The Star For Life, golden voices in Namibia has been a huge successes. On the 13th of October 2011, Star for Life (SFL) Namibia launched its first CD produced by learners involved in the project titled the Star Golden Voices. This project involved learners from 12 schools of the Khomasdal region in Windhoek. To celebrate this event many important men and women were gathered at the Windhoek Roman Cathedral hall. The event took two days to give learners an opportunity to come for dress rehearsal before the event. The event was characterised by outstanding performances coming from learners eager to showcase their talents. The venue was a perfect fit for the learners’ performance. The learners took full ownership of the event. “We are grateful to SFL for giving us the opportunity to showcase our talents”, of the learners said.This was a result of hard work coming from the dedicated SFL team and funders.

For better participation of learners and the broad public, various means have been utilised. To name a few “Good morning Namibia” programme which is televised every morning by NBC, The National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) and social networks, such as Facebook. Posters were pasted in twelve schools involved in the project and other strategic places throughout Windhoek. The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation(NBC), Namibian Newspaper and The New Era newspaper were present to witness the moment and ensure that the whole country see the event.

 

The University of Namibia choir was also invited. They inspired the youth with their leader Mr B. Pereko. Their participation was not just a performance but they did set a standard for the young artists to follow within in their schools. Their voices were tuned to perfection, the melody kept the crowd wanting more after their performance.

“VOCAL KINGS” also featured as invited artists. They also staged a splendid performance. They captured the crowd attention by their special African lyrics. Miss A. Awases, The Director of Planning in The Ministry of Education praised Star For Life for the realisation and thanked all the learners for the outstanding performance. 

Choirs that were present include:

- Acacia high School

- Highline  Sec School

- I. Shifidi Sec  School

- Jan Jonker Afrikaner Sec School

- Eldorado Sec school

- A.Shipena Sec School (absent from event, present on cd)

- HageGeingob Sec School

- Cosmos High School

- Goreangab Junior Sec School

- Augustineum Sec School (absent from event, present on cd)

- Groot Aub Junior Sec School.

- Ella Du Plessis High Sec School (absent from event, present on cd)

- Phillip from Augustineum and Betholdt who sang their song called “dreamer” and coloured the event with some nice hip hop.

Posted by Ms Evelina Kalenga-county Manager Namibia 

On Friday 28 of October 2011, Dan and Christine Olofsson, the founders of Star For Life (SFL) and The Claesson Family who have committed to fund the programme at Hlahlazana in Obonjeni area, visited the school. The school is located far deep in the rural areas of KwaZulu Natal. The area is known for high number of teenage pregnancy. The latest statistics suggest that this region in the northern part of the KwaZulu Natal province recorded 2 029 cases of pregnancies amongst young people still in school. According to the South African Department of Education the academic pass rate has been very poor in the recent past.

Although, the school has been listed amongst the schools that have not performed well academically in the past SFL has committed to work hand in hand the South Africa Department of Education to transform the school. The SFL team and the delegation were received warmly by the school community. Learners performed traditional music, read poems to demonstrate their appreciation. In return Dan Olofsson, who is also the chairperson of the board of directors for SFL said to the youth “You are the future of South Africa and the African continent, that’s why we are committed to support you to fulfil your dreams”.  “Take your education seriously and remember we have the responsibility of making our communities and country a safe and better and safe place” Siphile Mdaka, the Executive Director of Star For Life. He further wished students all the best for the examinations.

Mrs Madonsela extended her gratitude to Star For Life and the Claesson family for the opportunity to participate in the Star For Life Programme. “We have seen the way and we promise to uphold the values of Star For Life. to be Stars for life” Sizwe Mkhwanazi, a learner at Hlahlazane, said. 

Posted by Jean Daniel Kabati, SFL programme manager

Among others, support from the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (link to NMCF website) recognises the importance of enhancing youth participation in decisions that affect them, a perfect synergy with the principles and work of Star For Life. We ensure peer led programming in our work, who perform to a certain extent the functions performed by our SFL team. It is our reason for having a peer educator’s workshop.

We have added to our programming Youth Debates, in the fashion of Youth Parliaments, and we are glad to announce the success of the first such session held on 17th September 2011 in KZN. The Youth Parliament was attended by representatives of:

• Local Municipality
• Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
• Department of Social Development
• South Africa Police Service
• Department of Education
• Department of Health
• Zululand Observer
• North Watch

As Star For Life begins to spread its footprint in other provinces of South Africa, and consequently in other countries of Southern Africa, we have successfully conducted  sessions to launch the start of our Health Programme eight schools in Guateng.  Thus we have introduced the SFL programme in eight (8) schools in Gauteng. Only one component of the Health Programme, (i.e. the Schools Project),  is currently being implemented in the Gauteng Schools.  Other components will be rolled out with time, with availability of resources to invest in Gauteng.  The following schools are benefitting from the Schools Project of our interventions:

• Lethukuthulan High School
• Fumana High School
• Alafang High School
• Mphilisweni High School
• Palmridge High School
• Greenfields High School
• Winile High School
• Zonkizizwe High School

In attempting to implant sustainability in the model, SFL intends to pilot a modification of the school project, which will imply the developing of capacity from the school community, to do the work we do, for sustainability of our model.

 

 

Educators at schools will become responsible for overseeing day-to-day activities of the programme.
The exciting dimension of this approach is that SFL is receiving attention from the Gauteng Department of Education and, therefore a process of formalising the partnership is underway. Also the integrating the SFL interventions in the schools as mainstream programmes will imply a model shift from day to day interface (in the elements training, coaching, and counselling) between SFL and Learners to implanting capacity among diverse educators in the schools, through the Training Of Trainers (TOT) Approach.