South Africa
In a beautiful country such as South Africa (one of our most important suppliers of fresh fruit), it is very sad to see how limited the opportunities for personal development amongst rural youths are. Widespread poverty prevails, and it is for the benefit for these communities that Stars in their Eyes was created.
From this perspective, in 2006 Cool Fresh International created the Stars in their Eyes project. The objective was to have a positive effect on disadvantaged communities, by training local community coaches in a strong community development programme.
Since then, 243 communities in all provinces of South Africa have been embraced by the project, and more than 750 community coaches have already been trained.
Working with organisations such as the Embassy of the Netherlands in South Africa, various South African governmental departments, as well as multinationals such as Shell and Philips, Stars has become a leading name in the South African social project scene.
Stretching from Bitterfontein – way up north towards Nambia – to Cato Ridge in KwaZulu, the communities with which we work have one thing in common. They are all committed to using strong leadership approaches to create a positive impact on the lives of poeple.
The communities in which Stars works are characterised by low income, high poverty, and limited sporting facilities. More often than not, crime is unacceptably high, and socio-cultural problems threaten family life. The Stars project has experienced that one almost always sees that sport – it does not matter where it is played, on a proper field, in the street or on any piece of open land – is the only ‘escape’ for youths from an otherwise bleak existence.
Through training our community coaches in an innovative approach which combines football and life skills training, we are able to reach deep into 'troubled' communities.
For instance: Manenberg, a sub-economic village on the Cape Flats, close to Cape Town where social problems are rife, and specifically drug-related gangs causing much unrest. Mitchell’s Plain, a South Africa’s 4th largest township, where unemployment is a source of great concern. Or Hawston, a fishing village situated between a majestic mountain and an expansive beach in the Overberg district of the Western Cape. The village is rich in traditional history, yet local fishermen and their families have no solution to limited economic activities. St Helena Bay, a fishing village with abundant sea life, but where the local population has no facilities for sporting and cultural activities. But Stars also works in Ashton, Atlantis, Beaufort West, Bitterfontein, Bredasdorp, Ceres, Cloetesville, Elsies River, Graafwater, Greyton, Gugulethu, Hermitage, Hout Bay, Jonkershoek, Khayelitsha, Kirkwood, Knysna, Langa, George – Lawaaikamp, Malmesbury, Mfuleni, Michell’s Plain, Mossel Bay, Muizenberg, Nyanga, Ocean View, Philippi, Plettenberg Bay, Prince Albert, Robertson, Summerville, Thembalethu, Valencia, Velddrif, Witzenville, Tulbagh, Worcester….
Wherever there are challenges.......
We are prepared to become involved!