The Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health (CPMH) at the University of Cape Town and Heart Matters Academy have joined forces to develop a social-emotional learning programme for young children in under-resourced Cape Town communities. Using a human-centred design process, the collaboration is co-creating and refining a programme based on Heart Matters’ work and evidence from other low-resourced settings. The aim is to help children aged 6–9 build self-awareness and emotional regulation, equipping them with the tools to navigate life's challenges with confidence and care.