Lights On Movement

When the School Bell Rings, Opportunity Begins: Lights On After School South Africa Returns for its 7th Year 

The 2026 Lights On After School campaign, returns 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.

Minister Mackenzie calls for support for ‘Lights On After School’ 2024

It is one week to go until global ‘Lights On After School’ Day, which will be celebrated on 24 October 2024 to highlight the vital role played by After School Programmes (ASPs) in equipping learners to thrive. Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, encourages widespread support for this year’s campaign, themed ‘Building … Read more

After School Programmes a lifeline  for SA youth facing a tough job market

Media Release As the class of 2024 prepares for their final matric exams, they’re not just facing academic pressures—they’re also confronting the harsh realities of an ever-evolving job market. South Africa’s youth unemployment rate, one of the highest in the world, has skyrocketed to 45.5% in the first quarter of this year, significantly higher than … Read more

Shining a spotlight on After School Learning: The Learning Trust launches 5th annual Lights On After School campaign

The Learning Trust proudly announced the launch of the 5th annual Lights On After School campaign, a national initiative that highlights the vital role of after school programmes (ASPs) in South Africa. This year’s campaign, in partnership with the Youth and After School Programme Office (Western Cape), was themed Building Strong Foundations and focuses on the transformative power … 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.

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

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