Star School is aiming to reduce the number of HIV-positive students and young people and give them hope for the future
The project began in 2005 and involves 45 schools spread all over South Africa.
“It’s a kind of mental vaccination. Getting young people to think twice and do something about their situation”, says Anders Lindblad, president of Volvo South Africa.
He is delighted that the company has decided
to support Star School for the next three years by being a partner.
This support relates to eight schools with a total
of just over 10,000 students, all of which are
situated in the area around Durban in South Africa.
The Volvo Group has both a plant and dealerships in this city.
“HIV is an incredible problem in South Africa and it’s important that we do what we can to fight it. Some 26 per cent of the country’s inhabitants are HIV positive and in this area the figure is 50 per cent, so the need here is even
greater,” adds Anders Lindblad.
This support for the Star School project is yet another step in AB Volvo’s involvement in the fight against HIV
For the past few years, Volvo South Africa has been investing in helping and informing its employees. Using voluntary tests, training and preventive programmes, the target is to reduce the spread of the virus among employees.
In addition, the Volvo Group in South Africa is
also focusing heavily on its customers and dealers “Truck drivers are an extremely vulnerable group. We are offering special HIV packages containing information and condoms and including them in every new truck we deliver,” says Anders Lindblad.
The inauguration of the eight Star School projects and the Volvo Group’s partnership took place at a festive ceremony in February.
“It was a fantastic shot in the arm. So much music and happiness in spite of this enormous problem,” says Anders Lindblad.