The Star Foundation

Published 11 December 2025

Community Keepers

A year of care and connection in Bonnievale

Community Keepers
In every classroom, behind every smile, there’s a story one of resilience, healing, and hope. This year, in the heart of Bonnievale, those stories found new beginnings through the care and compassion made possible by our partnership with Community Keepers.
Where once the ratio for state social workers stood at 1:23,000, it has now improved to 1:440, thanks to the dedication of local youth trained as Care Facilitators in Mental Health First Aid — all of whom graduated this year as Social Auxiliary Workers equipped with the skills to serve the very communities they come from.
Throughout the year, learners have grown in confidence and emotional awareness, educators have received vital support, and schools have embraced the message that mental wellbeing is the foundational pre-requisite for effective learning and thriving.
Through CK’s Care Programme, new opportunities were created for young women in the community to become Care Facilitators, working alongside Care Practitioners to offer vital support to learners and educators through their twinning model.
“CK means an incredible amount to our school and community. We can’t imagine what it was like without you. Thank you for knowing what to do and stepping in when we needed you the most.” – Headmaster
“The work of Community Keepers is only possible with the wholehearted buy-in and support of our partner schools and funders. Thank you to The Star Foundation for your trust, time, and care. We value this partnership deeply and celebrate what we have achieved together for the wellbeing of learners and school communities.”
— CK CEO Gerrit Laning
As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect with deep gratitude on a year that has transformed the education journeys of over 3,000+ learners in the region. By bringing mental health support to 11 schools in the Bonnievale cluster, this year has been all about ensuring that every child now has access to a safe space and a trusted person to turn to every single day. Together, we’re building a legacy of care, dignity, and hope.