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DANIR 2024 | Our involvement 70

Star for Life South Africa do a fantastic job and their efforts in the classrooms
are appreciated not only by students, teachers and
In 2023, we initiated a five-year rejuvenation stra- principals but also by employees of the Ministry of
tegy focusing on our programmes, monitoring and Health and the Department of Education.
evaluation and internal culture of the organisation.
This year, the emphasis has been on our coaches,
who are our key players, meeting the students and
offering psychosocial support in the schools.

A significant number of students have extremely
high needs. As a result, our coaches encounter many
vulnerable students with major social problems,
which obviously affects their own mental well-being.
We have therefore taken initiatives to help them
reduce stress and emotional exhaustion through
courses in neuroleadership, neurocommunication
and personal sustainability.

The coaches are the foundation of our programme
and we are keen to give them tools to develop and
feel good in their role. Our coaches and health team

Star for Life Namibia Namibia Planned Parenthood Association, offered
HIV testing, family planning information and other
Our teams in Namibia made significant progress in essential health services to over 1,000 students in
2024. In particular, we would like to highlight our several schools. In addition, “Grassroots Soccer” was
mobile health clinic which, in partnership with the introduced; a Peace Corps programme that, through
soccer, works to strengthen young people’s self-es-
teem and independence, and promote a healthier
and more productive lifestyle.

Jana Richardson, a Peace Corps volunteer, has
joined the Star for Life team. She is an experienced
programme manager and certified social worker
from the USA who will work closely with our teams
in Namibia, South Africa, and Sweden. The REACH II
programme which endeavours to counter gender-
based violence through counselling was success-
fully implemented, reaching 298 girls during the
year. Overall, 2024 was characterised by successful
teamwork and positive feedback from both teachers
and students.