Star for Life - News from the old site

Presented at AIDS Conference 2008-09-29 12:00:00

Star for Life was one of the organisations, which was selected for poster presentation at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico. In partnership with our evaluator, Health & Development Africa, we developed a poster presentation of our results this far, which attract a lot of attention during the Conference.

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Project provides computers in schools 2008-08-20 17:00:00

Star For Life Computer Project is at the moment, August 2008, doing a second roll out, putting up computers at 10 Star For Life schools in KwaZulu-Natal. The 250 computers are donated by Atra-Zeneca and prepared and shipped to South Africa by Atea. Three students from Chalmers University of Technology are now visiting the schools, making installations and instructing the local teachers on how to use the computers. You can follow their progress at http://www.cesaproject.com (in Swedish).

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Star for Life recieves international award 2008-06-11 10:00:00

In the presence of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Star for Life's founder, Dan Olofsson, received a prestigious award on behalf of the Star for Life project at at the 2008 Global Business Coalition Awards for Global Business Excellence in New York on Monday June 9. The prise was awarded for the efforts made by the Star for Life project at limiting the spread of HIV and AIDS in South Africa.

For more information please visit www.gbcimpact.org

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Swedish students builds school library in KwaZulu-Natal 2008-05-21 15:00:00

The school library at Bonga High School in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is now finally complete thanks to the driving forces of three high school students at Procivitas High School in Malmö, Sweden.
As part of a school project Johanna Albinsson, Isabelle Bergstrand and Linnea Nordström from Malmö, Sweden, chose to build up a school library at the Bonga High School in South Africa. They visited the Star School in March this year to, together with students and teachers at Bonga, make an old class room into a school library. Together they painted the room, bought shelves, books, maps, and a terrestrial globe etc. They also made a system for cataloguing, loaning routines and rules of conduct for the new library.
The project was made into reality when the girls, still in Malmö, came into contact with the jewelry company Baglady, which donated an amount of 50 000 SEK from their charity collection. The girls have also been raising money through making and selling their own jewelry. An active sponsorship support has also been sought and the girls did in the end manage to secure sponsorship from companies such as Alstermo Bruk, Thule, Scancoin, Mannheimer & Swartling (law firm), Koch & Ljungberg (travel agency) and Croma (architect office).
It was with great joy and gratefulness that the principal of Bonga High School arranged a closing party with dance, song and wonderful gifts to celebrate the new library and to send off the girls back to Sweden. The Swedish girls brought with them memories for the rest of their lives from the meeting with a different culture and with all new friendships that were made.
Their biggest wish is to return back to Bonga High School one day to meet with all their friends and to see how the library is taking shape!
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Star School continues to roll out! 2008-05-04 15:00:00

Star School continues to expand in Namibia with another 11 schools.
Since its start at Jan Jonker Afrikaner High School in September last year 2007, Star School has continued to expand in Namibia. During 2008, the Star School programme has been expanded to another 11 schools in the capitol city Windhoek.
Operations Manager Miriam Hamutenya and the Namibian Star School team has also recently moved into the new premises of the Star School office, situated in the nearby surroundings of the participating schools. The office is located at: Nara Training Centre, 196 Ceasar Street in Wanaheda.
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Presented at the International AIDS Conference 2008-05-03 15:00:00

Star for Life will be presented at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico, where 25 000 participants is expected to come. Star for Life aims to take advantage of this opportunity to reach out to the international community.
Star for Life has been selected for poster presentation at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico 2008 through the participation of Health & Development Africa. In a highly competitive process with several thousands of submissions, Health & Development Africa, who currently is Star for Life’s contracted evaluator, managed to land an application about presenting the methodology of Star for Life and our work against HIV/AIDS. The presentation will take the form of a poster at a wall, containing photos and material about Star for Life. The aim is to highlight different areas of HIV/AIDS research and work.

The conference will take place in Mexico City, Latin America, between 3 -8 August this year and an estimated 25 000 participants is expected to come. Star for Life aims to take advantage of this opportunity to reach out to the international community. More information will be posted at this webpage as the conference approaches.

