A few days into 2026, I’m still sitting with a deep sense of gratitude for how 2025 ended.
While flying to South Africa on the last day of the year, I received the message many of us had been hoping for: New Year’s Eve donations had come in and closed the gap.
Contributions through the Operation Instigation donor portal reached $3,747.29, added to the $1,837 raised through Heroic Arizona.
That brought the New Year’s Eve total to $5,584.29.
We hit the target for the matching sponsorship.
There’s something profoundly encouraging about knowing that, as one year turned into the next, people chose to show up for this work. Thank you for making that possible.
More Great News
And as if that wasn’t enough momentum, on New Year’s Eve, our 51st participant signed up for Instigating Excellence.
That’s fifty-one young people and emerging leaders saying yes to growth, responsibility, and a different way forward.
We did receive word that the delegation from KwaZulu-Natal will need to postpone their trip to Gauteng for this training. While we’ll miss them this week, we’re hopeful they’ll be able to join us in June, and we’re grateful for their continued interest and commitment.
None of this would be possible without partners who share our deep belief in this vision. We are sincerely thankful to K Worx B.V. and Heroic Arizona for standing with us—not just financially, but philosophically—in building something designed to last.
Right Now, We’re in Full Preparation Mode.
Kickoff for Instigating Excellence and the Heroic workshops begins Monday, and we’re organising everything at Tshireletso Day Care Centre, our gracious hosts for the week.
Tomorrow, leaders from Hope Eco Village in Kliptown arrive, bringing energy, anticipation, and a strong sense of purpose.
I also want to offer a special note of thanks to Ntlantla, one of our program graduates. She has been learning the ropes of program preparation and administration, stepping into her role as a community-embedded support for Operation Instigation and the expansion of Instigating Excellence. Watching that transition—from participant to contributor—is exactly why this work matters.
As we step into this new year, I’m deeply grateful—for the trust, the generosity, and the shared belief that young people, when given the right support, can design futures bigger than what they inherited.
Thank you for helping us cross the finish line.
Now, we begin.
I'm excited to share all that happens in our monthly newsletter at the end of January.
I wish all of you a Happy New Year and abundance in gratitude.
With blessings,
Alycia Lee
Founder, Operation Instigation
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