. As Mrs Brikkels is well…
Last year a terrible fire destroyed the girls housing at Holy Cross Children’s home. Since the fire the girls have been housed in the Therapy Centre house on the property.…
Luntu Educare’s needs were brought to our attention by Gina Leinberger – who has been working to improve Luntu Educare along with SAEP.The Little Optimist Trust together with our prodfuct…
“I had the privilege to visit a small rural town in the Transkei, South Africa called Malungeni. I got to meet this champion Onwaba. What a sweet, joyful, full of…
On Thursday 15 July, the children of Redhill enjoyed a visit from Greg and listened to his story ”The Little Optimist”. They really enjoyed the opportunity to hear the inspirational…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
Come and join us on the 28 November!
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
FREE movie night at The V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre Friday 04 OCTOBER 2019 18h30pm
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…