Johannesburg, South Africa — When the school bell rings, the learning day may end, but for millions of children and young people across South Africa, another part of their journey begins.
Across the country, After School Programmes (ASPs) create spaces where children can learn, play, connect and discover new possibilities. For many learners, ASPs provide targeted support that can make a tangible difference to their learning and confidence.
The impact can be seen in the different ways — particularly for learners in quintile 1-3 schools — who are accessing and using these opportunities to learn, play and grow. Take Rati, for example, a Grade 8 learner from Othandweni After School Programme in Tshepisong West, Johannesburg, who achieved an outstanding seven distinctions in Term 2. Asanda, a Grade 4 learner participating in a Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) session, progressed from the “Beginner” level to the “Paragraph” level through targeted literacy support, developing her ability to blend sounds and read with confidence. And Bokang, a point guard from Soweto Basketball Academy’s Under-16 team, earned a full university bursary while still in Grade 10.
These stories underscore what can happen when learners have access to opportunities that meet them where they are. But the impact of after-school extends beyond learner support. The same ecosystem is also creating meaningful work opportunities for young people.
In a country facing persistently high youth unemployment, the after-school sector is opening pathways for young people to gain practical experience, develop skills, contribute to their communities and build towards their futures. Through employment opportunities created by public employment initiatives like the Social Employment Fund (SEF), and YearBeyond a national youth service programme, we’re seeing how potential is being demonstrated at scale.
In the fourth cycle of the SEF, The Learning Trust (TLT) alongside 69 implementing partners have reached over 700,000 learners nationwide offering after-school programmes and creating more than 3,000 paid work opportunities for young people within the after-school sector. These outcomes point to the potential of the after-school sector in strengthening the support that learners need while creating meaningful pathways into work and further development for young people.
This is at the heart of the 2026 Lights On After School campaign, returning to South Africa for its seventh year under the theme Switched On! Ready to Learn. Ready to Play. Ready to Grow.
The campaign is led by The Learning Trust and YearBeyond, with support from partners across the country, celebrates the people and organisations powering the after-school sector while drawing attention to the wider role these programmes play in creating opportunity.
“With youth unemployment still so high, the after-school sector has become an important space for young people to gain experience, build skills and see new possibilities for their futures. We see that through the thousands of young people who have served through YearBeyond and many other public employment programmes. That dual impact is what makes this campaign so exciting. We’re proud to partner with The Learning Trust again in 2026 to put the youth opportunity story at the heart of the conversation about after-school” sSays Wayde Groep, YeBo Communications and Advocacy Manager.
Founded by the Afterschool Alliance in the United States, the campaign has been celebrated around the world since 2000. It has grown into a global movement that shines a light on the transformative role of after-school programmes in the lives of children, young people and communities.
Charlene Petersen Voss, Executive Director at The Learning Trust, shares, “Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, play and thrive beyond the classroom. For thousands of children living in under-resourced communities, after-school programmes provide far more than somewhere to go after school. They offer safety, belonging, trusted relationships and opportunities to discover new strengths and possibilities. Through Lights On After School, we’re celebrating the people and organisations who make this possible every day while raising awareness of the essential role of after-school programmes. By strengthening and investing in the after-school sector, we can ensure that more children and young people have access to the opportunities they need to thrive.”
“We are very excited for this year’s campaign theme, Switched On! Ready to Learn. Ready to Play. Ready to Grow., because it recognises that ASPs create impact at two interconnected levels, and we see it through all our work. It also brings to the fore, our message as The Learning Trust, that learning in all its different forms continues beyond the classroom,” she added.
The campaign invites government, schools, community organisations, funders, businesses and the public to stand behind a shared vision: that every child, regardless of where they live and their circumstances, should have access to safe, enriching and quality opportunities.
As part of this year’s campaign, the campaign is also introducing a brand-new face for the campaign, the After School (Lights On) mascot. Designed to embody the energy, curiosity and possibility that define quality after-school programmes, the mascot will become the campaigns’ ambassador across South Africa.
Launching alongside this announcement is the Name the #LightsOnMascot competition, inviting learners, practitioners, After School Programmes (ASPs), schools and communities to suggest a name that reflects the spirit of Switched On!
Throughout the competition, the mascot will embark on a Lights On Roadtrip, visiting schools, after-school programmes, schools and communities across South Africa to introduce the campaign, celebrate local stories and encourage participation ahead of Lights On Week in October.
Over the coming months, Lights On After School will continue building momentum through storytelling, youth participation and community-led activities, culminating in a national celebration of the impact of after-school programmes on 22 October 2026.
Because when the school bell rings, opportunity should only just be beginning.
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Lights On After School is a global campaign founded by the Afterschool Alliance in 2000 to raise awareness of the importance of quality after-school programmes in the lives of children, young people and communities. In South Africa, the campaign is coordinated by The Learning Trust in partnership with YearBeyond and a network of after-school practitioners, organisations and supporters committed to expanding access to safe, enriching and developmentally supportive after-school opportunities.
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Media Contacts
The Learning Trust
Phone: +27 788199032
Website: www.thelearningtrust.org
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YearBeyond
Phone: 083 2533 042
Website: www.yearbeyond.org
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