Star for Life
Encyclopedia
Star for Life is a Swedish non-profit school programme that was created in Southern Africa
to prevent HIV
/AIDS
from spreading. The idea was formed by the Swedish entrepreneur Dan Olofsson
and his wife Christin. Their goal was to help young African people actualize their dreams and to support them to live an AIDS-free life by refraining from having unsafe sex.
Over 60,000 youths are educated in the prevention of HIV/AIDS by Star for Life in South Africa
and Namibia
. These youths are students at the 62 schools run by Star for Life there. The first school was started in the autumn of 2005 in the South African province KwaZulu-Natal
. Olofsson paid for the expenses (15 million kronor
) of this school by himself; the rest of the schools were paid for by sponsors. A fund was created for the programme and, as of 2008, 55 million kronor had been raised from donations by various Swedish company leaders such as Stefan Persson
(H&M
) and AB Volvo.
Alf Svensson
, one of the people behind Star for Life, has commented on the advice given to youths by the programme: "It's either safe sex or no sex at all. The results have been fantastic. We have lowered the amount of teen pregnancies significantly."
The school programme lasts three years and uses colours, art, music, and sports as important parts of the education. They also work with strengthening the school children's self esteem through coaching and support. Many South African youths have been given the opportunity to travel to Sweden to perform at concerts to raise money for the programme. These concerts help the youths to strengthen their esteem. The Swedish band Triple & Touch
has done several concerts with African youths to support Star for Life. In addition to music, several football teams have been created in Africa.
Star for Life has received support from Mandla Mandela
, Nelson Mandela
's grandson, who helped raise money for the project when he came to Sweden in late 2009. The Star for Life logo appeared on the front of the professional football club Malmö FF
's shirts during the 2009 Allsvenskan
season.
Olofsson received a Global Business Coalition award in 2008 for Star for Life. Among the 700 guests at the award ceremony were Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon
, who praised the programme.
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
to prevent HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
from spreading. The idea was formed by the Swedish entrepreneur Dan Olofsson
Dan Olofsson
Dan Olofsson, born 1950, is a Swedish entrepreneur and philanthropist, living in the southern city of Malmö, Sweden. After studying at Lund University for an M.Sc. degree in engineering in 1974, Mr. Olofsson began working in different technology consultancy companies including VBB and Skandiaconsult...
and his wife Christin. Their goal was to help young African people actualize their dreams and to support them to live an AIDS-free life by refraining from having unsafe sex.
Over 60,000 youths are educated in the prevention of HIV/AIDS by Star for Life in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. These youths are students at the 62 schools run by Star for Life there. The first school was started in the autumn of 2005 in the South African province KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
. Olofsson paid for the expenses (15 million kronor
Swedish krona
The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value...
) of this school by himself; the rest of the schools were paid for by sponsors. A fund was created for the programme and, as of 2008, 55 million kronor had been raised from donations by various Swedish company leaders such as Stefan Persson
Stefan Persson (magnate)
Stefan Persson is the chairman and main shareholder in fashion company Hennes & Mauritz , which was founded by his father Erling Persson. Stefan took over the company in 1982 and served as its chief executive officer until 1998...
(H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
) and AB Volvo.
Alf Svensson
Alf Svensson
Alf Robert Olof Svensson is a Swedish politician and Member of the European Parliament from 2009. Alf was the leader of the Christian Democrats in Sweden between 1973 and 3 April 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1985 to 1988 and again from 1991 until his election to the European Parliament...
, one of the people behind Star for Life, has commented on the advice given to youths by the programme: "It's either safe sex or no sex at all. The results have been fantastic. We have lowered the amount of teen pregnancies significantly."
The school programme lasts three years and uses colours, art, music, and sports as important parts of the education. They also work with strengthening the school children's self esteem through coaching and support. Many South African youths have been given the opportunity to travel to Sweden to perform at concerts to raise money for the programme. These concerts help the youths to strengthen their esteem. The Swedish band Triple & Touch
Triple & Touch
Triple & Touch is a song and entertainment duo from Gothenburg, Sweden, consisting of Ken Wennerholm and Göran Rudbo...
has done several concerts with African youths to support Star for Life. In addition to music, several football teams have been created in Africa.
Star for Life has received support from Mandla Mandela
Mandla Mandela
Mandla Mandela is the chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and the grandson of Nelson Mandela. He graduated from Rhodes University with a degree in Politics in 2007....
, Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
's grandson, who helped raise money for the project when he came to Sweden in late 2009. The Star for Life logo appeared on the front of the professional football club Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
's shirts during the 2009 Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
season.
Olofsson received a Global Business Coalition award in 2008 for Star for Life. Among the 700 guests at the award ceremony were Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
, who praised the programme.
External links
- Official website
- Photos at Flickr.com