Our Light Mission
The Hidden Crisis
In South Africa, bullying has become a public health emergency.
More than half of all learners say they’ve been bullied - most of them in primary or high school.
And for too many, the pain doesn’t stop at humiliation - it ends in tragedy.
Over 1 in 5 learners have considered suicide.
Many have planned it. Some have tried.
Behind every number is a name - a child who once laughed, dreamed and believed school was a safe place.
The Cost of Silence
Most bullied children never tell anyone. They carry it alone.
And when schools look away, the silence becomes deadly.
Teen suicide is now the second leading cause of death among South Africans aged 15 to 19.
In 2024 alone, over 7 400 children under 18 were treated in public hospitals after suicide attempts.
That’s more than 30 children every day trying to escape pain that should never have found them.
Why You Are Light Exists
We Stand For
No more silence.
No more child left unseen.
No more pain mistaken for normal.
We exist for every child who has ever been hurt, humiliated, or silenced.
We exist to remind South Africa that child protection is not optional.
Because when schools fail to protect our children, the law itself is betrayed and so are we all.
A Call To Action
Light Up My School is a national healing campaign born from the heartbreak of bullying and powered by the transformative force of storytelling.
Rooted in the novel You Are Light, this movement brings emotional justice into classrooms through anti-bullying literature, youth-led dialogue and mental wellness innovations.
Powered by healing-centered school tours and youth leadership training, the campaign empowers students, parents and teachers to become champions of empathy, expression and resilience.
The Light Ecosystem™
Together, we are building:
- LightSeekers™ - Learners on a journey of personal healing, self-expression, and accountability
- LightChampions™ - Teachers trained in emotional facilitation, LightCircle™ leadership, and restorative practices
- LightCircles™ - Guided classroom dialogues for emotional storytelling, peer support, and reflective accountability
- LightWalls™ - Visual storytelling spaces for affirmations, poetry, creativity, and shared reflection
- LightWorkbooks™ - English and Life Orientation guides integrating healing, learning, and personal responsibility
- LightHeroes™ - Learners honoured for bravery, kindness, transformation, and ethical leadership
- LightMornings™ - Weekly classroom rituals for grounding, breathwork, intention and community resetting
NEW JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ELEMENTS
- Light & Shadow Board™ - A visible, impartial space acknowledging missteps and promoting accountability
- Black Dot Reflection™ - Confidential reflections that allow students to process incidents and chart a growth path
- Light Privileges™ - Linking positive choices to recognition while reinforcing consequences for misbehavior
- Light Justice Process™ - Fair, structured approaches to resolving conflicts and restoring balance
- Light Shock Assembly™ - Collective gatherings to address serious incidents, reinforce values, and reset shared expectations
- Teacher Guides™ - Resources empowering educators to facilitate growth, accountability, and ethical school culture
- Teen Buy-In™ - Initiatives engaging students directly in shaping culture, rules and accountability
This is not just a campaign-it is a promise. A promise that no child will be left to carry their pain alone, that no parent’s cry will go unheard and that no classroom will remain in darkness.