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Star School expands to Durban South Africa 2008-02-26 09:00:00

Star School expands to Durban, SA
Friday 16 February saw the launch of the first of eight Star Schools to open in the Durban area in South Africa, at Vukuzakhe High School. The project, which is a joint collaboration between Star School and Volvo Sweden respectively Volvo South Africa, will be launched at the schools during the coming weeks and will remain for a period of three years.
At the launch, Volvos Africa’s area director Mr. Anders Lindblad, explained their involvement in Star School, "Volvo has invested in this project because they believe in quality of life, and Star School is about quality of life for young people." Volvo will contribute with around 5 million South African Rand (approximately 4, 1 million SEK) to the Star School project in Durban.

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Star School promotes women’s football at schools 2008-02-24 16:00:00

Star School promotes women’s football at schools
Star School and the Swedish Football Club LdB have entered into a partnership aiming to promote women’s football at different Star Schools in South Africa. The idea is that by supporting and promoting female high school learners’ football practice, their self-esteem and self-appreciation will be encouraged. Sports developments’ effects on improving life quality are well documented and are also used frequently as part of Star School’s message.
The co-project was launched with a friendly match between the women’s football team LdB FC and South African Banyana Banyana, hosted at Thanda Private Game Reserve. The match was highly successful and attracted a large crowd enjoying the sports.
LdB has posted a coach at the Star School office, Ms. Anna Nyman, who will establish and promote football among young women at different Star Schools in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

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Swedish Queen Silvia attended concert in Sweden for Star School Project 2007-12-28 17:00:00

PRESS RELEASE Great finale of the Swedish concert tour for “Star School Choir”
Swedish Queen Silvia attended concert for Star School Project
For the young members in the South African “Star School Choir” the highlight of the Christmas concert tour of Sweden was when they got to meet the Queen of Sweden the 18th of December in Stockholm. The choir has since November 22 toured 24 Swedish cities and performed 32 highly appreciated concerts for over 25 000 people together with well know Swedish artists. The choir has performed live both on Swedish national radio and TV and gained great publicity nationwide.

Where ever the choir has performed the Swedish audience has felt the great warmth and tremendous musicality of the young South African choir. The reviewers have been overwhelmed by the talent of the 12 members who are between the ages of 16-20. They members all come from the KwaZulu-Natal region and have attended or attend schools running the HIV/AIDS-project Star School-programme. Many ties of friendship have been tied between the Swedish artists. For many this tour has been a great dream come true. Most of the choir members have never before travelled outside South Africa.

At the gala concert at the famous venue Cirkus in Stockholm, the choir got the opportunity not only to meet but also to talk the Swedish Queen, Silvia, who was impressed by the talented choir. The Queen also met the founders of the Star School Project, Dan and Christin Olofsson of Sweden.

The Star School Project, which started in 2005, cover over 33 000 students today and is run at 43 schools in South Africa and Namibia. The Star School programme inspires students to strengthen their self-esteem, make their dreams come true and live an AIDS-free life. The programme is part of the daily education at the schools. Star School Project is and NGO and has no political or religious ties.

The aim of Star School is to continue initiating the Star School programme in more schools with the support of several sponsors, both private people as well as companies and organisations. During 2008 Star School plan to implement the programme in about 20 schools in South Africa and Namibia.
Part of the ticket sales during the Christmas concert tour in Sweden will finance one year for about 1 000 student to take part of the Star School programme in southern Africa.

The book ”Winds of Hope in the Valley of Death”
To describe Star School and the HIV/AIDS-situation in southern Africa a book about the life of a young girl and Star School has been released in both Swedish and English. It is called “Winds of hope in the Valley of Death”. Goodness is 17 years old and lives in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Both her parents are dead. While Goodness goes to school herself, she has the added responsibility of taking care of her five sisters and brothers as well as four cousins. The only financial support to her household comes from a small pension from her 102-year-old great grandmother. Goodness is one of the thousands of Star School students in South Africa that you will meet in this book. Its pictures and text not only tell her story today. They describe how Star School students like Goodness become inspired, feel hope and see possibilities for the future. At the Gala concert in Stockholm Mr. Dan Olofsson handed over a special edition of the book to the Swedish Queen.

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Swedish High School students support South African school library 2007-11-13 18:30:00

Three students from the High School ProCivitas in Malmö, Sweden have October 2007 started a project to support one of the schools running the Star School Programme. The aim is to raise about SEK 50 000. The amount will enable the initiation and implementation of a library at the school. The students; Johanna, Isabelle and Linnea will ensure that books and other material will be bought and will reach the school. Which school is yet to be decided. Primarily the girls will work from Sweden but some time during 2008 they will go to South Africa to work with the school and document and finalize the project.

