Lalela Project

Lalela Project Educational arts for at-risk youth to spark creative thinking & awaken the entrepreneurial spirit Be a part of the Art of Change! Visit us at: www.lalela.org

Lalela provides educational arts for at-risk youth to spark creative thinking and awaken the entrepreneurial spirit. Through Lalela's arts curriculum and critical messaging component, we ignite imagination and teach children how to map and manifest their dreams and goals, launching the possibility of a different future for themselves and their communities. Our role in arts education is to help bla

ze the trail in whole brain thinking with a proven path to innovation and new job creation. Our programs create permanent change with positive outlooks, community role models and the mindset for our students to design a more certain future for themselves and their communities.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Lalela New York Benefit hosted at SECOND recently. Guests enjoyed music...
03/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Lalela New York Benefit hosted at SECOND recently. Guests enjoyed music, performances and reflections on the impact of our work with young people from low-resourced communities.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed, donated auction items, raised a paddle, supported the Lalela Scarf, and continues to believe in the potential of young people. Your support helps keep our programmes accessible to youth.

Find out more about the event here: https://lalela.org/lalela-nyc-fundraiser/

22/05/2026

Lalela learners wowed the audience with their performance of The Tempest at the Baxter Theatre Centre during the Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa last night.

After months of rehearsals and teamwork, the cast took to the stage with confidence, bringing Shakespeare’s The Tempest to life in a memorable performance.

Proud parents, teachers, and friends came out to support the learners and celebrate the hard work they have put into the production over the past few months.

The evening was also deeply meaningful for Lalela as the performance was dedicated to Oliver, who recently passed away. Papa Ol, as he was affectionately known to the team, played a pivotal role in supporting Lalela’s participation in the Shakespeare Schools Festival over the years, and his contribution and encouragement will always be fondly remembered and appreciated.

A heartfelt thank you to director Claire, whose guidance and encouragement continue to make it possible for our learners to shine on stage. Thank you as well to Aphendule for leading the production and supporting the cast throughout this journey and to every Lalela staffer involved.

We are incredibly proud of every learner who took to the stage last night!

We are proud to share that three Lalela learners have been selected for the KYOTOGRAPHIE Kids Competition Exhibition 202...
15/05/2026

We are proud to share that three Lalela learners have been selected for the KYOTOGRAPHIE Kids Competition Exhibition 2026, part of KYOTOGRAPHIE in Japan.

KYOTOGRAPHIE is an international photography festival held each spring in Kyoto.

In 2026, the Kids Competition invited students to respond to the theme “EDGE.” More than 700 photographs were submitted. From these, 46 photographs were selected for exhibition.

We are delighted that three of these selected works are by Lalela learners:

📸 Angel Yoppe (15) – Rabbit Hole of Time
📸 George Mundere (15) – Check Mate
📸 Tinashe Munyukwa (16) – Life Is Like A Wheel

Their work is currently being exhibited in Kyoto from 18 April to 17 May 2026 as part of the Kids Competition Exhibition.

We also have the pleasure of sharing that George Mundere (15) was selected for a special prize among the four Grand Winners of the KYOTOGRAPHIE Kids Competition 2026 for his photograph Check Mate.

The award ceremony took place on 6 May in Kyoto, in the presence of participating children and their families and George sent a filmed message to be presented at the ceremony.

Swipe through all 8 submissions from Lalela youth which apart from Angel Yoppe, George Mundere and Tinashe Munyukwa, included Isipho Kolobile, Palesa Moepadira, Asemahle Khawulela, Ayanga Tom, Emmanuel Yoppe.

We celebrate this moment and this fantastic opportunity for Lalela youth.

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Oliver Nurock.Oliver was Lalela’s Events and Relations Manager from...
04/05/2026

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Oliver Nurock.

Oliver was Lalela’s Events and Relations Manager from 2011 to 2020, before continuing his journey with us as a valued member of our South African Board. But to define Oliver by his title alone would never do him justice.

He gave of himself fully and generously, working tirelessly to change the lives of the young people in our programmes. To our students and staff alike, he was a steady presence, a father figure, a source of wisdom, and someone who showed up, no matter what was needed. There was no task too big or too small for Oliver; he approached everything with care, humility, and a deep sense of purpose.

Oliver was one of the people who helped shape Lalela in its earliest days. His belief in the work, and in the potential of every young person we serve, helped lay the foundation of who we are today.

A real-life hero in every sense, Oliver leaves behind a legacy that lives on in our classrooms, our communities, and in the many lives he touched so profoundly.
We hold his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him in our thoughts during this difficult time.
Rest gently, Oliver. Your impact will continue to be felt for years to come.

Always one to be behind the camera, here are a series of pics celebrating Oliver and his dedication to Lalela.

