Star for Life

What we have done so far

Founded in 2005, Star for Life is an international, non-profit organization with a unique methodology to enhance young people’s knowledge and self-esteem. For 16 years, Star for Life has been working in South Africa to bring about change in young people’s lives. Today we work in 120 schools in South Africa and Namibia and 450,000 learners have taken part in the program. Through workshops and active coaching, young people are encouraged to reflect on the opportunities and difficulties they experience as they try to realize their dreams. 

Young people today face many challenges, something that is strikingly obvious in South Africa, where many children grow up without the vital support of parents. The mobile health team complements the work of the coaches by providing in-depth health education. They also carry out pupil health surveys with the aim of encouraging young people to test for HIV and providing them with preventative health information.

Star for Life was launched at a school in Hluhluwe in northeastern South Africa in 2005. Since then it has grown into an international organization operating in four countries. The Star for Life project was born out of the belief that the future of the Southern African region lies in its youth. Dan and Christin Olofsson who ran a Safari Lodge in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa saw firsthand how young people, whose parents had died of aids, were growing up without parental guidance and support and felt compelled to do something to give them a better start in life.

Through the years Star for Life has established collaborations with influential partners who have financed the development of additional programs and projects. One of the long-term projects is the Mobile Clinics – two in South Africa and one in Namibia. The Mobile Clinics give both the learners in the Star for Life schools as well as the surrounding communities increased access to health facilities and health education

Dan Olofsson's continued belief that the youth are the key to a prosperous future, together with his strong belief in helping people of all faiths and making a real difference, was the motivator for launching the next branch of the Star for Life project; Star for Life foundation in Jerusalem.

Read more about Star For Life here: https://starforlife.org/