Star for Life

Star for Life (previously known as Star School[1]) is a Swedish non-profit[2] school programme that was created in Southern Africa to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading.[3][4][5] The idea was formed by the Swedish entrepreneur Dan Olofsson[6][7][8] and his wife Christin.[9] 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.[10]

Dan Olofsson and his wife Christin talking to students at a Star for Life school

Over 60,000 youths are educated in the prevention of HIV/AIDS by Star for Life in South Africa and Namibia.[2][11] These youths are students at the 62 schools run by Star for Life there.[1] 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[12]) of this school by himself; the rest of the schools were paid for by sponsors.[9] 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.[12]

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."[11]

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.[3] 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.[4][13] The Swedish band Triple & Touch has done several concerts with African youths to support Star for Life.[6][14] In addition to music, several football teams have been created in Africa.[1][15]

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.[16] The Star for Life logo appeared on the front of the professional football club Malmö FF's shirts during the 2009 Allsvenskan season.[1]

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.[12][17]

References
  1. Wiman, Max (1 April 2009). "Här är årets nya MFF-tröja". Sydsvenskan. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  2. Sveds, Åsa. "Nytt hopp tema när Afrika mötte Gotland". Helagotland.se. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  3. Gerhardsson, Lisa (8 December 2008). "Konsert som gav massvis med jul". Norrköpings Tidningar. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  4. Wiman, Matilda (7 December 2008). "En julmix från hela världen". Folkbladet. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  5. Wiman, Max (31 March 2009). "MFF hittade färgen på Idrottsmuséet". Sydsvenskan. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  6. Valentinsson, Bengt (25 September 2009). "Musik som bygger broar". Helagotland.se. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  7. Silvander, Heidi (17 October 2009). "Fotbollsresa som ger politisk erfarenhet". Sydsvenskan. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  8. "Höjdpunkter under Nyhetsmorgon i Kapstaden". TV4. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  9. Rainer, Lena (20 April 2006). "Dan Olofsson satsar miljoner på skolprojekt mot aids". Sydsvenskan. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  10. Hammar, Ian (24 March 2009). "Olofsson räddar Sundqvist från fotbollslag i Afrika". Realtid.se. Archived from the original on 29 March 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  11. Lönneus, Olle (3 June 2009). "Nöjd veteran tillbaka i rampljuset". Sydsvenskan. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  12. Melvinger, Katarina Ström (8 June 2008). "Dan Olofssons arbete mot aids prisbelönas". Sydsvenskan. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  13. Crabb, Evelina (14 October 2009). "Skönsång för välgörenhet". Sveriges Radio. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  14. Erlandsson, Martin (6 October 2009). "Rejoice sjunger för Afrikas barn". Hallands Nyheter. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  15. Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Catarina (13 February 2008). "Malmöspelare skapar framtidsdrömmar". Sydsvenskan. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  16. "Ny generation Mandela tar över". Sveriges Television. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  17. "It-miljardär belönas för sin kamp mot aids". Realtid.se. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2010.

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