Just like that,
we’re halfway through the year!
The first six months of 2025 have been ones of momentum, confidence, and clarity. As we pause to reflect on the journey so far, we’re proud of the way our team and community have shown up; with heart, courage, and a deep commitment to creating spaces where children can thrive.
We’ve deepened our impact, expanded our reach into Kenya, and continued to plant seeds of resilience in the lives of children. More than anything, this quarter has reminded us of the power of confidence in our mission, in our team, and in the communities we serve.
Little Lions Turned 4!
On 5 May, we celebrated four years of building emotionally resilient children. To honour the journey, we kicked off the day with our annual hike up Lion’s Head alongside the Little Lions team. This continues to be a grounding and energising tradition.
We ended the celebration with a heartfelt lunch at our Salt River office, joined by members of our South African Board and a few other members of our Pride. It was a moment of reflection, storytelling, and recommitment to the mission that unites us.
Going Global: Our Footprint in Kenya
Our team in Kenya proudly represented Little Lions at the Sarit Expo in Nairobi, sharing our model and connecting with other mental health champions. On the ground, our Kenyan implementing partners began rolling out the Inner Lion Programme, equipping dozens of children with the tools to build emotional strength and self-awareness.
We are proud to share that across each of our five partners; Futbol Mas, Little Lions School, Stawi Camps, Kipkeino School, and Lakisama; we have equipped over 400 children with the emotional tools that are essential to boost their resilience.
Workshops and Numbers That Matter
Internally, our Mental Health Coaches have completed a total of five full programme cycles this year, reaching children across Mfuleni and two sites in Khayelitsha.
As the year has progressed, we’ve seen a marked improvement in attendance and retention among children in the programme, with mid-year rates even surpassing those from the summer months. This is especially meaningful given the challenges of winter’s early evenings, cold, and rain, highlighting just how committed children are to showing up, engaging, and drawing value from the programme.
And it’s not just the children who recognise this impact. Data collected from parents and caregivers indicated observable improvements in their children’s emotional resilience, demonstrating the programme’s growing influence at home as well.
These results affirm the importance of consistent, community-based support, like the Inner Lion Programme, in helping children navigate challenges and build stronger emotional foundations.
To recognise each child’s growth and resilience, we recently introduced a Little Lions Graduation Celebration. Parents joined in to honour their child’s progress. These moments continue to remind us why we do this work, because every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Toscanini Fundraiser – A Day to Remember
Once a year, Caffè Toscanini in Amsterdam transforms into a Little Lions playground and this year’s fourth annual fundraiser was no exception. With 80 guests, moving stories, live music, and joyful dancing, it was an unforgettable afternoon of connection and purpose.
We’re incredibly grateful to Toscanini, the behind-the-scenes party committee (Lotte, Sanne, Anouk and Kristel) and our Dutch Board for making this event possible, and to our sponsors for their generous contributions, whose support brought it all to life.
A special thank you to Jurjen and Salesforce for their more than generous contribution of €10 000.
Thanks to your support, we raised an incredible €35 000 to fuel our mission of strengthening children’s mental health in South Africa.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of our Pride.
Lessons From the Quarter: Confidence in Our Cause
One of our greatest takeaways this quarter has been the quiet, steady strength that comes from confidence.
Whether it’s a child bravely naming how they feel for the first time, a parent attending their first mental health session, or a coach rising into leadership, we’ve seen that when we are confident in our cause, others rise with us.