Here are a few moments from our Term 1 Holiday Programme across Lalela sites.In Hout Bay, learners gathered at Snoekies—...
02/04/2026

Here are a few moments from our Term 1 Holiday Programme across Lalela sites.

In Hout Bay, learners gathered at Snoekies—thank you to the Snoekies team for hosting the holiday programme!

In Maboneng, the programme kicked off with incredible energy. So many young people arrived on day one that facilitators quickly adapted to make space when chairs ran out—just one example of how the holiday programme has grown into something many children in our communities look forward to each year.

This March Holiday Programme focuses on basic puppet-making techniques. Using familiar Lalela workshop materials, learners are working in groups to create imaginative sea creatures, which they then bring to life through storytelling inspired by traditional isiXhosa folktales, iintsomi. You can already see these puppets taking shape in creative and playful ways.

These captured moments are from our programmes in Maboneng (Johannesburg) and Hout Bay, Bonteheuwel, including the IY Hub—all part of a week filled with creativity!

Today’s post Lalela Maboneng in Jo’burg hosted an art-making session for teachers from its network of partner schools, w...
19/03/2026

Today’s post Lalela Maboneng in Jo’burg hosted an art-making session for teachers from its network of partner schools, whose learners attend the Lalela programme. The session gave teachers the opportunity to step into the role of learners and engage in a creative exercise.

In this most recent session, teachers created still life paintings, learning about observation and patience through the process. The purpose of the initiative was to create a reflective and inspiring space for teachers, allowing them to step into the role of learners again and explore how art can be used as a tool for expression and teaching in their own classrooms.

This is not the first time Maboneng has hosted a session like this. The initiative comes from a growing need to support teachers not just professionally, but also emotionally and creatively. We’ve seen how powerful it is when teachers feel inspired and supported—they are then able to bring that same energy back to their learners.

The motivation behind this unique initiative spearheaded by our Maboneng programme is to build a stronger, more connected community of educators who feel empowered to use creativity as an impactful tool in their teaching.

Learners participating in this year’s Shakespeare Schools Festival in Cape Town recently had the opportunity to watch Ha...
12/03/2026

Learners participating in this year’s Shakespeare Schools Festival in Cape Town recently had the opportunity to watch Hamlet on the big screen. Experiences like these help bring Shakespeare’s work to life and deepen learners’ engagement with the stories they are exploring in the programme.

A sincere thank you to The L***a Theatre in Cape Town and Ster-Kinekor for their generosity in making this special experience possible.

Reflecting on the film, Lalela learner Thembeka shared:

“I’ve never watched a Shakespeare movie before. It was great to see how he thinks and how he turns it into art. It was definitely a great experience and a great movie. He was a great artist.”

Dexter added:

“At first I felt intimidated to watch Hamlet, but I’m really glad that I did. It was sad to see that Hamlet died, but it also taught me that there will come a time when we lose someone we love, and we need to learn to accept it. I also learned that sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the people who mean the most to us. It was a total masterpiece.”

Learners from Lalela’s Hout Bay programme recently enjoyed a fun and memorable outing to World of Birds, where they had ...
10/03/2026

Learners from Lalela’s Hout Bay programme recently enjoyed a fun and memorable outing to World of Birds, where they had the opportunity to experience a wide variety of birds and monkeys up close.

Excursions like these form an important part of our educational arts programme. By taking learners beyond the classroom and into new environments, we help broaden their worldviews and create opportunities to explore places they may not usually have access to.

A big thank you to facilitator Ryan for organising the outing, and to World of Birds for making the experience possible!

Here are a few snapshots from the launch of Lalela’s Female Empowerment Programme in Maboneng, Johannesburg, at Phumelel...
09/03/2026

Here are a few snapshots from the launch of Lalela’s Female Empowerment Programme in Maboneng, Johannesburg, at Phumelele Institute College.

The session focused on the Forming Groups / Sisterhood curriculum, where participants explored what it means to build supportive groups rooted in confidence, leadership and sisterhood. Together, the girls worked on forming their group identity, collectively establishing ground rules and expectations, and creating a safe and respectful space where everyone feels heard and supported.

This first step lays the foundation for trust, connection and empowerment as the programme continues.

Here are a few snapshots from our recent Leadership Programme sessions!Our young leaders explored the core components of...
14/10/2025

Here are a few snapshots from our recent Leadership Programme sessions!
Our young leaders explored the core components of Emotional Intelligence such as self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation and empathy among others through hands-on activities. For example, The “human knot” challenge got everyone communicating, problem-solving, and collaborating as a team.
They also dug into goal-setting with the SMART framework, highlighting why strong time management is important for reaching your goals.

Address

36 Albert Street
Hout Bay
7806

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00
Thursday 09:00 - 18:00
Friday 09:00 - 18:00

Telephone

+27217901108

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