Empowering kids to care about themselves, others, and the world around them. Reducing youth violence, peer conflict and self-harm with kid-led 5 minute actions.

Signature program developed by Inlight Institute alongside educators, psychologists, and child experts:

Spring Challenge Happening Now-May | FREE

CARE HARD ACTION CHALLENGE

A Youth Well-Being & “Care”cter-Building Program

Evidence-based & Flexible implementation

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The Challenge:   A kid-led challenge that builds care, courage, and contribution - one small action at a time. Work together as a team to reach 10,000 actions (it is easy to hit the goal). Choose from our guided program - or - create a custom prompt set by picking from our kid-designed action list.

What to expect:

↑ Positive expression about school and learning ↑ Student sharing of ideas ↓ Peer conflict

Lower cases of bullying and violence

  • How it works:

    • Fewer negative interactions

    • Earlier intervention

    • Stronger peer norms

    What changes:

    • Less escalation

    • Less exclusion

    • Fewer peer incidents

    Metric:

    ↓ 17% Peer Conflict
    Educators report fewer peer conflicts, including bullying and disruptive peer interactions. Results vary by implementation.

See Growth and Life skills Learnt

  • How it works:

    • Repetition (daily actions)

    • Reflection (notes, assemblies, challenges)

    • Leadership (ambassadors, student-led actions)

    What changes:

    • Empathy

    • Self-regulation

    • Teamwork

    • Agency

    Metric:

    ↑ 50% Student-Led Ideas Shared Educators report increased student voice and leadership through idea-sharing and collaboration. Results vary by implementation.

Increase engagement and connection

    • Daily care actions

    • Positive language prompts

    • Peer-to-peer recognition

    What changes:

    • Students talk more

    • Students participate more

    • Students feel seen

    Metric:

    • ↑ 30% Positive Youth Expression. Educators report increased positive language related to school, learning, and collaboration. Results vary by implementation.

  • "CARE HARD makes school more fun."

    Ava, 4th grade student

  • "I love how this is kid-led. It's unique to any mental wellness program where the kids drive the program."

    Anasuya, Campus Dean

  • "On the days when I lead CARE HARD, I see a quantifiable difference in behavior and confidence with my kids. Conflict drops. They ask if it's not on the calendar."

    Jeff, 4th grade teacher

Preview the Program. Once registered, you will be invited to the program dashboard.

REgister

Arrive & Act

A SAMPLE CARE HARD DAY

Open our 5 minute timer and choose an easy to tackle CARE ACTION prompt. Personal and communal benefits expand over the day.

Choose your “adventure” add-ons:

Our modular program means educators can choose to extend the learning experience to include:

  • A daily video that reinforces a skill

  • Reflection questions and journaling

  • Service project built for young stewardship

  • Student ambassador club to lead assemblies and recess power sessions

Who is it for:

Designed for schools and youth-serving organizations, Care Hard fits easily into existing schedules while creating measurable impact on school culture, student well-being, and young people in our community.

For schools:

Daily classroom * Assemblies * PTA events

For youth-serving nonprofits:

Sports leagues * Intervention * After school

For corporate partners:

Workplace * FanFest/ Halftime * Sponsorship

Program Purpose

Inlight Institute’s mission is to empower young people to care about themselves, others, and the world through character education and entrepreneurial service learning.

The Care Hard Challenge accelerates this by giving students structured opportunities to act on contribution, resilience, and purposeful efforts every day.

❋Emotional & Mental Well-Being

Care and prosocial behaviors are linked to increases in positive mood, happiness, and feelings of belonging, and reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression in young people. Acts of kindness trigger the release of feel-good brain chemicals (like serotonin and dopamine), improving emotional regulation and resilience.

❋Academic & Developmental Benefits

Students who feel more supported and connected through care and contribution are more engaged in learning, better able to concentrate, and more likely to thrive socially and emotionally.

❋Stronger School Climate & Peer Relationships

Care increases peer acceptance, strengthens positive connections, and supports a more inclusive, respectful school environment, all of which can reduce bullying and aggressive behavior.

❋Our Approach:

Building care, contribution, and service into everyday actions meets youth where they are and helps spark the very positive cycles of well-being, social connection, and purpose that research shows benefit kids long-term.

Care Hard is designed to scale through meaningful partnerships.
To learn how Care Hard can work within your school, organization, or company, contact us at:

shannon@inlightinstitute.org

Let’s Partner

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