This will be a great learning experience for both the Swedish as well as the South African students. There is an overall need for more literature and books for all grades in many schools, both fiction and factual study books all kinds of subjects. This library project is one example of cultural exchange between countries and how to help build understanding between not least young people. Star School Project wishes the girls good luck. Updates will be posted on this website throughout the project.

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Swedish club LdB FC build football organisation for young girls, part of Star School Programme 2007-11-13 18:15:00

Swedish club LdB FC build football organisation for young girls in connection to the Star School Project in KwaZulu-Natal, SA
LdB FC, one of Sweden's most famous ladies football clubs will together with Star School Project founder Dan Olofsson support ladies football in South Africa. LdB FC becomes a project partner to Stra School Project. The club will start by building a football organisation with a football coach, around the schools running the Star School Programme in KwaZulu-Natal region. National team goal keeper Caroline Jönsson and her team mates in LdB FC will play a great part as the organisation develops.
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Nobiya High School played at the Gothia Cup in July 2007 2007-07-12 17:00:00

Star School fotball team from Noibya High School played in Sweden at the Gothia Cup 16, 17 and 18th of July 2007

The fotball team from Nobiya High School in South Africa arrived in Sweden the 14th or July. They played their first game in the Gothia Cup Monday the 16th of July against a team from Sorsele in Sweden. Nobiya later came 2nd in their group and got to play one more match. The also performed at the huge opening ceremony of the Gothia Cup and experienced many new things for the first time of their lives. This trip was truly an experience of a lifetime.

The opening ceremony at Ullevi
After their first game they performed a few hours later infront of almost 50 000 people from all over the world at the huge fotball-arena Ullevi at the offical opening of the Gothia Cup. They boys were on stage together with Star School Ambassadors Ken Wennerholm and Göran Rudbo in the Swedish group Triple & Touch. They sang the special mix of two traditional folk-songs. The Swedish song Gärdebylåten and the South African song Shosholoza. The team danced on stage in traditional zulu-costumes.

The trip to Sweden
The Nobiya team has trained very hard and were very excited about going to Sweden, representing not only their school but also their country in the Gothia Cup. Most of the members in the team had never even travelled outside their home area. No one had been on an airplane before.

The matches: Nobiya FC played in Boys 16 Group 5
1) First match was played Monday 16th of July, at 16.00 at Heden 4: Nobiya FC - Sorsele, Sweden Result: 0-0
The players were all happy to perform so well against the Swedish team. The goal-keeper of the Swedish National team ladies team, Caroline Jönsson, watched the game and was impressed by the South African players. The team had new shoes, this helped the performance.

2) The day after, Tuesday 17th of July , the team played at 10.00 at Heden 3. Nobiya FC - team from Brasil. Result: 3-1
The crowd cheered for the Nobiya team and the team played very well. 3) Wednesday 18th of July was the third goup match. Played at 08.50 at Heden 1. Nobiya played against a team from Paris and lost 12-0. The French team was very good and played well in the whole tournament.

Nobiya came 2nd in their group and played Thursday the 19th of July in the A-cup against a team from Bosnia. Unfortunately the Bosnia team played a bit better and made 5 goals. Bosnia won but the Nobiya team played well and very happy to have made it further in the tournament.

For information about the event: http://www.gothiacup.se/

After their last match the team saw other matches, experienced the international atmosphere of the Gothia Cup etc. The Nobiya team got to know other teams from countries around the world and the whole trip has been an event of a life-time. They got to go to and amusement park and to a movie theatre for the first time ever in their lives. They also went on a boat tour in central Gotenburg and experienced the long bright Summer nights in Scandinavia.

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Tetra Pak starts pilot project on nutrition food 2007-02-23 11:00:00

Tetra Pak has initiated a project on nutrition food at one of the schools running the Star School programme, Siphosabadletshe High School.

Tetra Pak has initiated a project on nutrition food at one of the schools running the Star School programme, Siphosabadletshe High School. The students will be served an alternative school meal duing a 60 day period. This meal consisting of nutrition food. After the test period the project will be evaluated. One of the many challanges facing the north east region of South Africa, as many other regions in southern Africa, is for people to get a good balanced nutritious diet, not least young people. With low income and less sustainable agricultural area it is difficult for families give their children good balanced meals.

