This Youth Day, Lalela’s young leaders hosted a powerful event that uplifted and celebrated the voices of youth.

Pamela Ndlovu, a Lalela alumnus from our Maboneng programme in Johannesburg, recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Geography.

Lalela Learners Step Into Active Citizenship June 30, 2025 Photo Credit: Constitutional Hill  Learners from Lalela’s Maboneng Programme in Johannesburg took part in the We the People Constitutional Education [...]

After countless hours of practice, our talented high school learners from Lalela lit up the stage, performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream with incredible enthusiasm and passion.

We celebrate the outstanding achievements of the Matric class of 2024 who achieved top marks for the final high school exam!

VACANCY: FEMALE EMPOWERMENT FACILITATOR, WESTERN CAPE

Lalela once again made an impact at this year’s Investec Cape Town Art Fair!

Lalela's recent South African fundraiser was a huge success and we are grateful for the generosity we received.

Young leaders from the Leadership Programme attended a camp filled with diverse activities that challenged them, encouraged reflection, and strengthened their teamwork and collaboration skills.

Lalela learners at Silikamva High had a memorable visit from Hollywood actor Heather Graham, who met with them during her time in South Africa recently.

Lalela was thrilled to welcome Grammy-nominated musician and Lalela board member, Jonathan Butler, during his annual birthday celebration in Cape Town recently.

September sessions are a special time in the Lalela calendar, when the entire Lalela team comes together and we lay the groundwork for another impactful year.

Sam Dizon from Stanford University spent a few months at Lalela as an intern and these are a reflections!

Shop while it lasts! New Lalela x H&M Collaboration

The sweetest collaboration between Lalela and Honest Chocolate!

This Heritage Day Lalela's Bonteheuwel programme celebrated the day with music, dance and making art!

Mthokozisi Ramokgadi discovered his creativity and confidence through Lalela's Maboneng Programme.

Lalela's partnership with Disa Primary School in Bonteheuwel amplifies our mission to provide educational arts to youth

This Mandela Day, Lalela learners honoured Nelson Mandela's life and legacy by painting a vibrant wall mural at Sentinel School in Hout Bay.

Lalela high school leaners participated in a career day outing to the V&A Waterfront where they were exposed to a variety of career possibilities and options.

Lalela is thankful for the generosity and support of our community!

Don't miss Lalela's Youth Day Market on 17 June 2024 at Kronendal Primary School, Hout Bay rom 10am -14h00.

Lalela is happy to announce a new project in Limpopo province, inspired by Makhadzi Livhadi, a Lalela alumnus who hails from this region.

The 14th Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa (SSFSA), held at the Star Theatre in the District Six Homecoming Centre, Cape Town, was an unforgettable showcase of talent.

Lalela facilitators participated in a hands-on art workshop guided by artist Penny Siopis, where they discovered new techniques and gained valuable insights.

Azarias Raphael Manhique, aged 19, has transitioned from being a student at Lalela to achieving success as a businessman, showcasing an inspiring journey of personal growth and accomplishment.

Lalela’s Maboneng Jo’burg programme manager, Vika Mjoka, promoted Lalela’s impactful curriculum at a recent influential symposium focused on the benefits of after-school programmes.

Lalela's dynamic Human Rights Day gatherings stand as powerful reminders of the significance of human rights and civic engagement.

Lalela made quite a splash at this year’s Investec Cape Town Art Fair. Youth from our after-school programs in the Western Cape participated in exclusive tours of the Art Fair, and some of their artwork was exhibited at the prestigious event.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who joined us for the successful 2024 Lalela Benefit held at The Yard at the V&A Waterfront. Your generous support truly makes a difference, and we so are thankful!

Lalela is proud to celebrate the achievement of our alumnus Luyolo Gayeka (21), who has been accepted at Rhodes University to pursue a degree in art.

Simphiwe Bendle (25) serves as the creative director of KWANTU, a clothing company he founded. He joined Lalela during the period of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, discovering in Lalela the social and creative platform he longed for.

We are happy to announce that Rukaya Samuels (26) has officially joined the Lalela team as a Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) intern for the year. This marks a significant moment as Rukaya revisits Lalela, 13 years after initially immersing herself in the world of creativity in our after-school programme at Sentinel Primary in Hout Bay.

In a significant collaboration enabling young people from under-resourced communities to thrive, Lalela and the Tomorrow Trust have joined forces to expand the reach and impact of our respective initiatives.

In a striking celebration of Cape Town's unique identity, the V&A Waterfront last month revealed a brand-new sign made up of artwork created by the young talents participating in our after-school programmes.

