We are excited to announce the release of a new edition of “Parenting With Love”! We look forward to sharing this updated version with you, complete with even more impactful and meaningful teachings than its predecessor.

THIS PAST SUNDAY I CRASHED MY BIKE so hard I flew over the handlebars, landed on my head and back, and broke my helmet. Thankfully, my 16-year-old son Patrick was there to make sure I did not try to move my neck or body or let anyone else move me. It felt good that his words were so solid, helpful, and calm with so many people wanting to do something before the ambulance guys took over—and then a CT scan showed nothing broken.

July 18th marked Nelson Mandela Day 2025, and we would love to share what the STEPi team got up to during the weeks surrounding the special day. Nelson Mandela Day is a celebration of the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and make an impact. People across the globe are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to service, in honour of the 67 years Nelson Mandela dedicated to fighting for social justice.

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.