Page 18 - SA Chamber UK - MAY Newsletter 2024

and post-assessment questionnaires, as well as feedback from MENtors and focus groups

with the boys, teachers, and others. The programme assessments have shown feasible
behaviour change in continuous engagement and increased participation by young men
wanting to do better.

What About the Boys has provided critical insight into boys’ understanding and attitudes to

a range of topics around gender and masculinity – illustrating how these attitudes can be
positively changed with the right guidance and hands-on mentorship.

The programme has been recognised by the SA President and government as an intervention
that will help realise the objectives of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence

and Femicide. It is also a contributing factor towards SA’s commitment to the Kinshasa
Declaration, which highlights the importance of positive masculinity as key to eradicating
violence against women and girls on the African continent.

STEP UP 2 A START UP:

As one of South Africa’s most innovative youth entrepreneurship programmes, ‘Step Up 2
A Green Start Up ‘ is an empowering initiative aimed at fostering innovation in the realm

of sustainability and environmental entrepreneurship. It inspires young entrepreneurs to
seek out opportunities in the green economy with a fundamental change in mindset from
job seeker to job creator, producing solutions for an environmental problem identified in
their relevant communities.

Since inception Step Up 2 A Start Up has impacted over 100 000 high school learners across
rural and township areas. The 2023 rollout benefitted over 12 000 learners and yielded a
record number of over 750 business entries received in the national entrepreneurship

competition. Other milestones include the much-anticipated launch of the #StepUpAlumni
network to facilitate a greater and ongoing connection with new and previous beneficiaries
as well as the expansion of the programme to new areas, particularly rural communities in
outlying areas, leveraging our sought-after mobile cinema model.

Martin Sweet and the team at Primestars along with various private, public and civil
organisations, remain resolute in the mission to advocate for the rights of children across
South Africa, empowering a new generation, and ensuring the ills of today are not those
of tomorrow.

For more information or to get involved:
www.primestars.co.za / info@primestars.co.za / +27 (0)11 430 4740

18

SA CHAMBER UK NEWSLETTER MAY 2024