In a powerful collaboration that marries art and conservation, Lalela and the not-for-profit organisation Rhino Disharmony joined forces to shed light on the urgent issue of rhino poaching.

The annual Community Exhibition is a standout event in the Lalela calendar, which showcases the artistic outputs of learners throughout the year.

A highlight during this last term of the school calendar, was an excursion to the solo exhibition, GILT, by Mary Evans—an accomplished British artist of Nigerian origin. Hosted at the prestigious Zeitz MOCAA, this exhibition was a rare opportunity for our learners to experience.

Cape Town-born musician Jonathan Butler shed light on the profound impact of after-school programmes, such as Lalela's educational arts initiative, which fosters creativity and personal growth within young people.

September Sessions is a time for the Lalela team to reflect and plan for the year ahead.

Lalela's star is shining bright following recognition for our work in proving educational arts for young people in under-resourced communities. Our latest award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Lalela team, the support of the communities we work in and the young people who participate in our arts programme. 

Lalela artists had the special privilege of seeing their artworks on the walls of Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town in an exhibition tying in with the finale of the museum's 'When We See Us' show.

Linda Daniels, our newest Lalela member, attended the recent Women’s Day event as a mentor to a Masiphumelele learner. She shares how the experience left an enduring imprint on her heart.

What does it mean to be a leader? Students in our Leadership Programme shared their inspiring reflections during our recent holiday programme.

Livhuwani Mukhondo joined our team to introduce Lalela’s Female Empowerment programme to girls at our partner high school in Masiphumelele in the Western Cape. She writes about the programme's importance and impact.

One of South Africa’s best-known and -loved independent producers and suppliers of quality arts and crafts materials, Dala has walked alongside Lalela right from the start. Read our Q&A with the Dala team!

Lalela art facilitator Mark Oppelt has come full circle, from a Lalela student at Hout Bay High School to his new senior role teaching teens from his community in those same classrooms...and we couldn't be prouder!

A year-end update on our roll-out of Lalela's important resource guide for educators in SA

Every year we induct a new group of especially promising students into Lalela's Leadership Programme, teaching them valuable life skills.

Last year we piloted workshops at Bertha House in Cape Town's Mowbray; this year we have more than 80 students in regular attendance.

Lalela students in our Maboneng programme got the chance to lend their voices to the Human Rights Festival at Constitution Hill. Programme Manager Vika Mjoka shares his highlights.

Our programme manager Nwabisa Ndogeni has been inspiring youth - and our team - since joining Lalela as a facilitator in 2016.

These Lalela alumni have come full circle in their journey with us, from students in our after-school programmes to determined adults wanting to make a difference in their communities.

Marilyn November, our Bonteheuwel programme facilitator, follows a deep calling to make a real difference to the lives of children in a community beset with challenges.

Lalela's curriculum this year shines a light on developing creative thinking, technical mastery, self-confidence and self-control in our learners. Find out more about what's in store...

Amid high dropout and failure rates in SA, Lalela students came out tops in their final year exams once again - we put it down to grit, determination and 'whole-brain thinking'.

Lalela's M&E findings following our Covid-19 virtual programme were presented at the esteemed SACHES international conference.

For Nosiphiwo, a former student and now team member, the best part of her job is giving hope to her kids and a reason to smile

An integral part of Lalela's journey from inception, Firdous Hendricks has been appointed as our new Executive Director

We're proud to welcome the Grammy Award-nominated jazz superstar to Lalela’s Board of Trustees in the US

We were delighted to return to FNB Art Year after a long absence with our Kids-4-Kids Art Tours

For Women's Day, our Female Empowerment girls created Heart Maps with inspiring female role models

It was a proud moment seeing our students' maritime-themed work exhibited at a storied New York museum

Our learners joined the Parley Ocean School in Hout Bay for fun and educational beach clean-ups

Inspiring with creativity: How Lalela was chosen for inclusion in the prestigeous Louis200 philanthropic campaign

Across all our communities, Lalela learners were kept creatively occupied and safe during the school break - see our photo highlights!

Lalela's Mark Oppelt is much more than just a facilitator at his former school, Sentinel Primary

Our 2022 Female Empowerment programme launched with an outing to the gallery and viewing of a powerful exhibition about Black women artists in SA.

We were honoured to be visited by the WHO Director-General and Belgium's Minister of Development Cooperation

Lalela's Senior Programme Manager Firdous Hendricks shares a preview of the year ahead

Lalela students came out tops in their final year exams

Read about our sister brand and its latest scarf collection

Lalela’s Resource Guide for Working with Learners Affected by Trauma set for Western Cape rollout

Faced with the challenges of Covid-19, Lalela launched a unique virtual learning programme

Read about our impactful Heart Map social cohesion project