We love to see the impact that STEPi books have on reader’s lives - not just in the way that they think, read, and learn, but how they relate to those around them. Books are able to shape a child’s worldview in numerous ways, and stories heal. There's something magical about the moment a child sees their own struggles reflected in the pages of a book.

Seven years ago, I took my sons Henry and Patrick to South Africa to check out some new charitable project requests for the Utopia Foundation and to review some projects we were already supporting. Utopia’s mission is to create a world where every person goes to bed feeling safe, fed, happy, and optimistic about tomorrow. The emphasis is on communities and transformative education, and our process is centered on humbly asking what people need, being as local as possible, and having conversations on how we can love the community without judging it.

Through our STEPi Uganda partners Africa ELI, led by Utopia’s Executive Director Zaharah Namanda and our dedicated STEPi ambassadors, we continue to serve Uganda's most vulnerable communities. From the remote Kyaka II refugee settlement, Nakivale Refugee Camp to the streets of Katwe and Bukerere, our team brings enlightenment to underserved children, teachers and parents through the world of reading STEPi books.

At STEPi, our commitment to community empowerment is rooted in the belief that uplifting individuals at every stage strengthens society as a whole.

Our literacy program has been diversely impactful across Africa during the first two quarters of 2025, with a reach of over 5,560 learners. Across Johannesburg, Pumeza Macingwane, our passionate Training & Literacy Director, brought stories to life, through 19 literacy activities engaging with parents and children from schools and day care centres within the local community.

Parents are children’s first teachers, and our Parenting With Love seminars embrace this vital role. Over the past six months, through 10 different seminars, we have supported families across South Africa (Johannesburg and Gqeberha) and Uganda (Katwe, Bukerere, Nakivale, and The Kyaka Refugee Camps), offering practical tools and emotional encouragement for stronger family bonds.

Since its launch in 2024, Teaching With Love has become an inspiration for educators seeking to nurture inclusive learning environments where every child can flourish. Looking back at the first and second quarter of 2025, we continue to see the impact of our TWL seminars.

Each time a STEPi book is reprinted, we ask ourselves, “How can we improve the book?” The latest improvement for “Amani the Boda-Boda Rider” was to add a glossary. Do you know what a “solutionary” is?