#LightsOnAfterSchool

Annual Lights On After School Movement calls to end a failing education system

As South African schools enter the final exam phase for the year, all eyes are on the education sector, and the academic performance of students. While the official matric pass rate for 2022 was recorded as 80.1%, many educational experts highlighted the high student drop-out rate, which  realistically puts the pass rate at under 55%.   … Read more

helping reduce school violence

Mental Health issues a global challenge

Lights On After School is a global initiative that aims to help raise awareness of the importance of after school programs and their impact on children’s lives. The movement began more than 20 years ago in the US, led by the Afterschool Alliance. Today, it has grown into a global organization supported by tens of thousands of people and organizations around the world. This year’s Lights on theme focuses on mental health and academic support.

Mental health community walk

Lights On Afterschool & Mental Health

Lights On After School is a global initiative that aims to help raise awareness of the importance of after school programs and their impact on children’s lives.

lights on kids

After school programmes boosting youth’s mental health

Good Hope FM Interview The rise in reports of mental illness amongst young people is alarming. Over the last few years young people have been and are still dealing with grief, loss of family income, educational setbacks, and doubt regarding their future plans. They are experiencing, quite understandably increased anxiety, hopelessness and depression. ASPs play … Read more

Girls Camp

United Through Sport – changing young lives in Gqebhera with After School

Our Eastern Cape grantee, United through Sport, was featured in Algoa FM’s weekly segment, Algoa Cares. This was our effort to put a spotlight on the work of After School programmes across the country in order to celebrate the Lights On movement. [button link=”https://iono.fm/e/1119669″ newwindow=”yes”] Listen to interview…[/button]    

LOA Hiking

‘Helping kids recover,’ with the Lights On After School movement

Under the theme #helpingkidsrecover, this year the focus will be how non-profit after-school programmes (ASPs) are helping vulnerable children to recover what has been lost over the last 18 months of the pandemic. The sector engaged in various activities throughout October to showcase their efforts to change the lives of SA’s youth for the better. … Read more

In the news: After School Campaign – helping children recover

The Learning Trust together with Community Chest Western Cape and the Youth and After School Programme Office, Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, have joined hands to implement the second Lights On After School campaign to help children affected by the pandemic. According to the Investment Case report released earlier this year by … Read more

#LightsOnAfterSchool

South Africa joins the global #LightsOnAfterschool movement

We called on all after-school organisations in South Africa to participate in the global #LightsOnAfterSchool campaign that took place on 22 October. The goal was to shine a spotlight on the NGO After School sector and to increase awareness on the impact it has on improving learner outcomes and broader education as a whole. This … Read more