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SKF sponsors Star School soccer team to Gothia Cup Gothenburg July 2007 2007-02-24

SKF brings winning Star School soccer team to Gothia Cup in Sweden 15-21 of July 2007
The Swedish company SKF celebrates 100 years in 2007. To acknowledge this SKF arranges a soccer tournament called Meet the World in the countries where SKF is represented. In South Africa the tournament is organised in cooperation with Star School Project. The winning team will travel to Sweden and take part in the yearly youth tournament in Gothenburg, Gothia Cup which takes place the 15-21 of July 2007. http://www.gothiacup.se.
The tournament in South Africa is held through February – April. SKF sponsors the winning Star School team with both trip and accommodation in Sweden. A weekend full of excitement, sweat, tears and joy!

Saturday 21st April
Four quarter-finals - teams from 8 high schools.
09h00 KwaGiba vs Phumanyova
10h30 Bonga vs Nhlahlayethu
13h30 Ezifundeni vs Madlaka
15h00 Nobiya vs Mduku

Sunday 22nd April
09h00 First semi-final
10h30 Second semi-final
13h30 Final match

15h00 Prize giving and live entertainment - see below!
In addition to the soccer matches, on the 22nd there will be live entertainment after the final from top Gallo recording artist Pro-Kid and the Swedish group Triple & Touch. Pro-Kid, along with Triple and Touch have recorded the HIV/AIDS-awareness song “AIDS-free. That’s Me” featuring Pro-Kid. This song is the theme song in the Star School programme and represents the Star School message of living and AIDS- free life.
For more information about Meet the World: http://www.skf.com/skf/campaign/mtw/index.html?lang=en
The interest is huge and all schools who are now running the Star School programme will to their very best top win first prize which will be a dream come true for each team member. Most children from the KwaZulu/Natal province have hardly travelled outside their local area.

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Doctor Khumalo and Sven-Göran Eriksson support local soccers as the Gothia Cup comes to SA 2007-04-18 14:00:00
Press release 16 April 2007 South Africa

DOCTOR KHUMALO AND SVEN-GÖRAN ERIKSSON SUPPORT LOCAL SOCCER AS THE GOTHIA CUP COMES TO SA

The world’s biggest annual youth football tournament is coming to South Africa in support of the Thanda Foundation’s Star School programme. The Gothia Cup has been played in Gothenburg, Sweden for the past twenty years with 1500 teams from all over the world participating annually. The tournament is open to boys and girls between the ages of 11 – 19, and over the years 730,000 youths from 124 different countries have participated in the tournament.
This year, with the support of the Thanda Private Game Reserve and the accompanying Thanda Foundation, South African teams from KwaZulu Natal are invited to qualify for the tournament to be held in Sweden in July. The winning team will be sponsored by SKF, the main sponsor of the Gothia Cup to travel to Sweden for the tournament.

The Thanda Foundation’s Star School project, an interactive and curriculum based HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention project involves some 40 schools in the area and all these schools are invited to take part in the Gothia Cup tournament and qualify for the trip to Sweden.

Through the support of Thanda Foundation and Star School, the South African qualifying quarter, semi finals, and finals will take place at Thanda Private Game Reserve on April 21st and 22nd.

The South African qualifiers for the Gothia Cup have support from top names within the local and international soccer fraternity. Lending his name and support to this project will also be local soccer legend Doctor Khumalo who will be in attendance on the day. Internationally the project also has the support of Sven-Goran Eriksson.

In addition to the soccer matches, on the 22nd there will also be live entertainment after the final from top Gallo recording artist Pro Kid and Swedish group Triple and Touch. Pro Kid, along with Triple and Touch have recorded an HIV/AIDS awareness song for the Star School project. This song, “Aids Free, That’s Me” represents the Star School message of living an AIDS free life. Triple and Touch have also recorded their own single with the various school choirs from the Star School programme. These choirs will also participate in the festivities along with Pro Kid and Triple and Touch in an exciting live concert event.

The weekend tournament will prove to be an inspirational event in the lives of the thousands of students who participate in the Star School project. All students, not just those on the soccer teams will benefit from this positive and exciting opportunity.